The Danish Villages of Elk Horn and Kimballton are celebrating the 33^rd Annual Tivoli Fest this weekend. Lisa Steen-Riggs, spokesperson for the event which runs Saturday and Sunday, said the weekend is packed with activities, including some traditional favorites. The event kicks-off with a 5-l “Mill to Mermaid” fun run/walk. Registration is just $5, with the top winners in each age group receiving a special t-shirt. At the finish, everyone receives a bag of M&M’s. The parade, themed “Honoring our heroes, begins at 11-a.m. 

There’s also an open-air market. Some new events are in-store for this weekend, as well. A ribbon cutting will be held for the new Veteran’s Memorial at 2-p.m., along with patriotic music, a “Walk-of-Honor,” and information about a national program, “Run for the Fallen.” Of course, it wouldn’t be Tivoli Fest, without food and entertainment. That includes Scandinavian entertainment all day long. Food, including traditional Danish delicacies will served at the new fire station from 8am-until 3-pm both days, or until supplies last. 

The fire station will also serve as the location for a beer garden and dance. For a full list of activities, go to www.danishvillages.com.

w/ Ric Hanson

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Sheriff’s Officials in Montgomery County report the arrest early this (Friday) morning, of a Clarinda woman on a drug charge. 29-year old Lacey Jo Smalley was taken into custody just before 2-a.m., on a Possession of Drug Paraphernalia charge. Smalley was booked into the Montgomery County Jail and held on a $300 cash bond.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey says growers are hopeful for a bountiful crop of spring produce that could begin showing up at farmers markets soon. Northey says a cool spring delayed the crop a bit, but the weather has improved and timely spring rain and the lack of a killing frost could produce a big harvest.

Produce such as strawberries, asparagus and rhubarb is beginning to become available, and later crops such as radishes, carrots, green beans and leafy greens should be harvested soon. The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship’s website lists the state’s farmers markets as well as farm stands and many farms where people can buy produce. Go to www.IowaAgriculture.gov , and click on Data Searches and Directories on the bottom right side of the page.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) — Flooding from the Cedar River will keep a state park in northeast Iowa closed through the Memorial Day holiday weekend. The state Department of Natural Resources says the George Wyth State Park could potentially reopen for day use activities on Monday if there is no additional rainfall in the Cedar River watershed.

DAYTON, Iowa (AP) — A 12-year-old Iowa girl says she and a friend were kidnapped after being lured into a stranger’s truck while walking home from school. The girl escaped Monday’s abduction, but her 15-year-old friend, Kathlynn Shepard, is still missing. Investigators say the kidnapper was registered sex offender Michael Klunder, who killed himself Monday night.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — An online petition is calling for the mayor of Sioux City to resign over his role in replacing the Argosy riverboat casino with a Hard Rock-branded facility. The Sioux City Journal reports the petition at Change DOT org questions the impartiality of Mayor Bob Scott and other city officials during the selection of a land-based casino to replace the riverboat property.

CHARLES CITY, Iowa (AP) — Iowa officials say three ethanol cars have been removed from the Little Cedar River following a train derailment east of Charles City. The state Department of Natural Resources said yesterday the cars were being analyzed to determine how much ethanol went into the river. Officials said earlier that ethanol was leaking from at least two cars.

Longtime Iowa Hawkeye sports broadcaster Jim Zabel has died at the age of 91. KCCI-TV in Des Moines reported late Thursday night that Zabel had been in the hospital recently for health problems, but was at home Thursday preparing for his Sunday radio program on WHO, when he died. His wife and WHO Radio General Manager have confirmed Zabel’s passing.

Zabel broadcast Iowa Hawkeye football and basketball games on WHO Radio in Des Moines for 49 years.  He was inducted into the Iowa Sports Hall of Fame in 2007. He was known for his signature call “I love it, I love it, I love it!” whenever the Hawks did well on the field or the court.  He retired from play-by-play in 1996 but continued doing regular sports broadcasts on the radio.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa police chief says a dozen investigators are looking into whether the suspect in Monday’s kidnapping of two girls is connected to last year’s slaying of two cousins who vanished 90 miles away. Authorities believe Michael Klunder kidnapped 15-year-old Kathlynn Shepard and her 12-year-old friend as they walked home from school. The 12-year-old was able to escape, but Kathlynn is still missing. Evansdale Police Chief Kent Smock said Thursday that investigators are now scrutinizing Klunder in connection with the deaths of Lyric Cook and Elizabeth Collins because of similarities in the cases. The cousins were 10 and 8 when they disappeared while riding bikes last July. Their bodies were discovered in December.  Smock says investigators are “exploring anything and everything” about Klunder, who was found dead earlier this week.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Gov. Terry Branstad has requested a presidential disaster declaration to help 19 Iowa counties affected by severe weather last month. Branstad wants to use public assistance funds to rebuild roads, bridges and other damaged infrastructure affected by heavy rains, thunderstorms and flooding between April 17 and April 30. The money also can be used to cover emergency work and debris removal.

Branstad signed a letter Thursday that will be delivered to President Barack Obama. It requests the declaration for areas along a swath of central, eastern and southern Iowa, including Ringgold, Appanoose, Cedar and Warren counties. Officials say the 19 counties sustained an estimated $8.9 million in damage that could be eligible for public assistance funds.