MORE RAIN MAY DRIVE THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER EVEN HIGHER

The Mississippi River crested here Tuesday at 40.6 feet, 8.6 feet above flood stage. It was the third flood crest here in less than a month.

But the National Weather Service said additional rain Monday night over Missouri and Iowa could prolong the high-water level and result in a fourth flood crest in about a month.

The Mississippi at Cape Girardeau was forecast to drop the next three days to 40.5 feet today, 40.2 Thursday, and 39.6 feet Friday.

At St. Louis the river crested earlier in the week at 36.120feet. It was forecast to drop to 35.3 feet today, 34.5 on Thursday, and 34 feet on Friday.

The Ohio River at Cairo, Ill., was at 47.1 feet on Tuesday,207.1 feet above flood stage. It was forecast to drop to 35.3 today, 34.5 on Thursday, and 34 feet on Friday.

Jack Burns, weather service hydrologist, said rain across20much of Missouri amounted to about .5 of an inch on Monday night, but heavier amounts - as much as 1 to 2 inches - were reported through parts of Iowa. In addition, Burns said the Illinois River remains above flood stage and was rising.

"All of this extra water will impact20water levels as far downstream as St. Louis, and possibly Cape," Burns said. "It might just prolong the high-water level20at Cape, or even raise it again."

The forecast for the weekend calls for a return of more showers and thunderstorms on Saturday through most of Missouri.

At least one death is being blamed on the flooding Mississippi River. The body of Sam Donnelly, 70, of Cairo Route 1,20was found20near his car20Sunday near Miller City, in Alexander County, Ill.

"The victim20apparently drove through water and was swept off the road," said Bill McHughs of the Alexander County Sheriff's Department. "The water was about 10 to 11 inches across the road and was very swift." The river is less than two miles from the road at that location.

Donnell apparently got out of the vehicle. Alexander County Coroner David Barkett, who investigated the accident with the sheriff's authorities, ruled the death a drowning.

Alexander County20authorities were notified of the stranded car about 2 p.m. Sunday by the Air Evac medical helicopter service at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau.

The helicopter was en route to Cairo when it spotted the car and the body nearby, said McHughs

The Miller City Road has been closed to traffic from the Alexander County Sportsman's Club to near Olive Branch,20where it rejoins Route 3.

Several20Southern Illinois roads are impassable because of water from the Mississippi River and Clear and Sexton creeks. Some residents in the Gale, McClure, Reynoldsville, Thebes, and Miller City areas are boating into their homes, said sheriff's authorities.

The high water has had little impact on most residents in flood-prone areas on the north and south side of Cape Girardeau.20Authorities said20a mobile home was moved this week from the 1000 block of North Fountain because of backwater from Sloan's Creek.

The floodwaters forced the Corps of Engineers to cancel the planned Friday docking of its new inspection vessel, Mississippi, at the Cape Girardeau waterfront. Instead, the boat will dock Friday at the Southeast Missouri Regional Port.

It will leave the port Sunday evening following a private reception for members of the Mississippi River Commission that will be hosted by the port authority's board of commissioners.