Hail ranging in size from nickels to quarters pelted and pounded parts of Audubon County late Saturday night. Just before 11-p.m., one-inch diameter hail was reported to the National Weather Service by law enforcement in Audubon. About 30-minutes later, severe storm spotters reported nickel-to pea-sized hail was falling 10 miles northwest of the Audubon Airport. There were no immediate reports of damage early this (Sunday) morning.

A severe thunderstorm warning was issued late last night for northern Audubon County, southern Carroll County and northwestern Guthrie County, for the storm system as it passed through the area.

The storm also dumped heavy rain in parts of Iowa. Parts of Jasper, Marshall and Poweshiek Counties in east central Iowa received four-to six-inches of rain overnight, causing some roads to be flooded. The Weather Service said a total of six-to eight-inches of rain was possible in eastern Iowa through early this morning. A Flood Warning was in effect for Jasper, Marshall and Poweeshiek counties this morning.

At around 5:30-a.m., storm spotters reported sand bagging efforts were underway to protect the Kellogg water treatment plant and fire department. 4-a.m., law enforcement officials in Jasper County reported water was covering the road at Illinois Avenue and Highway 6, near Kellogg. Parts of Northfield Drive were under water, with one house surrounding by water. Law enforcement reported also that flooding was occurring in the Oakland Acres area of Jasper County, with Highway 6 under water, and closed with stalled cars.

For the KJAN listening area, a Flash Flood Watch remains in effect until 9-a.m. The Watch includes Audubon, Guthrie, Crawford, Carroll, Sac and Dallas Counties.

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.