Sen. McCaskill tours Birds Point levee - KFVS12 News & Weather Cape Girardeau, Carbondale, Poplar Bluff

Sen. McCaskill tours Birds Point levee

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McCaskill toured the work being done on the New Madrid - Birds Point levee in Mississippi County. McCaskill toured the work being done on the New Madrid - Birds Point levee in Mississippi County.
McCaskill also toured areas of Dexter and Doniphan before making her way across the state this week. McCaskill also toured areas of Dexter and Doniphan before making her way across the state this week.
According to Jim Pogue with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the levee is on schedule to be back up to 62.5 feet by the end of 2012. According to Jim Pogue with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the levee is on schedule to be back up to 62.5 feet by the end of 2012.
Area farmers feel they need to keep putting pressure on to get it finished. Area farmers feel they need to keep putting pressure on to get it finished.

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MISSISSIPPI COUNTY, MO (KFVS) -

Missouri U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill spent time in the Heartland Monday.

McCaskill toured the work being done on the New Madrid - Birds Point levee in Mississippi County.

McCaskill and other Missouri lawmakers took up the cause of rebuilding the levee after last year's blasts.

According to Jim Pogue with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the levee is on schedule to be back up to 62.5 feet by the end of 2012.

"Fifty-nine feet was not good enough," said Senator McCaskill. "We were not going to take no for an answer. I'm really pleased that they have in fact made the commitment to get it back up to the original height.

Meanwhile, area farmers feel they need to keep putting pressure on to get it finished.

"It should have been finished by last year," said Elott Raffety. "You need something to protect the food supply. If you don't keep the farmers healthy and I don't mean rich but healthy you lose the food supply."

Other farmers agree with Raffety, saying they appreciate it when their concerns are taken seriously.

"We are paying the price," said Tony Heckemeyer, who farms in Scott and Mississippi counties. "If our government does not start addressing the problems we are in serious trouble."

McCaskill also toured areas of Dexter and Doniphan before making her way across the state this week. As for Birds Point, she feels once the levee is rebuilt, it's time to look at repairing roads and other areas.

Copyright 2012 KFVS. All rights reserved.