Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

DAYTON, Iowa (AP) — The search continued yesterday for a missing Iowa teenager, despite rain and wind gusts of up to 25 miles per hour. It’s been five days since 15-year-old Kathlynn Shepard and her 12-year-old friend were abducted from their school bus stop on Monday. The younger girl escaped, but Kathlynn has not been found. Police have said 42-year-old Michael Klunder abducted the girls in Dayton, about 60 miles north of Des Moines, and committed suicide hours later.

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — Iowa officials will be releasing water from Lost Grove Lake near Davenport in the next few weeks so work can be finished on one of three boat ramps. The Quad-City Times reports that anglers won’t welcome the news, as they’re eager to fish the eastern Iowa lake already stocked with largemouth bass, channel catfish, and other species.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A man has undergone surgery after being shot in the groin during an argument. Police tell the Des Moines Register that the man was shot in the groin during an argument Friday night on the east side of town. Police say the shooter drove away after the shooting and has not yet been found.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — An elected official in eastern Iowa is the recipient of a White House honor given to openly gay, lesbian and transgendered public officials. The Iowa City Press-Citizen reports that Johnson County Recorder Kim Painter was one of 10 openly LGBT public officials from across the country to receive the White House’s Champion of Change honor Wednesday.

AREA COUNTIES:SAC-CRAWFORD-CARROLL-AUDUBON-GUTHRIE-DALLAS-

354 AM CDT SUN MAY 26 2013

…A FLASH FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 AM CDT THIS MORNING…

THUNDERSTORMS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING HEAVY RAIN ARE FORECAST TO CONTINUE THIS MORNING…ESPECIALLY NORTH AND EAST OF DES MOINES. WIDESPREAD ONE TO TWO INCHES OF RAIN ARE FORECAST WITH ISOLATED AMOUNTS OF 6 TO 8 INCHES POSSIBLE. AREAS WHICH HAD HEAVY RAIN SATURDAY MORNING ARE THE MOST VULNERABLE FOR FLASH FLOODING. ADDITIONAL HEAVY RAINFALL ON SATURATED SOILS WOULD CAUSE FLASH FLOODING. BEING A HOLIDAY WEEKEND…PEOPLE CAMPING SHOULD USE CAUTION AND AVOID CAMPING IN FLOOD PRONE AREAS.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

A FLASH FLOOD WATCH MEANS THAT CONDITIONS MAY DEVELOP THAT LEAD TO FLASH FLOODING. FLASH FLOODING IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. YOU SHOULD MONITOR LATER FORECASTS AND BE PREPARED TO TAKE ACTION SHOULD FLASH FLOOD WARNINGS BE ISSUED.

A podcast of  some area and state news, with KJAN News Director Ric Hanson….

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Sheriff’s officials in Montgomery County report two arrests early this (Saturday) morning. At around 1:45-a.m., 20-year old Dakota Eugene Brown, of Creston, was arrested for Driving While Suspended. Brown was being held on full bond in the Montgomery County Jail.

And, 32-year old Gary Dean Williams, Jr., of Coin, was arrested at around 1:45-a.m., on charges that include Possession of Marijuana, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and open container of alcohol as a passenger. Williams, Jr., was booked into the Montgomery County Jail, and held on full bond.

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Department was assisted in conducting the arrests, by officers with the Red Oak Police Department.

A podcast of the 7:06-a.m. News from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson….

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Sheriff’s officials in Montgomery County are asking for the public’s help in finding a stolen trailer. Authorities say a 2006 aluminum Transcraft Eagle flatbed trailer carrying 34 large round hay bales was stolen from a Villisca residence. The trailer was last seen at around 7-p.m. Friday, parked on North  U Avenue in Villisca. The loss was valued at $35,000. If you have information about the crime or the location of the trailer, call the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office at 712-623-5107 or Montgomery County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-432-1001.

Police in Council Bluffs are asking for your help in locating a four-year old boy taken from Iowa Department of Human Services foster care. Nicholas Patterson was taken by his 40-year old biological mother Dana Smith, at around 12:05-p.m., Friday. The woman took her son after a court order was issued to place the child in protective custody.

Nicholas Patterson

Dana Smith

Police do not believe Nicholas is in any danger. They say Smith is likely attempting to conceal both her and the child’s whereabouts to the public and law enforcement. Nicholas Patterson, a white male, has long blonde hair and blue eyes. Dana Smith is a white female, about 5-feet 5-inches tall, weighing 120 pounds. She has brown hair and green eyes.

Anyone who knows the where they are located urged to call Council Bluffs Police at 712-328-STOP.

The National Weather Service in Des Moines says a wet and stormy Memorial Day Weekend is on tap for the area as showers and thunderstorms remain in the forecast from today into next week. The best potential for thunderstorms will be during the nighttime and early morning hours each day, although storms are possible at other times as well. The threat for widespread severe weather is low, but a few severe storms with large hail and damaging winds cannot be ruled out.

Of greater concern is the potential for heavy rainfall, with widespread one to two inch accumulations expected by Monday with locally higher amounts possible. This may lead to additional river flooding and possibly flash flooding in some areas.

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)

The month of May is winding down and weather-wise, it’s been marked by extremes. Elwynn Taylor is climatologist with Iowa State University Extension. He notes the state broke a record from 1947 for May snowfall and also set record high temperatures for the month. “When we get extremes like that, it is not considered a good omen for what will come with the season,” Taylor says. Taylor notes 2013 has mirrored the weather of 1947 – and that doesn’t bode well for corn and soybean production this year.

“1947 is in the category of being one of the six worst years for crop production and that includes the Dust Bowl,” Taylor says. Like this year, 1947 was marked by a very wet spring. “Then, it went hot and dry in the middle of July and August. That’s when the destruction to the corn came in,” Taylor said. With around 25-percent of Iowa’s corn yet to be planted as we approach Memorial Day, Taylor says corn yields will likely be below trend once again this year.

(Radio Iowa)