MARSTON REST STOPS DEAL WITH WATER SHORTAGE

MARSTON -- When the New Madrid Tourist Information and Welcome Center marked its open house recently, Jan Farrenburg, supervisor, didn't have much to celebrate.

While she had state and local officials to greet, tourists and other visitors traveling Interstate 55 have been scarce recently. For over a month, the center has been without water, which means no working restrooms."Typically, we would see 200 to 300 a day but now it is more like 40 to 60 people and it has been like this for the past five weeks," said Farrenburg.

The tourism center has always been a popular stopping spot for those entering the state. Since 1978 when it opened, according to Farrenburg's figures, nearly 2.5 million people have stopped to learn more about Missouri, its attractions and to use its restroom facilities and drinking fountain.

With the renovations, which costs about $14,000 complete, Bob Smith, director of special events for the Missouri Division of Tourism, praised Farrenburg and her staff for the perseverance through the work and now, surviving without water and restroom facilities.

While the Division of Tourism can renovate and improve the inside of the small brick building, the outside and the surrounding area is the property of the Missouri Highway Department. Water is supplied by the City of Marston.

In July, the Marston well collapsed leaving the rest areas and local residents and businesses without any water. A temporary well was dug but the city is still waiting for a new well to be completed."At this time the city does have water, but if we were to open up the rest areas completely, that could leave the city residents without fire protection or drinking water," said Lynelle Luther, area engineer with the Missouri Department of Transportation. "If they don't have water, there is not a whole lot we can do."The rest areas are large users of water, consuming about 100,000 gallons a month. Marston city officials are still awaiting word from the company hired to dig the well on when the project is to be completed.