A podcast of the latest area and western Iowa news at 7:06-a.m., with KJAN News Director Ric Hanson….

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The Pottawattamie County Board of Supervisors, Thursday, approved a $3.1-million bid for improvements to the Lincoln Highway, from Council Bluffs to the HarrisonCounty line. According to the Omaha World-Herald, the road work comes just as the highway celebrates its centennial this summer. Work on the project is expected to begin in a couple of weeks, and will likely take most of the summer to complete. It includes patching, widening in some areas, and overlaying the entire stretch of road. 

The project has been in the works since the Missouri River flooded in 2011, causing damage to the Lincoln Highway and other roads in the area. The federal government is paying 80-percent of the cost for repairs and improvements. 

Officials say because travel on the road will be difficult and congested once construction begins, motorists may want to use alternate routes such as Interstate 29. The Lincoln Highway is the nation’s first transcontinental highway. Officials with the Lincoln Highway Association say as much as 85-percent of the road is still drivable in Iowa, though some of it is gravel.

The National Weather Service says low pressure over eastern Nebraska will lift northeast as a trailing cold front moves through the state this (Saturday) afternoon and tonight. Strong to severe thunderstorms are expected ahead of the cold front this afternoon and evening. Heavy rainfall is again possible with these storms and could lead to flash flooding. Drier weather will move in for Sunday, however there is a chance for rain again later Sunday night and Monday.

Storms that passed through western Iowa Friday and Friday night dumped more than 5-inches of rain in some areas, in less than a couple of hours. Those same storms also brought straight-line winds in excess of 65-miles per hour, and some pea-to ping-pong ball-sized hail.

Law enforcement and trained storm spotters reported to the National Weather Service hail the size of quarters fell in Carroll and Guthrie Counties, near the communities of Carroll, Bayard and Coon Rapids. Ping-pong ball-sized hail  (1.5″ diameter) was reported by Emergency Management officials 12-miles south of Stanton, in Page County, at around 7-p.m., Friday.

Winds gusted up to 60-miles per hour near Crescent, in Pottawattamie County, and Little Sioux, in Harrison County. One gust of up to 67-miles per hour was reported at the Carroll Airport at around 9:35-p.m., Friday, and a garage roof was blown-off and 2-to 6-inch diameter tree limbs were reported broken in the Carroll County town of Halbur, at around 9:40-p.m. Thunderstorm wind damage was also reported just west/northwest of Stuart, where 6-to 8-inch diameter tree limbs were broken.

Flash flooding was reported late Friday night in Bayard and near Coon Rapids, with anywhere from 6-to-8-inches of water flowing over the roads in Bayard at around 10:15-p.m., as well as on Highway 25 in that same area. The Weather Service says 5.2-inches of rain fell just west of Coon Rapids.

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest early this (Saturday) morning, of a Red Oak man. 29-year old Zachariah Michael Holland was taken into custody at around 3:30-a.m., on charges of Theft in the 5th degree, unlawful possession of a prescription drug, and a drug tax stamp violation. His arrest took place following a report of a suspected shoplifter at the Cubby’s convenience store on the north side of Red Oak. Holland was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on $5,000 bond.

And, late Friday night, authorities in Montgomery County arrested 38-year old Jonathan Russell Terry, of Shenandoah, on a warrant out of Page County, for driving while suspended. Terry was arrested following a traffic stop a little after 10-p.m., in Red Oak. Terry was brought to the Montgomery County Jail and then released to the Page County Sheriff’s Office.

Officers with the Red Oak Police Department assisted the sheriff’s department in handling both arrests.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — MidAmerican Energy says thousands of customers have their power back following severe weather in the area this week. The company says about 500 customers remained without power last night.

RUNNELS, Iowa (AP) — Officials have determined a sinkhole in the Polk County town of Runnells was caused by an old septic tank, not an abandoned mine as some suspected. A state environmental engineer, Mike Bourland, tells The Des Moines Register there were coal mines in the area. But environmental engineers that dug into the sinkhole yesterday determined it wasn’t an entrance to a mine.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Des Moines police say a man has died after two vehicles hit the all-terrain vehicle he was riding on a city street. Police say the crash happened Thursday night when the driver of a four-wheel ATV, 29-year-old Daniel Halterman, apparently failed to halt at a stop sign.

