St. Louis Post-Dispatch from St. Louis, Missouri • Page 59

L5 Low-head dams can spawn hydraulics known as "drowning machines" ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH METRO SUNDAY, JULY 7, 2002 built early in the 20th century to power mills or to raise a river's level enough to float barges, said Jim Alexander, chief engineer of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources' dam safety program. The vast majority of them no longer serve any function. "They just sit there waiting for someone to go over 'em and get in trouble," Alexander said. "There's been a lot of cry for them to be removed, but there's not any money to do it" 25 people drowned in Missouri last year The Associated Press Signs or no signs, the public must be ready for trouble, authorities said.

"People swim at their own risk," said Sgt Paul Kennedy of the Missouri Water Patrol. Last year, 25 people drowned in Missouri; nine more died in boating accidents. The safety guidelines are basic: Wear a lifejacket Look out for other boats and swimmers. Never boat while drunk. Take a water safety course, which the water safety division offers in schools and through its Web site.

The best indication of a dam ahead is a straight, unbroken horizontal line in the river. Low-head dams become most troublesome in high water, said Tim McClellan, training officer for Lee's Summit Underwater Rescue and Recovery. On May 6, just after a heavy rain, a 14-year-old Kansas City boy drowned when he was caught in a hydraulic just below a low-head dam in the Blue River. The boy was trapped underwater for 50 minutes before a rescuer was able to retrieve his body. Breaking loose from the pull of a hydraulic is nearly impossible.

McClellan said the best strategies are to try to reach one side or the other of the dam, or to crawl on the river bottom, downstream, until beyond the pull of the hydraulic. Many low-head dams were caught in the curl of a wave," said Hans Huenink, director of communications for the Missouri Water Patrol. "If a sensation like if holding you. IVe seen training films where whole boats will be held in that roll of water." Shane Holcombe and Joey Bos-ley had been swimming in the Elk River in southwest Missouri when they drowned June 14. Their parents are angry that no sign was posted to warn the boys about the dam.

A warning sign once hung over the river but was knocked down years ago. Local governments and nearby property owners disagree over who should replace it Be aware of risks Dams and other danger spots MffiEW Instant Cash Paid For: Diamonds Gold Platinum Jewelry Watches Antiques Estate Pieces Toys Sterling Silver Flatware Tea Services Stamps Coins Autographs Collectibles Buying Hours: 12:30 to Or By Appt, WE BUY SELL PRE-OWNED BOLEX WATCHES, WRIST a POCKET WATCHES, ESTATE JEWELRY GEMSDIAMONDS OBJECTS OF ART ALWAYS CONFIDENTIAL FREE VERBAL APPRAISALS WE MAKE HOUSE CALLS A BANK CALLS 314-991-1999 KANSAS CITY Many low-head dams like the one two Blue Springs teenagers went over before drowning last month may appear benign, but water rescuers and hydrologists say that quite the opposite is true. Even the smallest of them spawns powerful hydraulics also known as "drowning machines" which tend to catch objects, or people, that go over the dam. It can be a long time before whatever is caught works its way free. Water that tumbles over a dam falls to the river bottom and moves downstream a short distance.

Then some of it resurfaces and gets sucked back toward the dam in a cycle of motion. "The closest thing I've experienced is being in the ocean and 10411 CUYTON 12 Ml WEST OF LINDBERGH in LE CHATEAU VILLAGE 4 I AM nt urn ks wju GREAT WESTERN BUILDINGS 1503 N. Fourth St Charles, MO 636-947-6338 need warning signs, but posting them everywhere someone might swim or boat on a river would be impossible, said Judy Guyn, vice president of the Ozark Wilderness Waterways Club, a local river and canoeing group. "You cant fence a river," Guyn said. HOkMPRWOOD HARDWOOD FLOORS WESTERN TACK BIG COUNTRY BARN SILVER SPRING CABIN 12'x10'x9 4W 4fl in nhf fining Nature A IU A iu 1549 '1299 11 12' 1 8' 8' '1249 10' x10x B'6" '1329 12' 1 12' 1 12' '1899 J2349 NEW WEST Built orfe ft your oS COUNTRY CLASSIC Prefuilshed 34" planks by 5" 6" widths Vnique Character grade ComptfltiiiOTC 8' 10' 8 1 RUNNING OR NOT' 1 HL 30 Year mm $849 1 11 10' 10' 9' Hmm 1159 rftlA 10I1ZI9' 'm '1349 WE HANDLE ALL PAPERWORK TAX DEDUCTION "FAII MAIKCT VAlUt' Kl IDS CARS TRUCKS RVs VANS BOATS LOTS REAL ESTATE and MORE n.

