Flooding causes Rockford area businesses to shut down
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<p align="justify">Flooding caused production to grind to a halt at several shops, while the threat of a dam break shuttered most of the businesses on Charles Street near 20th Avenue.
<p align="justify">In Loves Park, rainwater started pouring into factories along Beacon Street before 3 a.m. By midday, workers at Modern Metal Products Co., a maker of automotive seat components, were scooping up mud, hauling carpet and relocating office furniture.
<p align="justify">"We'll lose at least a day's production," said President David Ewing. "We may have to incur some special freight costs. Obviously, cleanup is going to be substantial."
<p align="justify">In Cherry Valley, car dealership Wheels by RT and Pepper Creek Florist and Garden Center both sustained flood damage, said village officials.
<p align="justify">Fearing that the rising water at Alpine dam might crest the Reuben Aldeen spillway, Rockford police advised business owners and residents to leave the Charles and 20th street area. Many businesses complied, leaving most of Rockford Plaza's shops shuttered. By early afternoon, the threat had subsided, but the parking lots at Stockholm Inn and the SwedishAmerican clinic were still empty.
<p align="justify">Mechanics at Plaza Auto Service called customers and had them retrieve their cars. But across the street, business owner Dave Carter, president of telecommunications provider Rock River Service Co., opted not to leave his shop.
<p align="justify">For many of these businesses, Tuesday was a near-repeat - or worse - of last year's Labor Day flood.
<p align="justify">"We were just absolutely devastated last year," Carter said. "In excess of $30,000 in damage last year - most of which is not covered under insurance."
<p align="justify">Carter said he was going to install tile instead of replacing his ruined carpet, which had been submerged under more than a foot of water. As his shoes squished on the soaked fibers, he pointed out that the carpet was less than a year old.
Staff writer Nate Legue may be reached at 815-987-1346 or nlegue@rrstar.com.</font>