Date: 09/02/2010

The last of four saturation patrols of Sioux County highways is underway today. The Sioux County Sheriffs Department and Iowa State Patrol troopers intend to slow drivers and make them more aware of safety rules. Sioux County ranks among the top 20 in Iowa for traffic injury and fatal accidents over the past five years. The concentrated enforcement is along Iowa Highway 10, from Granville to Hawarden.

This summer is one of the wettest in state history, but not number one. State climatologist Harry Hillaker says 1993 had 26.83 inches of rain on a statewide average, the most ever. This covers the months of June through August. This year is second wettest at 23.23 inches. In northwest Iowa, several communities set summer records for rainfall: Cherokee, Hawarden, Holstein, Lemars, Primghar, Sanborn, Sioux Center, Sioux City, Sioux Rapids, and Spencer all had record rains for the period. Primghar and Sioux Center broke all-time rainfall records that stood since 1900.

The growth of the midwest economy continues to outpace the rest of the country, but that will change in the coming months. Dr. Ernie Goss, author of a monthly survey of purchasing managers, says growth is slowing down, and the rest of the country will catch up. There remains uncertainty over the future of the economy heading into fall. One concern is over what congress will do with the Bush administration tax cuts, which are set to expire at the end of the year. While the Obama administration promises that only the highest incomes will be exposed to increased taxes, there has been no move to exempt middle or lower income families. The leading indicator for Iowa and the rest of the midwest was lower for a third straight month, but still above growth-neutral.

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