the BEACON Newspaper, Indiana beacon5-18 | Page 10

By Jada & Tammy Turner

Hi , I ’ m Jada . I am an eleven-year-old female spayed pit bull . I am considered a senior because they say

Jada for every one human year , we dog ’ s ( and cats ) age about seven years . So our lives are not as long as yours . But if you take really good care of us , we can live long and happy lives .

Due to improved veterinary care and dietary habits , pets are living longer than they have before . But we seniors can develop the same problems that you do when aging such as arthritis , cancer , heart disease , kidney / urinary tract disease , liver disease , diabetes , joint and bone disease , senility , just to name a few . Now just because we are getting older , does not mean we will have medical issues . As a good responsible pet owner , you can do several things to ensure that we do not develop any of these issues like regular veterinarian visits . We ( and I think I speak for all dogs ) do not like going to the vet , but even I know it is for our own good .

Choosing the right dietthat means strictly steak and potatoes . OK maybe not , but you can get good food that is senior specific ( also some good treats ).

Exercise- Now , I am eleven , so I get a lot of naps , but I really do need my beauty sleep . I do get to go out in the yard every day and run with the younger pups . And I do go on walks , which I really love . Proper dental hygiene- a must . Milk bones and other dental treats are good for my teeth . The vet can also take care of any potential dental concerns .

Mental stimulationrequired ! Puzzle toys that you put treats in are a lot of fun for us to have to figure out . That is too much work for me , but I do try . And contrary to belief , you can teach an old dog new tricks . I know I am always eager to learn something new . All we want to do is to please you .

Safety- Some dogs and cats start to lose their vision , so until they invent glasses for us , you may have to keep things out of our way- Sometimes we may need a ramp to get on the bed or up the stairs .

Plenty of physical contact- Love from you is the best for us . The shelter here is a great place , but when I go to sleep at night , I dream of a nice quiet home where I have my own warm bed at your feet . Please consider a senior pet . I promise you won ’ t be disappointed . When our time comes , we just want to be loved and with you .

Hope to see you soon . Jada

The Lawrenceburg area was surrounded by flood waters . ( Photo by Krider Photography )

By Paul Seymour

The high water of the Ohio River and its tributaries that occurred earlier this year affected quite a few areas in Dearborn County . The reason why I refer to this as a high water event and not a flood in Lawrenceburg is due in part to to a group of forward-thinking people who , after the historic flood in 1937 , convinced the US government to construct a levee completely surrounding Lawrenceburg .

Levee construction started in 1940 and was completed in October of 1943 . Since then , four high water events have occurred : 1945 – 69.2 ’ (# 4 historically ) 1964 – 66.2 ’ (# 6 historically ) 1948 – 64.8 ’ (# 8 historically ) 1997 – 64.70 ’ (# 9 historically )

Fortunately , the 2018 event did not make the historical high water events top ten list , cresting at 60.53 ’.

The Lawrenceburg levee system consists of 18,300 linear foot of earthen levee , eight floodgates , five pump stations , and a system of pressure relief wells . The design and operation of the system is very complicated and interesting . The levee protects two billion dollars of property and infrastructure , in addition to the many people that work and sleep behind the protection of this wall . A value cannot be placed on that .

The Lawrenceburg Conservancy District has a three-man crew . When the Tanners Creek gauge reads 41.5 feet , they are called into action at pump station 2A between warehouses L and N in the MGPI distillery . The basements of these warehouses hold several million dollars worth of whiskey . Pump station 2A keeps two warehouses dry , so it ’ s crucial that these employees work around the clock to monitor the system . During the recent high water event , the crew started working around the clock on Feb . 13 and did not stop until Mar . 6 .

The crest of the Ohio River came on Feb . 25 at 60.53 feet on the Tanners Creek gauge .

All systems ran smoothly during this event , thanks to the equipment being kept in good shape .

The LCD crew has sixty years of combined experience running the levee operations under the guidance of the United States Army Corp of Engineers . The river level at Tanners Creek was the

Create an alien landscape and then work to design a sustainable habitat for astronauts to use when they visit that landscape . Presented by Kimberly Haverkos , Thomas More College . For teens grades 7-12 . Please register .

Thursday ▪ May 17 ▪ 4:30 PM Lawrenceburg Public Library www . lpld . lib . in . us

Danny Brooks , Paul Seymour , Jr ., Roger Rimstidt , Derek Black , and three college interns are a part of the LCD team .

highest they have had to deal with in their careers . During this twenty-two-day period , the crew spent their shifts watching the system of pump stations . Depending on the weather , these shifts can be very busy .

Although we have just experienced our highest water level in the last twenty years at the Lawrenceburg Conservancy District , the flood gates did not have to be shut . Water levels were approximately 3 feet short of requiring the gates to be shut .

If and when the river rises again and decides to challenge our system to the point that would require the gates to be shut , a plan is in place . The gates located on US 50 would be shut , preventing traffic from entering or exiting the core of Downtown Lawrenceburg . The only way into or out of Lawrenceburg would be through Ridge Avenue in Greendale .

Regarding emergency services such as fire and EMS , fire and EMS departments are housed within the levee at 300 West Tate Street and outside the levee on State Route 48 .

Keep in mind that the LCD has been in existence at its current location for twenty years , and the gates have only ever been shut for testing purposes . A high water event reaching the levels that would require shutting the gates had not occurred during that time .

The LCD and numerous volunteers are trained and ready to protect the community should the need ever arise .

NICOLE & JOHN WUESTEFELD

25615 STATE ROUTE 1 • DOVER , IN

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