Winds hinder cemetery Memorial Day preps
SIOUX FALLS, SD (KELO) — Our blustery, wet weather is creating challenges at some cemeteries in KELOLAND that are preparing for the Memorial Day holiday weekend.
Sioux Falls' oldest cemetery is picking up branches that have been knocked down by the strong winds.
Former deputy sheriff charged with rape after standoff
The week prior to Memorial Day is always a busy time at Mount Pleasant Cemetery.
'Memorial Day weekend coming up is our Super Bowl here in cemetery-land,' Mount Pleasant Cemetery Executive Director Matt Gage said
But the windy weather has forced Mount Pleasant to play catch up with some emergency landscaping.
'It's been a hard spring for us, Perry. This morning, we're dealing with tree branches everywhere from the winds last night. We're dealing with downed trees in the backgrounds,' Gage said.
Gage says he'll have to cut down this tree was was split open by the wind. Placing flowers at the grave sites will have to wait until Tuesday, at the earliest.
'I have volunteers coming out to start on that tomorrow, even if I gotta put them in ponchos,' Gage said.
The cemetery has ordered 93 memorial planters from Oakridge Nursery & Landscaping in Brandon.
'The annual planters we have were started usually around the end of March, first of April. We grow them in our greenhouses until they're ready to go outside. They'll come pick them up right before Memorial Day,' Oakridge Nursery & Landscaping Owner Daemon Coughlin said.
Despite the weather-related setbacks, Gage is confident he'll have the cemetery ready for all the families who are honoring their loved ones who are buried here this weekend.
'To me, that's what's special about Memorial Day out here, is seeing those families interact, take care of their graves that their families have and reconnect with their past,' Gage said.
Gage says he's hiring a team of professional mowers instead of having his staff take on the job all by themselves.
He estimates less than half of the 50-acre cemetery has been mowed ahead of the holiday weekend.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
19 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Storm Center AM Update: Mainly Quiet into Monday; Warmth to Return
SIOUX FALLS, SD (KELO) — While most of the day is shaping up to be mainly quiet (Beyond one exception that we'll get to in a moment), we'll also have to contend with smoky skies once again. Smoke from Canadian wildfires will travel along the jet stream and move into the Northern Plains. Those of you with respiratory problems will need to keep this in mind, as air quality concerns will be in place. Visibility may be less than ideal at times as well. Like I mentioned earlier, much of the day is mainly quiet…but the exception is to the northeast. Some scattered showers and maybe an isolated rumble of thunder or two will be possible as a little impulse of energy sweeps in from north to south. While coverage is sparse, it'll be something to consider if you have outdoor plans. A few of these sprinkles may try to head into southeastern KELOLAND, but that will be the exception to the rule. Monday and Tuesday are shaping up to be mainly quiet days beyond a few isolated showers here and there across portions of the region. Better chances for rain arrive as we head into the second half of the week. With heat building, we'll have a little more fuel to work with for pop-up showers and thunderstorms from Wednesday through Friday. While the overall severe threat is pretty low here, it'll still be something to consider if you have outdoor plans in the second half of the week. We'll dry to dry out as we head into the weekend. All the while, that heat that I mentioned sticks around. Widespread 80s with a few 90s are possible from Tuesday through the end of the week, so plan accordingly. Here's a look at your extended forecast: Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
19 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Sunday Morning Forecast: Severe Storms Late Tonight.
TODAY: 20% Chance of Thunderstorms After 4:00 A.M. Some Possibly Severe. Mostly Sunny. High 92. Heat Index 103. Wind S 5 mph. SUNDAY NIGHT: Increasing Clouds. 50% Chance of Thunderstorms. Some Possibly Severe. Low 70. Wind S 5. MONDAY: Partly Cloudy. 50% Chance of Thunderstorms. High 86. Wind S 5 / NW NIGHT: Mostly Cloudy. 60% Chance of Thunderstorms. Heavy Rainfall Possible. Low 69. Wind N Mostly Cloudy. 60% Chance of Thunderstorms. High NIGHT: 40% Chance of Thunderstorms. Low 60% Chance of Thunderstorms. High NIGHT: 40% Chance of Storms. Low 60% Chance of Storms. High NIGHT: 30% Chance of Storms. Low 40% Chance of Storms. High NIGHT: Mostly Cloudy. Low 20% Chance of Storms. High 91. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
34 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Warm and breezy Sunday with a chance of pop-up storms
(PINPOINT WEATHER) — We're warm and quiet to start this Sunday, but storm chances will return to finish off the weekend. Overnight lows have settled in the mid to upper 60s with partly cloudy skies kicking off this Sunday morning. Winds are light out of the southwest but will pick up later today. Highs will make a run for the upper 80s as winds gust as fast as 25 miles per hour at times. Our breezy and hot afternoon will also feature pop-up storms that will likely develop after 3 p.m. today. Storms will have the potential to pack a punch in the form of damaging winds and large hail. This threat will put us under a marginal and slight risk for severe weather today, with the highest threat sitting south and east of Uptown. Storms taper off tonight as lows fall into the upper 60s overnight. We'll be stormy and hot to kick off the work week as Monday continues our weekend summerlike pattern. Be on the lookout for another round of potentially severe thunderstorms to develop heading into Monday afternoon. Monday will see a slight risk for severe weather yet again, with the threat of storms present. We'll see lower storm chances throughout the week, but temperatures will stay locked in near 90 degrees through the weekend. Today: Mix of Sun & Clouds with Afternoon Storms. High: 88. Tonight: Partly Cloudy & Comfortable. Low: 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
