LEAVENWORTH, Kan. — As the Missouri River continues to rise in the Leavenworth, Kansas, area, the forecast for one of the city's largest fundraisers hasn't changed.
Organizers expect this weekend's 17th annual Taste of Leavenworth fundraiser to go on as planned.
"You know the city is taking precautions and everything, and I really don't think we're going to have any problem because of that," said John Sanders, president of the Board of Directors of the Leavenworth Historical Museum Association Inc.
Landing Park and a section of South Second Street have been closed due to flooding, but Sanders said he isn't letting that affect his Saturday plans. The Taste of Leavenworth raises money for three museums in town: the C.W. Parker Carousel Museum, the National Fred Harvey Museum and the First City Museum.
More than 400 people are expected to attend the event in hopes of raising $20,000. Those donations would cover insurance for the three museums for one year. Without the event, Sanders said the museums would likely have to close their doors.
Most people that attend Taste of Leavenworth come from around the area. Sanders is hoping the rising water won't lower Saturday's turnout.
"If it really got worse, we could have, but hopefully we don't have one of those 100-year floods," Sanders said.
As of 2 p.m. Wednesday, the National Weather Service recorded the Missouri River in Leavenworth at more than 25 feet. The river reaches its minor flood stage at 20 feet and its moderate flood stage at 24 feet.
The Leavenworth area remained under a flood warning Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service.
Tickets for Taste of Leavenworth can be purchased for $25 in advance or $30 at the door. The event will be held at the Eagles Lodge from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday.
