BECAUSE OF THIS SPRING'S CHANGEABLE WEATHER, ORANGE CITY'S TULIPS HAVE COME AND GONE, BUT THAT IS NOT PREVENTING THE CITIZENS FROM HOSTING THEIR ANNUAL TULIP FESTIVAL. ASHLEY SARAS, DIRECTOR OF MARKETING AND PUBLIC RELATIONS SAYS THERE WILL BE TULIPS, JUST NOT IN THE GROUND:
THIS YEAR"S FESTIVAL BOASTS A MYRIAD OF ACTIVITIES AND SOME NEW THINGS FOR FOLKS TO ENJOY:
SARAS SAYS THE FESTIVAL BEGINS TONIGHT WITH A SPECIAL PROGRAM, BUT THE MAJORITY OF THE EVENTS TAKE PLACE OVER THURSDAY, FRIDAY AND SATURDAY OF THIS WEEK. SHE ADDS THAT THE THREE DAY EVENT IS MUCH MORE THAN THE TULIPS AND DESPITE THE LACK OF TULIPS IN THE GROUND, THE COMMUNITY IS EXPECTNG ABOUT 100 THOUSAND VISITORS.
FOR A COMPLETE LIST OF ACTIVITIES AND TIMES SURF TO O C TULIP FESTIVAL DOT COM.
A majority of voters stayed away from the polls during tuesday's Nebraska primary. Only 15 per cent of registered voters cast ballots in Dakota County, a disappointing turnout considering the county used bi-lingual ballots to try and attract more hispanic voters to turn out for this election.
The biggest suprise may have come in the Republican primary for the U.S. Senate. State Senator Deb Fischer beat state attorney general Jon Bruning and state treasurer Don Stenberg for the right to face Democratic winner Bob Kerrey in November.
Fischer walked away with 41% of the votes against Bruning's 36% and Stenberg's 19%. Her campaign got a boost last week when Sarah Palin endorsed her. She won despite being outspent by each of her two better known opponents. Whoever wins in November between Fischer and Kerrey, who formerly held a U.S. Senate seat, will replace the retiring Ben Nelson in Washington D.C.
All three Republican Congressmen, Jeff Fortenberry, Lee Terry, and Adrian Smith won easily. Democrat Korey Reiman will oppose Fortenberry in November.
Incumbent Dave Bloomfield, who was appointed to the Unicameral in 2010, and former South Sioux City educator Van Phillips were the top two vote getters for the District 17 state senate seat.Bloomfield collected over 50% of the votes in the three county district race which had four candidates entered.
Eight of nine candidates running for four seats on the South Sioux City Council advanced to the November election. Randy Meyer failed to make the cut.
All three Democrats and the lone Republican running for the Dakota County Commission advanced.
In the Republican presidential primary, Mitt Romney won with over 70 per cent of the vote.
Jim Pillen and David Copple were the top two finishers in the district 3 state board of regents race.
A NEW WATER TREATMENT PLANT IS UP AND RUNNING AND SERVING THE SOUTHBRIDGE AREA OF SIOUX CITY.
PLANT SUPERVISOR RICK MACH SAYS THE 27 MILLION DOLLAR PROJECT CONTAINS THE LATEST TECHNOLOGY TO PROVIDE FRESH WATER TO THE SOUTHBRIDGE AND PORT NEAL AREAS, AS WELL AS PART OF MORNINGSIDE:
MACH SAYS STREET IMPROVEMENTS, INCLUDING RELOCATING PART OF HARBOR DRIVE, PLUS A NEW WELL FIELD AND WATER PIPES BRING THE CITY'S TOTAL INVESTMENT TO 52 MILLION DOLLARS.
HE SAYS THE PLANT CAN BE EXPANDED TO A 30 MILLION GALLON PER DAY CAPACITY AS THE SOUTHBRIDGE INDUSTRIAL PARK ADDS NEW BUSINESSES.
THE PLANT WILL WORK IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE CITY'S MAIN WATER PLANT ON TRI VIEW AVENUE.
NEBRASKA VOTERS ARE TURNING OUT IN MODERATE NUMBERS FOR THE STATE PRIMARY TODAY. DAKOTA COUNTY CLERK TED PIEPHO SAYS POLLING PLACES IN HIS COUNTY HAVE NOT BEEN OVERLY BUSY.
DOUGLAS AND LANCASTER COUNTY ELECTION OFFICIALS SAY THEY EXPECT A TOTAL VOTER TURNOUT OF AROUND 23 PER CENT....DOWN FROM AROUND 26 PER CENT IN 2008.
A BIGGER TURNOUT WAS HOPED FOR PARTLY BECAUSE OF THE THREE WAY RACE FOR THE REPUBLICAN NOMINATION FOR U.S. SENATOR.
JON BRUNING, DEB FISCHER AND DON STENBERG ARE HOPING TO GET THE G-O-P NOMINATION FOR THE SENATE SEAT BEING VACATED BY DEMOCRAT BEN NELSON.
IN DISTRICT 17 FOR THE UNICAMERAL, FOUR CANDIDATES ARE ON THE BALLOT WITH THE TOP 2 ADVANCING TO THE NOVEMBER ELECTION.
THERE ARE 9 CANDIDATES COMPETING FOR 8 SPOTS ON THE NOVEMBER BALLOT FOR THE SOUTH SIOUX CITY COUNCIL. THE POLLS ARE OPEN UNTIL 8PM.
