Video: Boaters Enjoy Their 4th of July On The River

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COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) — Down on Columbus Marina boaters are revving their engines and riding the waves. They’re enjoying their holiday on the Tombigbee. Leona Gill and her family bought their boat back in March and are taking advantage of the warm weather and breeze.

“We are soaking in the sun! We came out and are going to spend the day on the river for the 4th of July, go home and shoot fireworks,” Gill said.

“I usually do a lot of fishing but. As busy a weekend as it is, we just usually get out here and just ski and hang out in the water,” Smithville native Daniel Montgomery said.

T Caldwell with Columbus Marina says gas prices and the economy affected their numbers over their numbers over the past few years.

“The 4th has been a normal 4th. We’ve been busy. We were hoping for a really big day today and we’ve had a lot of traffic. An average boat to fill up, like a pontoon you see behind us, could be about $100, depending on how big the tank is. And of course a Yacht, if they come in they could take on 3,000 to 4,000 gallons of diesel,” said Caldwell.

But they’re bouncing back and making progress.

“This year we are seeing a lot of positives and we’re always hoping for the best and we’re just hoping it comes back,” said Caldwell.

Boaters tell WCBI whether prices fluctuate and go up and down, it doesn’t matter. It’s the 4th of July and they’re just happy to come out and enjoy the water.

“This is what we do for entertainment so it didn’t detour us at all,” Starkville resident Trina Thompson said.

“You’ve got to enjoy life! The good Lord says you can’t take it with you so you might as well enjoy it while you’re here,” Montgomery said.

Which is what many residents say freedom and this holiday is all about. If you’d like to take your boat out to Columbus Marina, it’s open Monday- Saturday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and on Sunday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.