National Weather Services Say We Could See Some Flooding From Thursday’s Rain And Snow.
(Le Mars) — Spring may start this evening, but the weather forecast doesn’t show spring-like conditions. Lance Vanden Boogart is a meteorologist with the National Weather Services of Sioux Falls. He is predicting two days of very wet conditions.
People will recall it was at this time a year ago when we had sustained massive flooding. Vanden Boogart says although there is a possibility for some flooding, he says conditions are different this year from last year.
However, the National Weather Services has issued Flood Warnings for some of the region’s rivers, including the Big Sioux River. Vanden Boogart says other area rivers may not encounter much, if any, flooding.
The weather meteorologist says if any flooding should occur, it should not last very long. He says by the weekend we will have drier conditions which will limit the flooding potential.
Orange City Chamber To Implement Rebate Program To Help Community Businesses
(Orange City) — The Orange City Chamber of Commerce is doing what it can to help its businesses and restaurants during this time of heighten awareness of the coronavirus. As a way to encourage people to continue doing business within the community, the Orange City Chamber is issuing a rebate program.
Mike Hofman is the executive director with the Orange City Chamber of Commerce and explains how the rebate program will work.
Hofman says the program starts immediately. He says the Orange City Chamber already has build-up funds amounting to $50,000 for the program, and he is hoping to add more for the program.
The Orange City Chamber official says the maximum amount of a purchase for the rebate program is $1000. Hofman says the local grocery stores are excluded from the rebate offer program, but otherwise it does include many of the small businesses and restaurants in Orange City and Alton.
Hofman says many of the Orange City and Alton dine-in restaurants have now begun offering take-out and delivery services.
Orange City Officials Still Hopeful They Will Have A Tulip Festival
(Orange City) — Despite the fact Pella has cancelled its Tulip Time Festival, Mike Hofman says Orange City officials are still hopeful they can continue with their annual tulip festival.
This year marks the 80th anniversary for the Orange City Tulip Festival, as well as Orange City’s Sesquicentennial Celebration. Hofman says organizers of the celebrations are hoping they will be able to proceed.
The Orange City Tulip Festival and Orange City Sesquicentennial celebration are scheduled for May 14th, 15th, and 16th.
Floyd Valley Physician Answers Questions About COVID-19
(Le Mars) — A physician at Floyd Valley Healthcare wants to make certain people know the facts as they relate to the spread of the COVID-19, coronavirus. Dr. Steven Meis has been a medical physician in Le Mars for 27 years. Meis says we don’t need to panic, but we do need to be aware, concerned, and cautious of the wide spread virus.
Meis says the other consideration we all need to remember is the coronavirus can mutate and multiply fairly quickly.
Meis says the medical industry is hoping to slow down the rate of exposure and positive cases in Iowa, by having schools, offices, businesses, and other entities being shut down.
The Floyd Valley physician says he hopes the rate of contamination can be maintained at a fairly level pace.
KLEM will feature additional comments from Dr. Meis as he further discusses the facts about coronavirus.
Nebraska Man Convicted Of Multiple Charges
SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – A Nebraska man who was fired upon by a Sioux City officer has been convicted of several charges. A judge found Douglas St. Cyr guilty of assault on a police officer, leaving the scene of an accident and guilty of several other crimes. The nonjury trial was held Nov. 5, and the judge filed the verdicts Monday.
Police have said St. Cyr rammed the undercover officer’s car on July 31 and fled. The officer fired at St. Cyr but missed him and three other people in the car.
Bankers Expect To See Midwest Economy To Slow Down
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – A new survey of bankers in rural parts of 10 Plains and Western states suggests they expect the economy to slow down over the next few months as the nation deals with the coronavirus outbreak. The overall index for the region fell to 35.5 in March from February’s healthy 51.6 reading. Any score below 50 suggests a shrinking economy. Creighton University economist Ernie Goss said 61 percent of the bankers surveyed expect the measures being taken to fight the coronavirus to lead to a recession. Bankers from Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming were surveyed.
