After months of renovation and construction, a massive new city park is opening today (Saturday) along the Missouri River in Council Bluffs. Larry Foster, the city’s park and recreation director, says big crowds are expected at River’s Edge Park for the start of a three-day festival called Loessfest, after the region’s rolling Loess Hills, along with another series of celebratory events that will run through June 8th. “Every day, there’s something new that’s being done to be completely ready for the big festivals,” Foster says. “For example, we sodded the entire north grove of trees, that’s all completed.”

The legendary music act, the Beach Boys will open the event tonight (Saturday) with the Omaha Symphony and fireworks Sunday. All events during the three-day Memorial Day weekend are free. There will be many events held in the 11-million-dollar park over the summer including outdoor movies, soccer tournaments and more. Foster says there are still a few finishing touches to be done before the 90-acre park officially opens. The Great Lawn alone covers five acres. “One thing going on is getting the Grand Light Show that is going to be displayed on the Great Lawn working and functional,” he says. “We’re obviously excited about the Beach Boys and the symphony and fireworks and Memorial Day weekend.”

The new River’s Edge Park is located at the base of the Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge which links Council Bluffs and Omaha. Foster expects many people attending the College World Series will take the short hike over the bridge to enjoy Iowa hospitality. “If you’ve got a break between games, a nice little walk over to River’s Edge Park, go down to the river and enjoy the park and the festivities,” Foster says. “It’s going to be a real asset to the entire metro area. That’s always how we’ve seen it as we’ve been putting it together in Council Bluffs.” A permanent display at the park, entitled Rays, is a half-million dollar installation, an eight-minute light show that repeats on the hour and half-hour.

Decades ago, the area was known at Playland Park. It held an amusement park and a race track that was a hub for activity from the late 1940s through 1970.

(Radio Iowa)

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

DAYTON, Iowa (AP) — Authorities are scaling back their search for a missing Iowa teenager abducted from a rural school bus stop this week. The state Department of Public Safety says trained law enforcement will narrow their search around Dayton today for 15-year-old Kathlynn Shepard. Authorities say they’re focusing on terrain that’s difficult to navigate and requires specialized skills and equipment, so citizen volunteers are not needed this weekend.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say a suspicious package that required explosives teams to investigate was actually a cooler with food. The Cedar Rapids Police Department says officers were notified about the package yesterday morning. Authorities closed the street where the package was discovered and called in explosive ordinance device teams from Linn County and Marion police.

CHARLES CITY, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Department of Natural Resources says about 49,000 gallons of ethanol leaked from railroad tanker cars after a derailment east of Charles City. The DNR said yesterday this week’s leak into the Little Cedar River was greater than had been previously estimated, but initial monitoring indicates normal oxygen levels in the river. Workers haven’t found any dead or distressed fish downstream so far.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A World War Two veteran has received his high school diploma, albeit 72 years late. North High School in Des Moines gave U.S. Navy veteran Vernon Young an honorary diploma at a graduation ceremony yesterday. He enlisted for service just months before he was scheduled to graduate.

The Stuart Police Department reports a man and a woman were arrested Friday morning   in Los Angeles, CA in connection to the Monday afternoon (May 20th) robbery of the First State Bank in Stuart. Twenty-Eight year old Wayne Eugene Palmer, Jr., and 19-year old Hannah Elizabeth Reisinger, both of whom are from Carlisle, PA., were taken into custody by the LAPD/FBI Los Angeles Fugitive Task Force. The pair were arrested after Stuart Police officers worked overnight in locating the suspects, using information that was obtained during their investigation.

This past Tuesday, officers from the Stuart Police Department and Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office searched a room at a Super 8 in Adair, and were able to locate evidence from the bank robbery. The evidence obtained from Super 8 linked the two suspects to the crime. Stuart officers then began tracking the suspects and were able to locate them Friday in the Los Angeles area.

A call was made to the FTF. When the Task Force responded to the hotel, officers observed a man and a woman walking towards a car that matched the description given to them by Stuart officers. LAPD Detective Anthony Verret said “We saw a car that matched the description and when the suspects walked up to the car we immediately took them into custody.” Charges against the suspects are currently pending. Both suspects will be extradited to Iowa.

Stuart Police Chief David Reha said “We put a lot of energy and late nights into this investigation. We wanted to make sure that we caught the individuals involved as quickly as possible and allow the citizens of Stuart to feel safe that the individuals involved would not be striking again.”

The incident at the bank occurred at around 3:45-pm, Monday. A subject believed to be a female, who was wearing a bright green dress walked into the bank and handed a teller a note demanding money. The suspect was then seen leaving the bank on foot to the north. A witness later reported to police that the suspect climbed into the trunk of a car which was parked nearby in an alley.

If anyone has further information related to this case, contact the Stuart Police Department at 515-523-1896.