News

DNR Encouraging People To Stay Off Lakes & Rivers Due To Unsafe Conditions

June 22, 2024

(Des Moines)– The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is urging people to stay off streams, rivers and lakes due to dangerous conditions from high water levels and wastewater bypasses. The agency says several wastewater collection and treatment systems have reported bypasses to the DNR’s Spencer field office, along with some animal feeding operations. The discharges […]

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City Of Spencer Opens Sandbagging Site

June 22, 2024

(Spencer)– The city of Spencer has opened a sandbagging site. It’s located north of Pedersen Park on 10th Avenue east. In addition to Spencer residents, the site is also available to residents throughout Clay county. City officials in Spencer are also requesting people not operate motorized boats on the Little Sioux River given the extremely […]

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Estherville Officials Prepare For Possible Major Flooding On W. Fork Of Des Moines River

June 21, 2024

(Estherville)– City officials in Estherville say they’re preparing for the possibility of major flooding on the west fork of the Des Moines River. The city has opened a sandbagging location across from the VFW, where the city dumps snow. City officials say based on current projections, the river in Estherville is currently expected to crest […]

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Dickinson County Advising NO TRAVEL On County Roads Overnight Tonight (Fri.)

June 21, 2024

(Spirit Lake)– Authorities in Dickinson county are advising no travel on rural roads overnight tonight (Friday). Dickinson County Emergency Management and the county’s Secondary Roads Department tell us many secondary roads have water flowing over them and that any additional rains will only make the situation worse, especially after dark.

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IGL Sanitary District Pleading With Residents To Cutback On Water Usage As Wastewater Bypasses Continue

June 21, 2024

(Milford)– A number of cities along with the Iowa Great Lakes Sanitary District, are once again bypassing wastewater. Steve Anderson of the Sanitary District says the treatment plant is completely overwhelmed. He says the Department of Natural Resources is aware of it… Anderson urges EVERYONE to cut back on water usage for as much as […]

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Emergency Management Official: Federal Disaster Declaration May Be Sought

June 21, 2024

(Spirit Lake)– The dollar amount of damage to infrastructure caused by the flooding is starting to add up. In fact, Dickinson County Emergency Management Coordinator Mike Ehret says they’re thinking about seeking a federal disaster declaration along with some other counties in the region… Ehret says a number of Dickinson county roads have water over […]

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5 MPH Limit On All Dickinson County Lakes Continues, But There Is An Exception

June 21, 2024

(Spirit Lake)– The Dickinson County Emergency Management Commission met this (Fri.) afternoon and voted to continue with the 5 mph speed limit on all lakes in Dickinson county, but they did vote eight to two to allow an exemption for dock service providers and marinas provided their vessels are properly marked and have an amber […]

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Close Call In Clay County When Vehicle Winds Up In Water-Filled Ditch

June 21, 2024

(Spencer)– There was a close call this (Fri.) morning when a vehicle wound up in a water-filled ditch in Clay county. The Clay County Sheriff’s Office says Norma Hanson of rural Spencer was driving a 2022 GMC Terrain in the 2300 mile of 300th Street when the vehicle started to hydroplane, causing her to lose […]

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Dickinson Co. Emergency Management Commission Meeting Again To Discuss High Lake Levels

June 21, 2024

(Undated)– A lot of attention obviously remains focused on lake levels in the Iowa Great Lakes after another 2 to 3 inches of rain fell in the immediate area overnight with much higher amounts just to our west. Portions of O’Brien and Osceola counties, as well as Rock county in southwest Minnesota, saw more than […]

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Extremely Heavy Rain Has Some Communities Asking People To Cut Back On Water Usage

June 21, 2024

(Undated)– A number of communities in the area are asking residents to reduce water usage as much as possible as waste water facilities are at or near capacity due to extremely heavy rain that hit the region overnight. Areas of Osceola county have received in excess of five inches. Extensive flooding is also being reported […]

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