Flooding across state leaves two people dead, two missing

Two people were dead and two others were missing and feared dead as flooding continued to cause problems around Missouri on Thursday.

Heavy rains have pounded the state over the last several days. Problems were minimal along the big rivers -- the Mississippi and Missouri had only minor flooding -- but smaller waterways were troublesome in many cases. Butch Dye of the National Weather Service said no additional significant rain was expected until the weekend, and floodwaters were expected to recede.

In Joplin, John E. Nelson, 47, of Webb City, died Tuesday night in a flash flood. He was returning home from bowling when authorities believe he drove his pickup truck off a small bridge over Joplin Creek. His body was found Wednesday evening in an adjoining creek.

Funeral services were scheduled for Monday for Cristen "Crissy" Bell. The 17-year-old Mountain Grove High School senior died late Tuesday when her call stalled on a flooded gravel road as she returned home from her job at Dairy Queen.

Presumed dead

Rescue workers said two men missing in separate corners of the state were presumed dead.

In southwest Missouri's Newton County, Justin Houk, 18, of Neosho, and two friends were at a public access area on Shoal Creek about 10 p.m. Wednesday. Friends told authorities Houk wanted to get his feet wet from a boat ramp when he was washed away.

About 50 rescue workers and volunteers were searching Thursday.

Along the Cuivre River in Lincoln County, about 50 miles north of St. Louis, more rain overnight forced the temporary halt in the search for Tim Licktieg, 19, of Hawk Point. Authorities said he jumped into the rain-swollen river on a dare Monday night.

"At this point, we're going strictly for recovery," search coordinator Bob Shramek said. "It's hard. It's taking a toll on quite a few people, losing a young man out of our community."

Shramek said dogs indicated a spot where a body might be, but a rise in the river and swift current made getting there impossible. The search, using underwater cameras, was expected to resume as soon as the water became more stable.

About 15 families in Chain of Rocks, a small community along the Cuivre also in Lincoln County, were forced to evacuate.

In southeast Missouri's Carter County, the floodwaters were just the latest hardship -- the county was hit hard by tornadoes April 24. Several inches of rain Tuesday and Wednesday caused flash floods that cut off roads and closed schools.

Continuing hardships

Several people near the town of Fremont were staying with family or friends Thursday, a day after they had to be evacuated by boat.

"We're just waiting for the earthquake now," said Ellsinore fire chief Stanley Julian. "We're just waiting for the pestilence to come."

Cleanup continued Thursday in West Plains, where flooding caused four locomotives and 10 railroad cars to derail a day earlier, leaking some 2,000 gallons of locomotive fuel into a nearby creek.

In St. Francois County, a handful of roads and streets remained closed Thursday after more than four inches of rain fell over a 24-hour period. Low-lying areas near the St. Francois River were also under water.

In western Missouri, the National Weather Service issued flood warnings for Cass, Johnson and Lafayette counties. Police said several roads and highways were impassable.