Herald Sets Out on a Cruise

Four Cove-native siblings and their spouses enjoyed an American Queen Paddle Wheel Steamboat Cruise up the mighty Mississippi River (northern area) for eight days, and the Herald tagged along.

The group traveled 588 miles up to Red Wing with 22 docks into Minnesota. They visited Missouri, Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin and Minnesota.

The trip included activities, shows and history talks. There was also a Mark Twain entertainer/impersonator.

The siblings are children of Marion and Verna Smith. All four children grew up in the Martinsburg area, where some still reside.

Shown are (front row, from left) Ronald, Ginny and Margaret Smith; (second row, from left) Calvin, Karen and Dennis Smith; (third row, from left) Janet and Virgil Cannarsa.

Dennis and Janet are twins, and they celebrated their 83rd birthday on the cruise. About 275 people and staff sang "Happy Birthday" to the pair during dinner one evening.