Flooding claims teen; one remains missing

A flash flood was blamed Wednesday in the death of a high school senior in southwest Missouri. Meanwhile, the search continued for a northeast Missouri teen-ager who apparently jumped into a rain-swollen river on a dare.

Heavy rains over recent days have caused rivers and creeks to rise, causing some flash flooding. The Mississippi and Missouri rivers were mostly below flood level Wednesday, though minor flooding was occurring along the Mississippi at Winfield, Mo., and Grafton, Ill. The Missouri was less than a half-foot above flood stage at Hermann.

The foul weather didn't relent Wednesday evening, when high winds and the threat of a possible tornado forced a roughly 20-minute evacuation of Kansas City International Airport. No planes were allowed to fly in or out of KCI with the control tower unstaffed, and people at the airport were directed to tunnels linking the terminal to parking garages, KCI spokesman Joe McBride said.

Two cargo buildings and a sand barn were damaged in the high winds, but no injuries were reported, McBride said. Elsewhere around Kansas City, there were some reports of damaged roofs and trees.

Search continues

In Lincoln County, about 50 miles north of St. Louis, the search continued for Tim Licktieg, 19, who apparently jumped into the flooding Cuivre River Monday night.

Authorities said Licktieg was among three men who had been watching the river from a bridge. On a dare, two of the men jumped into the river and got out a short way downriver. Licktieg jumped into the river and disappeared.

Bob Shramek, a fire chief from Silex who was helping to coordinate the rescue effort, said the Missouri Water Patrol joined the search Wednesday. A helicopter was also being used.

"We're holding out hope that he's alive," Shramek said.

The Cuivre River was at 25 feet Wednesday, four feet above flood stage but down nearly two feet from its peak on Tuesday. Several streets and roads in Lincoln County that had been closed Tuesday were reopened.

Rain in forecast

More rain was forecast for later Wednesday, but the National Weather Service expected to river level to continue to fall.

A flash flood was blamed in the death of a Mountain Grove High School senior.

Cristen "Crissy" Bell, 17, was driving home just before 11 p.m. Tuesday from her job at Dairy Queen when her small car stalled on a gravel road about three miles north of the southwest Missouri town. A spokeswoman for the Wright County Sheriff's department said Crissy got out of the car and tried to walk to safety, but was pushed under the car by rushing waters.

She was pronounced dead at a Springfield hospital.

Wright County Coroner Ben Hurtt said the car stalled at the bottom of a large hill. Water had run down the hill and pooled there, he said.

Crissy had worked at the restaurant in nearby Cabool for little more than a month, Dairy Queen manager Brenda Miller said. At the school, she was a cheerleader and served as a mentor and role model for elementary students, helping them learn to read through the Heart To Heart program.

She also volunteered in various civic groups through the school's Hi Step club and was active in Students Against Drunk Driving.

"She was a very, very well-liked young lady," superintendent Ken Southard said. "It's been very difficult today for her classmates."

Crissy would have graduated May 17 with 110 other seniors. She had planned to attend Southwest Missouri State University's West Plains campus in the fall, Southard said.