A flood of volunteers to the rescue

Extra hands helping with clean-up at Washington Park

Pushing squeegees and rollers, volunteers and Parks and Recreation employees remove water from the concrete surface of the ice rink in Washington Park.
Pushing squeegees and rollers, volunteers and Parks and Recreation employees remove water from the concrete surface of the ice rink in Washington Park.

Volunteers joined Jefferson City Parks and Recreation Department employees to begin the large task of cleaning up the damage from Monday morning's flash flooding at Washington Park.

While the damage to the ice arena is probably the biggest task, there is plenty of damage throughout the park, which flooded when heavy rains brought nearby Wears Creek well out of its banks.

"The skate park has to be cleaned up, the tennis courts and the ball fields," Ice Arena Manager Kerri Gates said. "We had volunteers from the local horseshoe-pitching club out here (Tuesday) cleaning up the horseshoe pit, and we want to get it in good shape because we are hosting a state tournament on Labor Day weekend."

At the ice arena, Gates said, they found out Monday sump pumps brought in were not strong enough to pump out the water, so workers started pushing the water out of the arena with rollers.

"Once we eventually get the water off the floor, we'll have to scrub and polish it before we can try and get the ice back down," Gates said.

"We have to scrub down the bleachers, the equipment used by hockey teams, mats, just a lot of things you don't always think about have to be cleaned," said JJ Gates, Park Resources and Forestry Division director. 

"We're very fortunate that schools haven't started yet, so we still have our seasonal help. And kids with the various clubs that use the facilities have come out to help."

Volunteers and workers began going through the park around 8 a.m. removing debris and re-mulching landscaping, as well as general debris pick-up.

"We had a good response from the Facebook post about volunteering to help, but I'm not sure how much longer will need that help," Gates said. "We ask that if after (Tuesday) you'd want to come out to help our workers, please call the Parks Department and see if volunteers are needed."

The Parks Department number is 634-6482.

The ice arena is currently estimated to reopen in late August or early September. Programs and events scheduled for August are being rescheduled. Updates of program and event dates will be posted to their respective pages.

 

Body indentified, but info sought

 

The body found in Wears Creek on Monday morning has been identified as 51-year-old Michael Guy, and police are asking for help in finding more information.

In a release Tuesday, Jefferson City police requested help to identify family members and any last known information on Guy, who was believed to be homeless and staying in the Jefferson City area.

No cause of death has been determined.

The release states numerous attempts to make contact with family members yielded no results, though officers know Guy had ties to Colorado.

If anyone has information about Guy, please contact Det. Mark Edwards at 634-6400.