Flood waters in the city of Austin are "slowing down and reversing their course," according to Austin Police Chief Paul M.

Thursday, April 12, 2001

Flood waters in the city of Austin are "slowing down and reversing their course," according to Austin Police Chief Paul M. Philipp.

Water levels in Dobbins Creek, Cedar River and Turtle Creek reached the warning stages Wednesday, resulting in Austin police officers and Austin – Mower County Law Enforcement Center dispatchers using portable public address systems and telephone calls to warn residents and businesses in the most vulnerable areas to prepare to evacuate.

However, as quickly as the three waterways coursing through the city rose, they are now receding.

Streets were closed in the city along 9th Pl. SW in the Skinners Hill area, 8th Ave. SE and Oakland Pl. E., between 10th and 11th St. NE.

Waters of the Cedar River continued to approach the Austin Eagles Club today.

Robert Nelson, the Mower County emergency management coordinator, issued advisories for Severe Storm Awareness Week (April 16-20) today.

Nelson reminded all that a state-wide tornado drill will be held at 1:45 and 6:36 p.m. Thursday, April 19.

Also, Mower County Sheriff Barry J. Simonson reminded residents of a dilemma created by an extraordinary number of telephone calls made to the Austin – Mower LEC between 3 and 11 p.m. Wednesday. A total of 240 telephone calls were received in the 8-hour period Wednesday or 30-per-minute, according to the sheriff. All were inquires about weather conditions.

Because communications center dispatchers were busy with legitimate 9-1-1 emergency calls and dispatching officers and deputies to emergencies, the calls distracted the dispatchers from their work.

The sheriff reminded all, "Don’t call the LEC for weather information."

Strong straight-line winds caused damages in the Dexter area late Wednesday afternoon, including the Rodney Kenyon farm in Section 26 of Dexter Township along Interstate 90.

Only property damages were reported and no weather-related injuries were reported, according to the sheriff.

The LeRoy – Ostrander Independent School District dismissed classes early Wednesday to allow students to return to their homes safely in anticipation of severe weather and poor driving conditions on township roads.

In greater Mower County, roads remain barricaded due to high water. They include Mower County CSAH No. 12 north of LeRoy, CSAH No. 3 east of the County 19 intersection and CSAH No. 8 near Grand Meadow.

Also some township roads remain blocked due to water over the road.

Sheriff Simonson cautioned motorists to obey all barricades over county roads and to beware of dangerous conditions on township roads where high water is covering the roadway.

Juveniles in custody

Austin Police Department officers were credited with helping recover a vehicle reported stolen Wednesday afternoon from Hayfield in Dodge County.

Also, the Brownsdale Police Department was credited with halting the vehicle and its teenage driver and a juvenile passenger.

Late Wednesday afternoon, the vehicle, a black Ford Ranger pickup was reported to have rear-ended a vehicle in the Shopko parking lot in OakPark Mall Shopping Center.

When the truck struck another vehicle and sped away from the accident scene onto 18th Avenue Northwest, Austin police put out an alert that was heard by the BPD officer.

The vehicle left Austin via Interstate 90 and then apparently drove north on Highway 56, where he was spotted by the Brownsdale officer, who pulled the vehicle over and apprehended the driver and passenger.

The Dodge County Sheriff’s Department took the pair in custody at the Mower County line and the vehicle was returned to its rightful owner, according to police reports.