MARSTON AREA SPENDS HOLIDAY WITHOUT WATER

MARSTON -- Residents should know today whether the weekend's efforts to bring water back to the community were successful.

The community has virtually been without water since Thursday. Problems began when a pump for the water system broke and when repair efforts began, the old well was determined not to be usable.

For the most part, residents have had to rely on the City Hall for drinking, cooking and other water. The National Guard has been providing water from tankers.

New Madrid County Central High School is has opened the school from 6 to 8 p.m. daily to enable individuals to have access to the showers until the water is turned back on. A shuttle bus takes shower passengers several times during the evening.

Working throughout the holiday weekend, a crew sunk of a new well for the town Monday, but.

The water must be successfully tested twice with the final test expected today.

A company from Arkansas, which was awarded the bid in June to complete work on a new well with funding from the city and through the Department of Economic Development, was called in to assist in repairs.

Also assisting in the situation were members of the National Guard and emergency management officials, who provided emergency water to the residents.

If the water from the new well is approved, the current boil-water order will be lifted.