Winona port hit by floods, bridge close, late thaw
by The Associated Press

WINONA -- More than 100 barges are stranded in Winona's commercial harbor as they wait for the reopening of Mississippi River locks and dams that have been closed due to flooding in Iowa, Illinois and Missouri.

The delays are another blow for Winona businesses that ship grain down river, following on the heels of a late thaw and the closure of the highway bridge between Winona and Wisconsin.

The delays are having an effect, with barge traffic in the commercial harbor down 36 percent from the same time last year. The manager of one grain shipper, CHS, says it's the slowest start to the shipping season in 20 years.

Barge traffic likely won't be able to resume until after July 5, when the locks and dams are tentatively scheduled to reopen.