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By Amanda Harris

Authorities in Izard and Sharp counties spent Monday searching an area west of Evening Shade, looking for a 20-year old college student missing since early Sunday.

Sharp County Sheriff Dale Weaver said the search for Shane Stauffer centered near the Piney Creek area.

Weaver said Stauffer, who is a student at the University of Central Arkansas in Conway, left a friend's home at about 3 a.m. Sunday on his way to his parents' home in the Western Sharp County community of Hamlet Springs. Both a ground and air search were conducted Monday in western Sharp County and northern Izard County, the sheriff said.

"We had a Baxter County helicopter and a local man fly his plane over the area Monday. Also, we have searched the creek with individuals, firefighters, sheriff's deputies and family members," Weaver said.

Weaver noted Stauffer last made a call on his cell phone about 3:10 a.m. Sunday, and the phone has not been used since.

Stauffer was driving a 2000 red Chevrolet Blazer, with license plate number 162 KCJ, Weaver said.

Stauffer is described as a 5'8", 178 pound man with brown hair and blue eyes.

Anyone who has seen Stauffer is urged to call the Sharp County Sheriff's Department at (870) 994-7329 or the Izard County Sheriff's Department at (870) 368-4203.

Randolph County

In Randolph County Judge David Jansen is pleased to report flooding isn't near as bad as it was following a storm that drenched the county in September.

"It's not nearly as devastating as it was in September," the judge stressed. He said he believes conditions are better because the rain fell over the course of four days as opposed to September when rains fell much more rapidly.

Regardless, there are several roads closed. Some are closed due to high water, but Baker Den Road is closed because a low water bridge washed out, Jansen said.

Jansen estimated anywhere from four to six inches of rain have fallen on Randolph County, which caused rapidly flowing waters to damage approaches to many of the county's low water bridges.

The judge said he's waiting on the water to recede so that he and other Road Department officials can survey the damage.

In the Upper James Creek area roads are closed due to high water, while roads in the flat land areas, such as around U.S. 67, are closed because river levels are rising.

The good news is no one is stranded.

No injuries have been reported because of the flooding.

Craighead County

Craighead County Judge Dale Haas said in spite of having "five or six inches of rain" countywide conditions were in good shape overall.

"A lot of county roads are under water, including a number of farm fields. We don't have any crews out working on the situation though, and that is good. We do have foremen checking on things," Haas continued.

The rising waters had not resulted in any reported property damage as of Monday afternoon, according to the judge.

In Jonesboro, 3.98 inches of rain fell between Friday and 7 a.m. Monday, according to the National Weather Service.

Mayor Doug Formon said the Street Department responded to only one call regarding flooding.

A drainage pipe under Arkansas 18 (East Highland Drive) had clogged, causing water to back up along Arch and Henry streets. A machine capable of sending 2,000 pounds per square inch of water through the pipe was used to clear the blockage.

Street Superintendent Teddy Hooton said crews also cleaned out debris from other ditches throughout the city.

Hooton said the department also responded to a call Sunday morning on Arlington Court, where water had entered a basement. Hooton said he wasn't sure of the source of the problem because the city's ditches in that area were clean.

Formon and Hooton said that, despite the large amount of rain the city received, damage was surprisingly light.

"I went out and bought me some boots because I knew it was coming," Formon said. "We got lucky. It was good, steady rains and no downpours."

By Monday afternoon, Hooton had turned his attention to preparing for possible icing on local bridges as a result of the leftover moisture. Sand trucks had been readied and employees were on call, he said.

Greene County

Greene County Judge Jesse Dollars said some of the county's roads were flooded, but most all were passable.

The worst areas were concentrated in the Delaplaine and O'Kean areas, according to the county judge.

"It's not quite as bad as we thought it would be," Dollars said.

Until the water goes down there's not much road department workers can do, he continued.

"We're just keeping an eye on everything," the judge added.

As of Monday afternoon no county roads were closed. However, officials closed Greene 765 Road on Saturday night after two drainage tiles washed out from under a stretch of blacktop.

The road was repaired and reopened Sunday morning, Dollars noted.

No injuries were reported as a result of the flooding, though the National Weather Service reported 5.44 inches of rain fell in Paragould between Friday and Monday morning.

Lawrence County

Lawrence County Judge Alex Latham described his county as "fortunate," noting to his knowledge no one had been hurt due to the recent rains.

There were several roads under water however.

"We've got a lot of surplus water," he said, explaining there is a lot of water with no where to go.

He predicts it will take about five days for waters to recede.

Some roads are under deep water, Latham said, noting he would recommend motorists find an alternate route rather than driving through the standing water.

Though no roads were closed Monday, he anticipated three or four county roads would be closed this morning.

Poinsett County

Marvin Krauss, Poinsett County Office of Emergency Services coordinator, said Monday the county was spared major flooding, but noted that several gravel roads near Harrisburg and Trumann were under water.

Krauss said the roads were near the L'Anguille River along Arkansas 14 and in the Trumann area.

The coordinator noted a slow, consistent rain helped to avoid the major flooding felt in other counties.

However, he said county officials would watch the St. Francis and Little rivers in the next several days as waters from the north move south.

Krauss noted the rains will have an added effect on the area.

"At least the ducks will be happy," he said.

Clay County

Clay County Judge Gary Howell reported several roads in his county were under water, including one road near Hickoria, which is south of McDougal, two or three more north of Pollard and some near the community of Nimmons.

In general, the roads under water are the roads that most commonly flood during periods of heavy rains.

Howell anticipates several of these roads will have damage.

"We would rather take the water over the ice," the county judge added, noting no one was injured or strained due to the weekend rains.

Sun staff writers Michael Wilkey and Anthony Childress contributed to this report.

amandah@jonesborosun.com