Firemen, volunteers protect homes in Kenton Heights from rain runoff

When heavy rains fall northwest of Grant, Pheasant Run Golf Course and Kenton Heights usually bear the brunt of the runoff. 

That was the case again Monday after heavy rains moved through the area Saturday and Sunday nights.

According to rain reports on NeRain and the Upper Republican Natural Resources District web sites, rainfall in that area exceeded 1.5 inches Saturday night along with nearly two more inches on Sunday night. 

That was on top of more than 5 inches of rain that fell north and northwest of Grant over the May 15th weekend. 

The golf course and housing area sit at a low point where rains in the area northwest of Grant naturally drain into. 

Last weekend’s rain nearly filled the large drainage area at the golf course and encroached on several fairways. 

With this weekend’s rain, runoff water covered the driving range and two other fairways on the course, #5 and #6. 

But the real issue became protecting homes in the housing area that sit just south of the golf course. 

Firemen began sandbagging around the home of Mike Hirsch Sunday night after runoff threatened the home in the northwest corner of the development. 

As runoff continued to pour in Monday, some outbuildings behind some homes were already inundated with water. 

Firemen began sandbagging two more homes on the south end of the development as the water continued to rise. 

Volunteers joined the firemen and homeowners in filling sandbags and carrying them to create a dike behind the homes of Trent and Angela Patrick and Jim and Peggy Burton. 

They also added some additional bags behind the Hirsch home Monday as well. 

The effort was completed by mid-afternoon Monday. 

A power takeoff-driven irrigation reuse pump was lowered into the water and began pumping water away from the area Monday afternoon. 

It continued to pump water Tuesday. 

The water drained underneath the highway filling ponds in a pasture owned by Marvin Stumpf. 

The golf course and housing area may not be out of the woods yet.

Forecasts call for additional rain Wednesday with showers and storms predicted over the Memorial Day weekend.