If you have followed the national news in the past week, you will know that parts of IA, SD, MN and NE have recently seen catastrophic flooding due to record rainfall. Our area of NW Iowa has been particularly hard-hit, especially in the neighboring towns of Rock Valley and Hawarden. While we have sustained minimal damage, our neighbors less than a mile away were not so fortunate (see newsphoto screenshot. Although waters have now significantly receded, the ugly and messy cleanup of the aftermath now is in full force. Your continued thoughts and prayers are welcome in this clean-up and rebuilding time.