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Show Thursday. June 19, 2008 D A MY Town relocated after 1993 flood watches rising Mississippi with calm Emma Graves Fitzsimmons a major The "higher and drier" spot , officials chose for rebuilding CHICAGO TRIBUNE ployer that relocated. "Now, was farmland. The owner there is an absolute peace of The mind knowing we dont have graciously agreed to sell them VALMEYER, I1L a 500 acre tract with nothing to worry again." Mississippi River is rising Just a short drive down the down again in Valmeyer almost 15 except a promise they would one day pay him years after a flood wiped out steep bluff, it's hard to imagthe entire towa This time back. ine a vibrant town once existResidents served on seven ed along the railroad tracks at around, residents are watchthe foot of the hul The fields ing with calm satisfaction planning commissions to from a 400-foof vacant lots and weeds are a make decisions about everyperch on the bluffs where the town relothing from street widths to daily reminder of the mighty cated. ' river at its worst. parks. The Federal Emergency This flooding brings back A few dozen people rebuilt a lot of memories for those their homes in the flood plain. Management Agency offered of us who lived through it," They are monitoring the rising residents buyouts for homes in said Eleanora Anderson, 86, a tide closely as it reaches 36 feet the flood plain, and many resischool cook whose home was above the flood stage and isn't dents also had federal flood insurance. That money went todestroyed in the 1993 flood. expected to crest until early "I'm sure glad I don't have to ward building new homes, but next week. Already, seepage worry now that we're high many families had to take on pools have ruined acres of new mortgages. Before it was farmland, and roads near the enough here on the hilL" Anderson moved into senior river are under water. hip to go green, the state gave citizen apartments in the new "It's only the last few days grants to construct homes in energy-efficiethe water has come up the Valmeyer two years after ways. the flood because she didn't levee," said Perry Vogt, a Perhaps the biggest leswant to abandon the town retired deputy sheriff who re- son the town learned was to and church she loved. Local built his home in the old town. nurture institutions, such as officials and business leaders churches and the 2 school, "At 47 feet, I've got to move were determined to rebuild, to keep social networks alive out." but they insisted on leaving Ask Vogt what could make while most residents lived the scenic river bottom to with friends and family. a man return to a home that avoid future catastrophes. The tradeoff for their newgot eight feet of water and found safety is that many miss could easily flood again, and Adopting the motto "rising to new heights," the new Val- he points to the fields of wheat the old town's rural atmoand corn extending in every sphere and older architecture. meyer has not only survived, it has thrived atop the hill, lur Brian Coats, of MAR Graphdirection. "Look at the green ing hundreds of new residents and gold this time of year," he ics, said the new town is too ' from St. Louis, 35 miles to the said. "I don't think it can be homogeneous, but he suggests north. Residents have also beat." that a new identity could delearned lessons about how to The new Valmeyer looks velop over time. less like the country and more survive a natural disaster by A museum opening next like a suburban subdivision making the most of federal year in time for the town's aid, bringing families back by where everything is new. The centennial should help preserve those memories of the building a school, and focusing town had 900 residents beon sustainable development. old Valmeyer for future genfore the flood, and about 600 erations. trickled back in the following Many longtime residents miss the beauty and the hisFor now, those who live years. But the population toand work there are happy tory of the old farming and day has risen to 1,200 people. with their decision to relocate The decision to relocate is mining town, but they agree the town wouldn't have sucas they watch the river swell viewed broadly as a success, ceeded below. Looking down once more. Autumn Gleich, a but it wasn't easy getting on the current crisis, they feel there. It took a strong committeacher at a dayment from residents, careful care center, said there isn't a good about their decision. "For the good of the group, planning and about $45 milsafer place around. lion in federal, state and local "It would have to be Noah's moving was the only responArk-typ- e sible thing to do," said Brian flooding to get all funding, former Mayor Dennis Knobloch said. the way up here," she said. Coats, whose family owns MAR &aphics, em- i K-1- HERALD A9 Celebrations umi mini mini n. mmmnmmmmmKummm-- iiu.iii.ij ii.jj in iiiiiimi u. i., miiiiii Sneddon, Ainge i. - 1 ''11 Gordon, 60th Stratton 65th Anniversary Howard and Elaine Gordon are celebrating their 60th Wedding Anniversary. Their children Lynda (Dennis) Lar- This Saturday Marvin Stratton and Nanalee Johnson will celebrate 65 happy years spent in one another's company. They were married June 23, 1943 in the Salt Lake Temple. In their years together, they have raised seven children, in- fluenced 33 grandchildren, and Parker graduated from Spanish Fork High School, greeted 33 into the world. Come celebrate served an LDS Mission in with them at an open house Argentina and is attendon Saturday, June 21, from ing Utah Valley University. 0 The couple will makelheir p.m. at 646 N 750 E in son, Jill (LaMar) Carroll, Craig (Debbie) Gordon, Kevin (Lori). Gordon are hosting a celebration in their honor on Saturday, June 21, 2008 from 6 to 8 pm at the Gordon residence, 2432 Renaissance Ct., Pleasant Grove. Family and friends are invited to attend. No gifts please. Ro-sari- 3:00-5:0- first home in Orem. Orem. i t, a 1 i AIR CHECK! a PROPER INFLATION SAVES OAS! Kantor Celebrates 50th Wedding Anniversary 15580R-1- Police officer convicted of rape David Mercer shook his head and sobbed as THE ASSOCIATED PRESS the verdict was read. His wife, Rickilee, yelled and ran from A forthe court with the couple's CHAMPAIGN, 111. mer Bloomington police serthree teenage children. She later apologized for geant was convicted Wednes- her outburst but insisted to day of raping four women and stalking a fifth, ending a reporters that "they've got the trial in which prosecutors said wrong man." he was driven by pornography-f"I feel badly for the vicfantasies. ueled tims," she added. "I stand behind my husband. I know my Jeff Pelo, 43, was found husband is not guilty." guilty on 35 counts, including 25 of aggravated sexual asThe rapes took place from sault. Two other charges were 2002 to 2005. Pelo has been jailed since his June 2006 ardropped during the trial. Pelo, who spent much of rest, unable to post $ 100,000 the trial looking at the table in to cover $1 million bail. front of him and taking notes, Prosecutor Mark Messman noted that the jurors reached their decision despite a lack of DNA or similar forensic evidence linking Pelo directly to the rapes. "There was no smoking gun; but there were several very strong pieces of evidence," he said. Three of the women picked Pelo out of a photo lineup. Russell and Daresa Sneddon, of Orem, are pleased to announce the marriage of their daughter, Jessica to Parker William Airige, son of Craig and Kathy Ainge, of Mapleton. They will be sealed in the Mt. Timpanogos Temple on Friday, June 20, 2008. A gar- - ; den reception will be held in their honor that evening at the Ainge residence in Mapleton. Jessica is a graduate of Timpanogos High School and has earned a degree in History from BYU, She is currently employed at Discovery Ranch in Mapleton. The children and grandchildren of Stan and Myrna Longhurst Kantor are pleased to announce their 50th Wedding Anniversary. They were raised in Carbon County, Utah, attended BYU as newlyweds, after graduation they moved to Anaheim, California where they made their home for 35 years, then retired to Mapleton, Utah. They were married in the Manti LDS Temple on July 11, 1958. 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