Wednesday, February 23, 2000
River falling; rain returning
Floods close some low-lying roads
BY WALT SCHAEFER
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Coney Island's Sunlite Pool and Lake Como remained a single body of water Tuesday as Canada geese paddled across the isthmus that is the entrance drive to the riverside amusement park.
“This is nothing,” said Mary Schumacher, senior vice president of sales and marketing for the park, as she sat in her office overlooking the flooded picnic groves — backwater from the flooded Ohio River.
“We never like to deal with high water, but compared to many past years, this one is not going to put anyone here into a state of depression,” she said.
And John Center, meteorologist for the National Weather Service at Wilmington, Ohio, said the river was receding from a crest of 55 feet at 7 a.m. Tuesday morning to 54.3 feet at about noon. It was expected to drop below the 52-foot flood stage at 1 a.m. Thursday, Mr. Center said.
However, Mr. Center cautioned, officials cannot predict what effect rain that is forecast might have on the falling Ohio.
The Hamilton County Communications Center reported several roads impassable because of high water as the flooded Ohio backed up into low lying areas.
All are among the first roads commonly closed by flooding. They included:
• Ohio 32 near Newtown and the Beechmont Levee.
• Kellogg Avenue at Coney Island and River Downs.
• Four Mile Road at U.S. 52; Lawrenceburg Road in Whitewater Township.
• Debolt Road off Ohio 32.
• Moore Road.
• Eight Mile Road at U.S. 52.
• Neville Spur Road off U.S. 52 in Clermont County.
AccuWeather forecaster Tom Kines said mild temperatures of 50 to 60 degrees will continue, and rain is in the forecast tonight (and Thursday..
“It looks like the heaviest rain will be to the west of Cincinnati,” Mr. Kines said. “Still, anytime you can have thunderstorms that may bring heavy downpours, there's a worry about flooding.”
Back at Coney Island, Ms. Schumacher said work to prepare for the park's summer season was continuing Tuesday, and the 35 full-time employees were busy with routine chores.
“We store some things in the buildings, and we've pulled that out (to higher ground). The river's beginning to drop, and now we're waiting to move in. The big thing (about flood cleanup) is you do it immediately. If you don't, the water turns the (river mud) into clay, and if you don't hose it off right away as (the river recedes) you literally have to blast it off the walls,” Ms. Schumacher said.
In Anderson Township, along Ohio 32 just west of Newtown, Pam Simmons, co-owner of Turpin Farms plant and garden center and nursery, was cleaning out a decorative pond in preparation for spring blooms while fields of turf she owns were partly under water.
“This same thing happens just about every year at some time or another,” Mrs. Simmons said. “The nursery is protected by a levee, and we're dry unless it hits about 60 feet,” said her husband, Randy.
“The water in the (bluegrass and fescue sod) fields is not a problem” because the grass is dormant in winter and water would not damage it unless it was growing or just planted, Mrs. Simmons said.
“We have more trouble with runoff from subdivisions (during thunderstorms) than with the Ohio River,” Mr. Simmons said. “That runoff fills the creek behind the nursery and it floods,” he said.
Leroy Bellamy, transportation manager for the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT), said he expects flooded roads to reopen soon and that Ohio 32 near the levee should be reopened by today's morning rush hour. Rush hour traffic was backed up due to high water Tuesday, communications center officials said.
Win fires up Ohio McCain camp
Tainted vote opportunity for renewed faith
Report: Ozone increases illnesses here
Rural county awaiting flood of casino cash
Web sites offer college-class notes free
Failing students get second chance on Internet
Hitchhiker wanted in shooting along I-75
Manatee exhibit extends to Florida
River falling; rain returning
'Come Home' lures inactive Catholics back to church
County public defenders' pay raised
Kroger chief donates $1M to Catholic schools
Queen City's moments to shine reflected in book
Santana should see 'Smooth' sailing at Grammys
GET TO IT
How long game shows thrive is anyone's guess
Adults added to marijuana case
Attorney asks dismissal of sex-abuse case
Contract may lure drivers to Metro
Death sentence is upheld
Delhi yearns for mail upgrade
High court hears case by Batavia bus drivers
Lawyer appeals Christmas decision
Lebanon city manager keeps his job
Man charged in shooting death
Mason chili champ relishes his victory
Police oppose teen club
Pressure pledged to widen road
Public can join school project
Teacher gets $5M for humiliation
TRISTATE DIGEST
Warren County looks for ways to help farmers preserve land
Y gets aid to warm frigid gym
