Local convention officials offer some good news and bad news for lodging during this summer’s total eclipse. Tell your out-of-town friends and family that local motel operators have some previously-booked rooms available, and they’ve shortened the minimum stay required to book those rooms from three days to two days.

But only “primitive” camping remains available at the various public camping sites being offered, which means no RV hookups, no running water, no electricity, and likely no Internet service.

Beth Conway of the St. Joseph Convention and Visitors Bureau on Monday said at least five motels in St. Joseph offer two-day stays that include the day of the eclipse, Aug. 21. The Stoney Creek Inn has released an additional 30 rooms that had been booked for another event. Rooms will also be available at The Holiday Inn Express, The Radisson, The Fairfield Inn, and Candlewood Suites, Conway said.

You should call the motels directly, rather than going online or calling a motel chains national 800 number.

St. Joseph is in the path of the “totality,” during which the moon will completely darken the sun for more than two minutes. Local planners expect a deluge of visitors from outside the area, and worry that they will be unprepared for the sheer numbers of people. You can expect to see massive public outreach over the next couple of months, on the subjects of preventing eye injuries, being prepared for a disruption of services, and preparing for overflow traffic on the city’s major thoroughfares.

A professor of astrophysics at MU will be the keynote speaker at the next eclipse information sessions scheduled by the CVB. Dr. Angela Speck will speak to gatherings at 9 am, 1 pm, and 6 pm on July 26. The sessions will be held at the Scottish Rite Temple at 515 N. Sixth St.