TROY, MO. 636-366-4750 BELLEVILLE, IL The Station Store 618-234-8990 FESTUS, MO. Berwm Bus. Ctr. 636-937-6998 GODFREY, IL Courtiy Town 618-466-0142 COLLINSVILLE, IL Csve Ice Fuel 618-344-3272 VIST OUR FACTORY ISBN SI.

Clatt 636-947-6338 Children's Wish Foundation International fulfillina thousands of wishes lor terminally ill children since 1985 i -rv iiClfi untryMapfg Appalachian Cherry from Black Walnut from Country Maple from Hickory from Also available in Oak and Ash Scratch resistant finish Easy care Vintage look without the vintage price NO LAWYERS! tJ7l ffj We help you represent yourself with bw cost, fffl i ti sf' accurate document preparation service. all SAVE MONEY! Divorce $289 Bankruptcy $199 Incorporation $399 Living Trust $399 Est uas Probate Services Available mi Brentwood Bvi Offices Nationwide We TiW PeOpi 314-9634600 30 year FIXED Effective Interest Rates Based on $150,000 loan amount with normal fixed rate of 6.5 and APR of 6.798 MID-WEST FLOOR SINCE 1939 National BRENTWOOD il4647-6060 aSSSS?" CHESTERFIELD 6.91-6800 Absolutely NO Upfront Closing 287 Lamp Lantern Village 2714 Breckenridge Ind. Ct Off Manchester, one block west of Hanky dayton a Woods Mill Roads Moo.Hm. Tut, Sam Hometown Mortgage St. Louis Let our Equity Savings Program take years off of your mortgage and save you tens of thousands of We treat skin of smy color iwlailiuj nmtu Dare to Fe Barer Call the experts with over 20 years of permenant hair removal experience.

I Mm iailiMfeiplIMl "CLOSING IN AS LITTLE AS 5 St. Louis St. Charles (314) 785-5555 (636) 928-FAST (3278) Purchase a package for 1 body area have 1 additional area of equal or lesser value treated FREE. '--'I May not be used in conjunction with other specials. Offer expires July 31, 2002 Located inside The Face The Body Day Spa 7736 Forsyth Clayton, MO 63105 (314) 7258606 FREE IN-HOME CONSULTATION 40-50 OFF CUSTOM DRAPERIES TOP TREATMENTS FROM OUR GALAXY COLLECTION Adults Need Ti.

ji a.niM.nr,,.. i au -J a Fontbonne University Hi 'isMtS teste Li" I' -i Hi i Fontbonne University OPTIONS Program now offers busy adults more options for advancing your education. (Vlaster of Business Administration (MBA) Laptop provided for program is yours to keep upon graduation Master of Manage ment (MM) Bachelor of Business AHminisf raf inn mmm (Ma i 50 Off Galaxy Collection cellular shades by Graber with bonus upgrade to EasyUp XL Headrail 50 Off Galaxy Collection verticals by Graber8 with bonus Stafford valance with purchase of standard valance Gateway Stepping stone into OPTIONS BBA CALL TODAY FOR YOUR FREE IN-HOME CONSULTATION 1-800-543-5436 No credits required Minimum age of 23 One course at a time Locked in tuition One time registration Accelerated programs Classes meet weekly in Groups start monthly both small and large groups Sale pike Midei fabric, lining, how and Inttallatkn. Verikab, blind, ttmtten am) ttada haw aa hutaHatkm charge. Percentages otl represent tavmgt oa regular erica.

Don not Men Every Day Price Mem. Sale, may or may art km keen mace at regular price. Major percnase plan available. Csstom Decorating available at most targer JCPemey stores. Sale prices enectlve bVwgb My 27, 2002.

it'sall inside: lafW hi a i'i WWWW t'r (JSjfiMJSt $20 to $35 FEE WAI VErI tk i 9 I I Clip this coupon and submit it with your application for admission prior to I July 10, 2002. We will waive the normal application fee, which ranges I from $20 to $35 depending on the program you choose. a I custom decorating www.jcpenney.comcustomdecorating SfllS3.