June 20, 2005 Manhattan Chautauqua River Event

Report by: T. J. Hittle

Hi guys & gals:

This is just a brief report about today's Chautauqua event in Manhattan, KS 
that KCKA participated& co-sponsored.

We met at 6:30am. After helping organize and set out signage, we shuttled 
upstream to Hwy 177 and launched. We stayed in contact with Kate Watson, 
event organizer, and even did an on-the-river interview with a local radio 
station.

The Chuck Wagon Breakfast on the River was a huge success. The food was 
pretty good. I counted more than 125 people there with several local 
politicians there. We spoke about river access, water quality, the need 
for more access, and generally what a great under utilized wilderness 
experience that floating and camping on the Kaw can be.

Folks were all very impressed by the sight of the canoes coming up the Big 
Blue River from the Kansas River. FYI, the USACOE gave us a lowered water 
release from Tuttle Creek Res. of 1500cfs from their planned release of 
10,000cfs.

We were greeted like heros and like we were the original founders of 
Manhattan discovering Manhattan for the first time. Our timing was superb, 
I was told. Of course, a little 2-way radio communication never 
hurts. Hey, that was the way Lewis & Clark did it, right???????????

KCKA canoeist names:

Bonnie Sherow - Manhattan, KS
Bob Sinnett - Manhattan, KS
Mick O'Shea - Manhattan, KS
TJ Hittle - Manhattan, KS
Dave Murphy - Ottawa, KS
[Tim Stoecklein - Manhattan, KS - Tim volunteered to be our KCKA on-site 
staff & help folks with car parking. He really helped out there.]

The Chautauqua scholars were introduced but did not speak formally. They 
had a great time just chatting casually with lots of people.

The media did show up: 2 from KMAN, one from Mercury, one from KSNT Channel 
27, one from the Collegian, and one from the Manhattan Free Press. Dave 
Murphy & I both did live interviews with KMAN Radio. I also did an 
interview with KSNT TV-27 News. KCKA got lots of good press.

We took several high school & college age kids back out on the river, all 
wearing PFD's of course. These were kids that had never ever been in a canoe.

Watch for clips of the event on KSNT TV-27 News at 5:00 and 6:00 today!

TJ Hittle