CORPS ENGINEERS, TECHNICIANS KEEP PATROLS ON AREA LEVEES

Engineers and technicians of the Memphis District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers are continuing 24-hour patrols of the levees from Cape Girardeau to Cairo, Ill.

This procedure allows officials to identify and remedy any potential trouble spots.

"All levees in this area are in good shape, including the Diversion Channel levees," said Freddie Krapf, supervisor of the Corps' field office in Cape Girardeau.

Predicted levels in the area will provide five feet or more of freeboard distance from top of the levee to the water level on the levees.

Seepage has been observed behind some of the levees, but this is a normal occurrence during the high water, a Corps' spokesman said. The Corps assures the public that the seepage poses no immediate threat to the integrity of the levee system.

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Coast Guard officials announced Wednesday that they plan to keep forces deployed in flood relief operations at least through Aug. 31.

Continued heavy rains in the Midwest following initial flood crests have resulted in predictions of a second river crest next week, meaning water levels higher than originally anticipated in Cape Girardeau and Olive Branch, Ill.

Currently, two Coast Guard disaster response units are stationed in Cape Girardeau, with two more in Olive Branch, assisting relief personnel in a variety of missions. Those tasks include patrols of inundated areas to check on residents still remaining in their homes, water deliveries, sandbagging operations and assisting with assessments of trouble spots along the levee systems.

A disaster relief unit stationed in Cape Girardeau assisted the fire department early this week attempting to respond to a fire alarm sounding in the flood zone.

The Coast Guard said Wednesday that nearly 3,000 barges are backed up, awaiting passage on the Mississippi. There are no predictions when the Upper Mississippi River will reopen for navigation.

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The Missouri Office of Probation and Parole in Cape Girardeau is hosting a benefit car wash Saturday to raise money for victims of the flooding.

The car wash will be from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Probation and Parole building, at 1353 N. Mt. Auburn Rd., in the rear parking lot.

Vehicles of all sizes will be washed for a minimum $2 donation. All proceeds will be turned over to KZIM/K103 Flood Relief `93 fund-raising effort.

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Financial assistance is available from Veterans of Foreign Wars, Department of Missouri, to any Missouri VFW or Auxiliary member displaced by the flood.

For information, contact the area chairman, Calvin Vogelsang, 700 Penny, 335-6203,

Local VFW Post 3838 also made donations of $250 each to the Salvation Army and the Red Cross.