VICTIMS OF FLOODING FIND GOOD NEWS, BAD NEWS

MILLER CITY, Ill. -- There's some bad news and some good news for victims of flooding in the Miller City area.

The bad news is that the Len Small levee break has widened, pouring more water into the Miller City and Horseshoe lake area, stranding residents living in some of those area.

The good news is that the Mississippi River is expected to drop two feet Monday, following a 42.5-foot crest Saturday.

The weekend weather forecast adds to the good news -- mostly sunny and warmer with little or no precipitation through Tuesday.

U.S. Corps of Engineer officials will visit flooded areas today in Southeast Missouri, Southern Illinois and Northwest Tennessee.

The group will fly by helicopter over and visit areas around Cape Girardeau, Cairo, Ill., Hickman, Ky., Dyersburg, Tenn., and the Dyer County (Tenn.) Little Levee, checking levees and other flood control measures designed to protect lives and property in the area.

The Memphis District of the Corps has established temporary field offices in Caruthersville, Mo., Cairo, and Dyersburg, Tenn.

The group will be in Cairo today at 9:45 a.m., Cape Girardeau at 10:55 a.m., New Madrid at 12:45 p.m. and Sikeston at 1:15 p.m., then head into Tennessee.

"The people in Miller City are isolated," said Joe Plemmons, Alexander County engineer for the Corps. "We're keeping an eye on water levels in Horseshoe Lake and the areas surrounding the lake."

Water now covers the Horseshoe Lake Spillway Road.

"We have 10 to 12 inches of water over the road here at the intersection of the Miller City and Spillway Road," said one observer. "I'm sitting here watching logs float past."

Eight to 10 families have been evacuated from the Miller City area since the Mississippi River broke through the local levee Wednesday night, said Alexander County Sheriff Buddy Mitchell.

But several Miller City residents have elected to stay in their homes. "Some didn't want to leave," the sheriff said.

No new evacuations were reported Friday.

A total of 40 people have been evacuated from other areas in far Southern Illinois, as the Mississippi and Ohio rivers backed up into the Cache River, said a spokesman for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

The Ohio River stage at Cairo was over the 53-foot mark Friday, 13 feet above flood stage. The Ohio is expected to crest at 54 feet Sunday. Flood gates have been set in place along the Ohio River levee at Cairo. The levee will protect the city to more than 60 feet.

Meanwhile, residents in the Olive Branch area are performing a job they performed less than a year ago -- placing sandbags around their properties, preparing for the worst.

Several members of the Illinois National Guard are doing security, sandbag and patrol duty in the Olive Branch area. More than 100 National Guard members are seeing duty in other Illinois communities, and another 100 guard troops are on standby.

"We're hoping the water doesn't reach Highway 3 before the river crests," said Plemmons.

At 4 p.m Friday, the Mississippi River at Cape Girardeau was 40.7 feet, up almost three feet from the Thursday 4 p.m. reading. It was forecast to rise to 42 this morning and crest at 42.5 later in the day, before receding to 42.3 Sunday and 40.8 Monday.

However, any significant rainfall in Central Missouri or Central Illinois could alter the prediction.

Meanwhile in Southeast Missouri, the lower campground and day-use area at Trail of Tears State Park in Cape Girardeau County have been closed. The park's other campground and all other facilities remain open.

Recent heavy rains have caused flooding in several state parks, forcing some facilities to close temporarily, the Missouri Department of Natural Resources announced Friday.

People planning to visit state parks, especially those near streams, lakes and rivers, should call ahead to check conditions.