Saturday, October 02, 1999
River center is classroom in outdoors
Thomas More site was dam
BY TERRY FLYNN
The Cincinnati Enquirer
CALIFORNIA — Elder High School biology and physical science teacher Bill Driehaus can't say enough about Thomas More College's Ohio River biology field station.
“This is a tremendous resource,” Mr. Driehaus said Friday during a two-hour field trip by about 50 Elder junior and senior biology students at the former dam site along Ky. 8, across the river from New Richmond.
Known as the Thomas More College Center for Ohio River Research and Education (CORRE), the field station regularly welcomes field trips from area secondary and elementary schools in addition to regular college biology classes.
“This is one of only two (the other is in Louisville) college-operated biology field stations on the entire length of the Ohio River,” Thomas More associate biology professor John Hageman said as he led a group of students along the river shore where the dam's wicket locks once operated.
One of the major benefits of the field trip, according to Mr. Driehaus, is the walking tour of the property and the classroom sessions on Ohio River species and pollution.
The field station also works with biology professors and students from area colleges including Northern Kentucky University and the University of Cincinnati, allowing access to work areas and equipment.
Mr. Hageman is assisted by current and former Thomas More students.
Laura Koehl, a Thomas More graduate with a biology degree, told Elder students about the various types of mussels that live in this portion of the Ohio River.
“This is something I enjoy,” Ms. Koehl said. “When (Mr. Hageman) needs me, I come out and work with some classes. The kids seem to enjoy the visits, and I think they learn from the experience.”
The station, which includes several houses on the south side of Ky. 8 that once served as homes for the wicket dam employees, has several work areas and classrooms that were once the control and equipment rooms for Lock 35 dam.
Students were shown where the river crested in 1937, leaving only the roof of the lock house visible above the swollen river. A mark near a group of second-story windows shows where the river crested during the flood of 1997.
Homecoming: Warm tradition now overheated
West-side bridge idea revisited
Siblings arraigned in cabbie slaying
Tracing the trail of Morgan's raid
Civil War raid on house in Symmes inspired book
Teen guilty of arson in school fire
Money error adds to stress for foster parents
Hours fly as dancers stretch
Ivo Pogorelich phones it in - from Mars
GET TO IT
Arbitrator awards Lakota schools $1.78M to repair leaky roofs
Church celebrates 75th anniversary
Fired Ky. police boss sues to get his job back
No retrial for man who fled with girl
Officer indicted on burglary charges
River center is classroom in outdoors
Separated for years, siblings united at last
Township plans to legalize 'West Chester' name
Transport officials plead cases
TRISTATE DIGEST
