Mark Twain Reservoir

"Rod Breaking Action at Mark Twain Reservoir"

By: Art Pasley

Each year I look forward to the Monroe City / Mark Twain Reservoir event hosted by Mary Anne Heitmeyer and staff from the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers. If you are one of those who follow our event reports, you know that this event is in the hills of Missouri. The old stomping grounds for Samuel Clements, better known as Mark Twain, bring back memories for me of a time when life was just plain simple and fun. This trip was no less exciting, and as I drove into downtown Monroe City, stories of Huck Finn and Tom Sawyer seemed to come alive. Monroe City is a beautiful small town with the down home feel that you just have to love. I sat in the Railway Steakhouse, as the Union Pacific rolled through town, whistle blowing and walls shaking, thinking how much different life would be if we just kept things simple.
  The following morning I pulled into the Indian Creek Marina and Campground to a warm welcome from some of the regulars that volunteer each year to help with the kids. As everyone arrived the kids started getting fitted with life jackets and t-shirts and received their new Zebco rod and reels and Plano tackle boxes and off they went for another Mark Twain adventure.
  "We have 27 kids this year", commented Mary Anne, "another good turn out," she continued. As always, I offered my two cents worth and headed to the boat docks to take pictures of the boats and kids. I don't know if it's Mary Anne, me or the kids who have the most fun at the Monroe City event.
  Mary Anne was one of the first event hosts in my region to utilize partnerships to provide this event to the kids in her surrounding area. She has done an outstanding job organizing and conducting the event each year with the help of friends, business and local volunteers. "Our friends from Leggett & Platt provide funding each year for our program" stated Mary Anne. "It would be very difficult to provide this event to our kids without their help", she concluded.
  As the kids began to return to a great BB-Q lunch and awards ceremony, the area came alive as one of the young lady participants brought her 3 plus pound catfish in for pictures. "It broke my new rod in half ", she yelled with a great amount of excitement. "I had another one on and it got away" she said to an eager crowd of young anglers.
  After we made sure she had a new rod and plenty of food, the awards ceremony began with a presentation from a young lady named Cassie, who is loved by everyone in Monroe City. "Thank you so much Mary Anne for giving us a chance to go fishing each year "stated Cassie as she awarded Mary Anne the C.A.S.T. Special Thrill Maker Award. After the hugs and tears ended, Mary Anne awarded the plaques to the Kids and the stories of big catches and laughs continued.
  Driving back to the airport, and passing all the Mark Twain museums and caves and thinking about how much fun the kids had at the lake that day, I can't help but wonder if maybe there's just a little Mark Twain magic in them there hill's. I sure hope so. Thank you, Mary Anne. You truly are one of our Special Thrill Makers.

(Click on a picture to enlarge)