5/25/93
By: Brien Murphy
Courier-Post Staff Writer

The Mississippi River in Hannibal fell nearly half a foot despite rain throughout the area overnight.

The river level was at 23.38 feet at 5 a.m. today, according to the Hannibal Filtration Plant. The river dropped .47 of a foot from Thursday. Technical flood stage in Hannibal is 16 feet.

The river dropped .42 of a foot in Saverton.

Rainfall was recorded at .15 of an inch in Hannibal. This does not include the brief but heavy rain that fell between 8 a.m. and 9 a.m. today.

The National Weather Service in St. Louis did not say if the river was expected to rise because of recent rains. Also, the area is expected to see more rain throughout the weekend. How that will affect the river level is not known.

The river's high-water mark this spring was 24.15 feet on April 27, the fourth-highest reading on record.

In Winfield, where the levee has been threatened by high water this spring, .14 of an inch of rain fell in less than an hour around 5:30 p.m. Thursday, according to Lock and Dam 25.

The Lincoln County Sheriff's office had no reports of hail or wind damage, but did report heavy rain in and near Troy Thursday evening.

The Cuivre River also is expected to rise, according to the sheriff's office.

The river level in Winfield was up .12 of a foot to 33 feet, one foot below the top of the levee there. Technical flood stage is 26 feet in Winfield.

Several Lincoln County roads near the Mississippi River remain closed because of high water.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol in Kirkwood reported no wind or hail damage in Lincoln or Pike counties.

In Clarksville, the river was up .3 of a foot today from Thursday. Route 79 remains closed south of Clarksville and traffic still is being detoured to Paynesville.

The Apple Blossom Festival in Clarksville will take place Saturday and Sunday as planned, "rain or shine," despite high water that caused some events to be moved to another location. The walking tours of historic homes, visits to historic churches and tours of the lock and dam will take place as planned. However, events scheduled at other locations will be at the Appleshed on Route 79, where two performances of a play were already scheduled at the Raintree Theater.

Several music performances, serving of ethnic and country food, an art show and bazaar, antique show, flea market, storytelling and other events will be at the Appleshed. The schedule begins at 8 a.m. both days.

Mark Twain Lake also was up .3 of a foot to 624.5 feet. Normal pool at the lake is 606 feet.

Most two-lane roads and ramps near the lake were reopened earlier this week, but some may be closed again depending on rainfall, according to the Monroe County Sheriff¹s office.

North of Canton, Route B was closed again as high water from the Mississippi River reached the road for the second time this spring. The road was reopened just days ago.

In LaGrange, Route B remains open, but warning signs were replaced as the river inches closer to the road.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol in Macon reported the bridge between Alexandria and Keokuk, Iowa, remains closed.