DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A powerful thunderstorm system has knocked out power to thousands of people in western Iowa.  MidAmerican Energy reports that nearly 3,300 customers were without power as of 6:45 a.m. Monday. More than 2,350 of those customers are in the Council Bluffs area.   Officials report that falling trees and limbs damaged buildings and vehicles beneath, but no injuries have been reported. Heavy rain and some hail also were reported. Here in Atlantic, we received pea-sized hail and heavy rain at around 3:40-a.m.

Officials with the  Omaha Public Power District says more than 5,800 customers were without power as of 5 a.m. Monday.     Officials say some trees were toppled and branches ripped from tree trunks across the metropolitan area. Some of the fallen branches damaged buildings or vehicles below. No injuries have been reported. Heavy rain and some hail marked storms that traced through north-central and eastern Nebraska. Minor street flooding was reported where runoff overwhelmed storm sewers.

No injuries were reported following an accident that occurred in front of the fire station in Red Oak, late Sunday morning. The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office says a stop light in front of the Red Oak Fire station was red, so that an ambulance could respond to a call. A Chevy Blazer driven by 49-year old Charles Liford, of Red Oak, was stopped at the light, when another Chevy Blazer, driven by 36-year old Salvador Ramos, of Red Oak, was unable to stop in time.

The second SUV rear-ended the first. Ramos was cited for following too close. Damage from the mishap, which happened at around 11:40-a.m. Sunday, was estimated at $5,700.

A Red Oak man was arrested Sunday night on an alcohol-related charge. 24-year old Corey Scott Petersen was taken into custody at around 7-p.m., on a charge of OWI/2nd offense. Peterson was booked into the Montgomery County Jail, and held on $2,000 cash bond.

Earlier that same day, 29-year old Matthew Lee Gusman, of Red Oak, was arrested on a charge of Driving While Barred. He has since bonded out of jail.

A traffic stop in Omaha has resulted in the recovery of a Council Bluffs child taken from Iowa Department of Human Services foster care, and the arrest of his biological mother. Authorities in Council Bluffs said Sunday evening that police in Omaha had arrested 40-year old Dana Smith at around 1:50-p.m., Sunday, and Smith’s son, 4-year old Nicholas Patterson was taken into protective custody. Smith was being held in the Douglas County, NE., jail on charges of 3rd degree kidnapping and 2nd degree burglary.

Officials say a citizen who saw a news release about the missing child and his mother recognized the pair, even though the boy was disguised in girls’ clothing. The child had been placed into protective custody, but on Friday, his mother allegedly took him without authorization. Nicholas has since been placed back into protective custody, through the department of Human Services.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A 16-year-old Omaha boy is getting the rank of Eagle Scout for a project that honors a Boy Scout killed when a tornado hit Little Sioux Scout Ranch in Iowa five years ago. Marcus Ehlinger built a 60-foot, partial suspension bridge at the Eastern Nebraska 4H Center and will dedicate it in honor of Sam Thomsen, who died in at the ranch in 2008. The American flag that was at the camp when the tornado struck will also be displayed Sunday at the bridge when the Eagle Scout ceremony is held.

Fifteen-year-old James Kopsa, of Omaha, also will be receiving his Eagle Scout rank. He primed and painted 32 telephone poles along the Lincoln Highway for his project. Both Ehlinger and Kopsa were in Boy Scout Troop 26 with Thomsen.

A Cass County woman was arrested Saturday night in Montgomery County, following an incident which allegedly occurred at Pilot Grove, west of Grant. The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports 43-year old Tammy Darleen Flathers, of Cumberland, was charged with Disorderly Conduct. She was booked into the Jail in Red Oak, and later released on $300 bond. Sheriff’s deputies were assisted in conducting the arrest, by officers with the Montgomery County Conservation Department.

A Red Oak man was arrested late Saturday night. Authorities in Montgomery County report 43-year old Brian Keith Hale was taken into custody in the 900 block of north 5th Street, on a charge of Public Intoxication, at around 10:40-p.m. Hale was being held on $300 bond pending an appearance before the magistrate.

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.