MEMPHIS, Tenn., October 1, 2004– Reelfoot Levee District of Lake and Obion counties is
scheduled to receive an Outstanding Maintenance Award (OMA) from the U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers Oct. 5 at 11:30 a.m. at the Lake County Courthouse in Tiptonville, Tenn.
Col. Charles O. Smithers III, commander of the Corps’ Memphis District, will present the OMA
to Jerome Shumate, of Tiptonville, president of the Levee District. The award recognizes that the Levee District exceeded the Corps’ maintenance program requirements for levees, channels, and other flood control structures.
The levee district is responsible for the maintenance of about 4½ miles of Mississippi River levee
that begins at the Kentucky-Tennessee state line and runs downstream.
These structures and others, such as channels and floodwalls, are designed to provide drainage
and reduce flooding, and are vital links in an extensive network within the Lower Mississippi Valley.
The Corps conducts annual inspections to ensure that there are no weak links in the system.
Release no. 04-19