4/20/93
By: Brien Murphy & Jim Salter
Courier-Post Staff Writers

TROY Two teen-agers died Friday when their car plunged into the rain-swollen Cuivre River near Troy in what is believed to be the first deaths connected to recent flooding in the area.

Meanwhile, in Hannibal, two area agencies are offering assistance for those suffering as a result of the flooding.

According to the Lincoln County Sheriff's office, the teen-agers were pulled from a car that had gone into the Cuivre River at the U.S. 61 bridge over the river, about two miles north of Troy.

Killed were Stacey M. Hanies, 16, of rural Troy; and Jason R. Kirby, 18, of Foley.

A truck driver, using a CB radio, reported the car in the river at 2:07 p.m. Friday.

Autopsies were scheduled. The sheriff's department and Lincoln County Coroner John Lenk were investigating how the car entered the river.

The car was found full of water right-side-up and partially submerged near the south bank of the river between the northand south-bound bridges. According to the sheriff's office, the river was five to six feet outside its banks.

Flooding on the Cuivre River has forced the closing of Route H northwest of Troy, but the highway was re-opened by Friday night. Several Lincoln County roads near the Mississippi River remained closed Friday night.

Hannibal preparations
In Hannibal, the Salvation Army has initiated disaster operation plans as the Mississippi continues to inch up. As of 8:50 p.m. Saturday, it stood at 22.41 feet, nearly 6 feet above flood stage.

A mobile food kitchen has been established and will serve hot food and beverages to flood victims, police, volunteer relief workers and others on the scene of the flood, Salvation Army leaders said Friday.

Vince Wright, director of the army's Disaster Operations Department, said, "We won't really know exactly which areas will be hardest hit unti this weekend with the water crests, but we know that Hannibal is a trouble spot."

He said disaster relief operations will continue here as long as the need exists.

The Marion County Chapter of the American Red Cross is also offering assistance to flood victims, according to Mary Ann Graham, executive director of the chapter. She said emergency shelter and food is available for persons who may be forced from their homes as a result of flooding along the Mississippi and along Bear Creek.

"We've not yet had to put anybody up but we are available if anyone needs emergency housing," she said. Persons needing assistance should call the Red Cross office at 221-0320. Accident victims ID