A new book authored by Dennis Knobloch on the history of flooding in Valmeyer is now available for purchase, as is a new song recorded by local band The Trophy Mules.

Sales from both will go toward the development of a museum in the village by the Valmeyer Community Heritage Society.

Knobloch, the former mayor of Valmeyer, has just released his book entitled “49.58 and ankle deep on first base — A Flooding History.”

This 395-page book details the floods of the 1940s, with major concentration on the Flood of 1993, which forever changed Valmeyer and the surrounding area.

“If there is a lesson to be learned from the 1993 flood, it is that there is always a higher power that we have to answer to… that life will always throw up road blocks,” Knobloch writes. “And if that happens, you can admit defeat, or you can take a step to the side and move forward. The best option is to choose the latter.”

Cost of the book is $25, and it is available at Valmeyer Village Hall and at the Republic-Times newspaper office in Waterloo (205 W. Mill Street).

Also made available for purchase this week is the new song “Valmeyer” co-written by Republic-Times editor Corey Saathoff and performed by his band The Trophy Mules.

“Big river came down, wiped out this whole town. Memories from the flood, water lines marked by mud,” Saathoff sings in the chorus.

Saathoff helped write the song with his friend, Isaiah Cummings.

The song may be downloaded online for just $1 (or more if you’d like) at http://thetrophymules.bandcamp.com.

All sales of the song will go to the Valmeyer Community Heritage Society for museum development.