VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR FLOOD CLEANUP UNDER WAY IN RED STAR

Ian Aldrich washed the dirt and grit from his hands, brushed off his shirt, and headed for the dining area of the Red Star Baptist Church in Cape Giraredeau.

"This is dirty work," said the 11-year-old youngster from Clarksville, Tenn. "It's the first time I've helped in a flood project, but I'm glad to be here."

Aldrich, who was served a hamburger and soft drink by the American Red Cross at noon Saturday, was in Cape Girardeau with a group of more than 35 Boy Scouts and their leaders from Clarksville, to lend a hand as initial cleanup is officially under way following the "Flood of 1993."

The Tennessee group about 165 miles Southeast of Cape Girardeau delivered a truck load of supplies to the American Red Cross Center here Friday afternoon.

"We hadn't really planned to stay three days," said Earl Bradley, a parent of one of the Scouts. "But, they were talking about needing volunteers for cleanup duty this weekend, so here we are."

"We've spent the past two nights at the Trail of Tears Park camping grounds," said John Ryder, an assistant Scout Masters. "We'll probably be leaving Cape about noon today."

"The boys really wanted to stay," added Bradley. "They're doing what Tennesseans do best volunteer. Tennessee is the `Volunteer State.' This will be good experience for the boys."

"Removing sandbags is the first order of business for the cleanup," said Mark Hasheider, emergency operations coordinator between volunteers, service agencies and city workers. "We have a number of volunteers here, including the Clarksville Scouts, and several local volunteers."

Hasheider said the sandbags were being hauled to a number of designated sights, and will be taken to the landfill when it reopens to be used as "fill" material.

"Some individuals have come by to pick up a few sandbags for their own use," said Hasheider.

The volunteers, have been moving the sandbags from around homes, into stacks, where they are picked up by frontloaders which are being provided by Mayor Gene Rhodes and Tex Bruns, a local businessman.

"We can use additional volunteers today," said Hasheider. "Anyone wanting to lend a hand can be at the Red Star Baptist Church at 8 Sunday morning."

Hasheider said response was good for the first day's cleanup activities.

"The Red Cross and Salvation Army have pitched in to prepare food for the volunteers," he said. "We've had a sizable group of volunteers, and everything is going well."

Saturday's cleanup is the first of many days of work facing people who have been evacuated over the past couple months. Today, marks the 142nd day the Mississippi River has been above flood stage at Cape Girardeau.

Saturday's river stage was reported at 41.7, still almost 10 feet above the 32-foot flood stage, but well under the near 48-foot crest reading of Aug. 7.

Cleanup activities will also get under way in the Olive Branch, Ill. area Monday.

"We'll start hauling away sandbags," said Alexander County Commissioner Louis Maze, who added that the sandbags will be transported to the Fayville levee.