Gov. Kim Reynolds has issued a disaster emergency proclamation for six Northwest Iowa counties in response to severe weather that occurred on June 12.
The governor's proclamation activates the Iowa Individual Assistance Grant Program and Disaster Case Advocacy Program for the counties of Carroll, Clay, Dickinson, Emmet, Harrison, and O'Brien.
The Iowa Individual Assistance Grant Program provides grants of up to $5,000 for certain households, depending upon family incomes. Grants are available for home or car repairs, replacement of clothing or food, and temporary housing expenses.
People in the region continue to grapple with weather-related situations. High lake levels have meant that boaters on Dickinson County lakes cannot exceed 5 mph, and a flood advisory is in place through June 22.
*Optimism by Sioux City officials for a hotel to be added near Sioux Gateway Airport has taken a hit, as earlier this week a potential developer was found to not have sufficient financing to move forward.
The Sioux City Council members had taken steps in recent weeks to clear space near the airport for a hotel, plus also a convenience store and warehouses. In early June, they approved the second reading of a plan to vacate airport-area streets, in order to clear room for the $20 million project planned on 14 acres by Midwest Hotels LLC.
However, Midwest Hotels has since failed to show to the city to have the needed financing. City officials will seek to find another developer to complete the project, as they assert that a hotel near the airport will be a good addition.
If the project gets back on track, the area near the airport would greatly change, with four streets and 43 houses to be demolished.
*The death of a Northwest Iowa trucker who disappeared last year was not a homicide, according to the state medical examiner.
Sac County Attorney Ben Smith confirmed that finding on Wednesday, and he expects to release more details before the end of the week.
The body of 53-year-old David Schultz of Wall Lake was found by a farmer in April one mile from where his semi was found abandoned five months earlier. Volunteers conducted extensive searches along rural roads and fields in Sac County to try and find him.
The Iowa Department of Criminal Investigation previously said there were “no signs of trauma or serious injury.” However, his wife felt foul play was involved.
*After three straight weeks of declines, gas prices in Iowa rose this week by 3 cents.
In pricing data from AAA, the average price for self-serve unleaded rose over the week by 3 cents to $3.18 per gallon.
Many Sioux City and surrounding town stations are selling unleaded this week in the range from $2.92 to $3.22.
Compared to one year ago, the current $3.18 average price is down 12 cents. The national average unleaded gas price is $3.45.
