STUDENTS HELP WITH FLOOD REPAIRS

MILLER CITY, Ill. -- Don and Lucille Masterson have hosted students from Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville for the past couple weekends but not as social guests.

Students participating in SIU's leadership development program volunteered their time by helping victims of the 1993 flood.

The Masterson's motel and home were damaged by flood waters that swept into the Miller City area when the levee protecting the Southern Illinois community burst on July 15.

"I remember that day," Lucille Masterson said. "We were trying to save things and get out as fast as we could."

The Mastersons couldn't save their motel and home from the flood waters, but the students repaired and beautified the grounds during their visits the past two weekends.

"We brought down about 30 students," said Suzanne Kutterer-Sibert, the student coordinator from SIU. "We've repaired moldings, painted the foundations on the house and motel and have even planted flowers."

Kutterer-Sibert has been ferrying students around Southern Illinois for the past three weekends repairing flood-damaged homes and businesses.

Representatives of the American Red Cross and Volunteers In Service To America, or VISTA, determine who qualifies for the volunteer labor.

The Mastersons were linked with the students at SIU after liaisons from VISTA and the Red Cross approached them about the program. Their names then were forwarded to Kutterer-Sibert at Edwardsville.

Thanks to funds provided by the federal Americorps project and the American Red Cross, students taking a leadership development class at SIU were able to travel to Prairie du Rocher, Kaskaskia Island and Miller City to help repair damage caused by the 1993 flood.