Failed fight to keep the Decorah JC Penney's store open attracted attention in Des Moines

One of the Des Moines television stations is publcizing Decorah's efforts to keep the JC Penney's store from closing.  (Note: Penney's officials have now confirmed the store will close JUly 31st).  WHO-TV, the NBC affiliate in Des Moines, interviewed Decorah Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Kristina Wiltgen and Decorah mayor Don Arendt for their story.  You can see it at: http://whotv.com/2017/04/14/decorah-residents-fighting-to-keep-j-c-penney-store-in-business/

Meanwhile, a survey of other on-line petitions asking JC Penney's to keep stores open in 138 communities showed Decorah had by far the best support.  As of Sunday morning, here are the signature of Decorah's petition and other similar petitions:

4,257 supporters in Decorah
2,592 supporters in Thief River Falls, Minnesota
698 signatures in Fairmont, Minnesota
469 signatures in Oskaloosa, Iowa
110 signatures in Greeneville, Tennessee
71 signatures in Longmont, Colorado