FAYETTE, Iowa (AP) — A man has been accused of assaulting people at a rural retirement home in northeast Iowa. The Fayette County Sheriff’s Office arrested 21-year-old Matthew Saul of Waterloo after responding Wednesday night to a report about an out of control man at Prairie View Residential Care Facility in Fayette. Authorities did not release additional information about the case.

Movie theaters aren’t the only ones showing superheroes this weekend. The city of Carson will showcase Mayhem in the Manor, a play written by local favorite Wilma Laughlin, at the Carson Community building. Laughlin says you will see all your favorite superheroes but not in the typical fashion “It is a light hearted dinner theater with all the superheroes such as Spiderman, Superman and Batman in the nursing home. It is a comical thing with bad guys trying to get the good guys. It is just a light hearted comedy.” 

She says the cast in the play are made up of local actors and actresses, “We are not a super class act theater but we are a fun bunch of people. If you enjoy watching local people, you will have fun with this.” Laughlin has written several plays for Carson events but says the time has come to slow down “These plays are getting to me a little bit. I think this is the last play so if you want to see one more play by me you better come.” 

Mayhem at the Manor will be shown tonight (Friday) and Saturday with doors opening at 6-pm and the show beginning at 6:30-pm. Tickets are on sale for $27 each and include a dinner beforehand. All proceeds go towards the city of Carson placing an electronic Daktronics message board for the Riverside Community. The message board will keep community members up to date on local events, Dreamland Theater movies, school activities and annual town celebrations. Tickets can be purchased by contact the Carson City Hall at 712-484-3636.

(Joel McCall/KNOD)

Flight enthusiasts are ready to take off to Shelby County this weekend. The 68^th annual Harlan Flight Breakfast will be held all weekend long at the municipal airport. The two day event starts on Saturday afternoon. Scott Pigsley, president of the 8-Ball aviation club, says plane rides begin at 4:30-p.m. Pigsley says “We give airplane rides for $10. If you want we have hot dogs, chips and a drink for $3. The ride is around 20 minutes long. We go the Harlan Community out to Prairie Rose and back to the airport. Everyone can see where they might live or just enjoy flying.” 

For the breakfast on Sunday, Pigsley says if the weather cooperates, the airport could see up to 60 planes. “We usually have planes come from different airports in Nebraska, Iowa and even Missouri. If the weather is nice we could see upwards of 60 planes,” Pigsley explains. 

A breakfast of bacon, sausage, eggs, toast and a beverage will be served with tickets $5 for adults and children 10 and under eating for $2. The planes flying in on Sunday will hang around and be on display to check out along with classic and muscle car displays. No matter the weather, the Harlan Flight breakfast will be served on Sunday.

(Joel McCall/KNOD)

A PottawattamieCounty town is filling up its streets with antiques for the entire weekend. The Walnut Antique show began this (Friday) morning and runs through Sunday. Vendors from around the United States will fill up the streets with all types of antiques to buy, sell and trade.

Gene Larson, Post Commander for the Walnut AmVets, whatever you are looking for in antiques will be at the show as the city has 17 blocks full of dealers and are even using a former food stand, the AmVet hall, for more dealers.

Even though one hall now has vendors, food will be in 3 churches and the optimist club will have food too. However, the best way to start your day at the antique show is with a fireman’s breakfast. They will serve at 6-am each day. Even if you aren’t an antique buff, you will enjoy walking around looking at this stuff. The annual Walnut Antique show continues to be a free event with no admission or parking fees and will go on rain or shine until late Sunday afternoon.

(Joel McCall/KNOD)

The Atlantic Police Department reports the arrest on Thursday of 41-year old Lisa Capouch, of Atlantic. She was taken into custody on a charge of Interference with official acts during a domestic situation. Capouch was booked into the Cass County Jail and held pending an appearance before the magistrate.