DES MOINES, Iowa – Officials with the IA DNR said Sunday, that rising river levels caused by heavy rainfall lately is forcing some state parks to be closed this Memorial Day weekend.

LEDGES: The Canyon Drive at Ledges State Park is currently closed to vehicle traffic due to flash flooding. The Lower Ledges Road and adjacent parking lots are also currently closed to vehicle traffic due to rising Des Moines River water levels. A significant rise in Saylorville Reservoir pool levels is also forecast, which will likely prolong closures of both the Canyon Drive and Lower Ledges Road into the foreseeable future. Visitors are still welcome to hike in Ledges State Park, though, as all of the trail system remains open. Parking for vehicles is available at the Oak Woods Picnic Area, Lost Lake Trail head, and several other upper area parking lots. Both of the open shelters and the campground at Ledges State Park remain open and accessible by vehicle.

GEORGE WYTH: George Wyth State Park closed Saturday, May 25, due to flooding. With the forecasted rainfall for Sunday night into Monday, the park will likely remain closed through the first part of the week.

FAIRPORT RECREATIONAL AREA: All campsites at Fairport Recreation Area are closed due to flooding from the Mississippi River.

DOLLIVER: Dolliver State Park will close at 3:30pm today, May 26, due to rising river levels and forecasted rainfall expected on Sunday night into Monday. DNR Staff has contacted park users currently on-site and those that have reservation for the near future.

For the very latest on state parks and trail closures across the state, visit: https://www.iowadnr.gov/Places-to-Go/State-Parks/Alerts-and-Closures

Pottawattamie County Sheriff Jeff Danker reports a Nebraska man involved in a motorcycle accident this weekend, has died from his injuries. Deputies responded at around 6-p.m. Saturday, May 25th, to Old Lincoln Highway near the intersection with Teal Lane for a motorcycle accident.

Upon arrival, deputies located the driver, 68-year old Paul Lund, of Omaha, suffering from serious injuries. Lund was transported by helicopter to a local area hospital.  Mr. Lund was later pronounced dead.

Authorities determined Lund was southbound on Old Lincoln Highway on a 2003 Indian motorcycle, when near the intersection with Teal Lane, he lost control of his machine. No one else was on board the cycle.

GLENWOOD, Iowa (AP) — A former western Iowa art teacher and track coach accused of groping and having other sexual contact with a female student has been convicted of two counts.

Prosecutors in Mills County say a jury convicted 40-year-old Christopher Lee Irvin, of Pacific Junction, on Friday of third-degree sexual abuse and sexual exploitation by a school employee. Irvin is being held without bond until his sentencing at a later date, when he faces up to 12 years in prison.

A girl reported that Irvin groped her earlier last summer and had other sexual contact with her earlier in the year. The criminal complaints say the incidents did not occur on school property.

Irvin had worked for the East Mills School District in western Iowa.

The Taylor County Sheriff’s Office reports a Washington State man was arrested Saturday on an escape charge. 22-year old John Walker, of Goldendale, WA, was arrested in the 200 block of Pearl Street in Bedford, on a active warrant from the Washington State Department of Corrections, for Escape from Custody on an original charge of Possession of a Controlled Substance.

Walker was being held at the Taylor County Sheriff’s Office until he is extradited to the state of Washington.

The National Weather Service reports strong to severe storms are looking increasingly possible both Monday afternoon/evening and Tuesday afternoon/evening. For both days, all modes of severe weather appear to be possible- including tornadoes, large hail, damaging winds, along heavy rainfall that may lead to flash flooding concerns.

In particular, at this time, Tuesday’s severe weather may be significant. There may be supercells that spawn tornadoes and very large hail. Please monitor the weather forecasts closely, especially if you have outdoor plans Monday afternoon-evening and/or Tuesday afternoon-evening.

Sheriff’s officials in Adams County report Josephine Mason, of Prescott, was arrested at around 12:26-a.m. today (Sunday), on an assault charge. Mason was taken into custody for Domestic Abuse Assault Causing Bodily Injury/1st offense.

She was transported to the Adams County Jail and held without bond, pending an appearance in front of the magistrate.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 5:20 a.m. CDT
TULSA, Okla. (AP) — Officials say a small town in eastern Oklahoma is completely surrounded by water and is without power from major flooding on the Arkansas River. Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management spokeswoman Keli Cain says about 260 residents live in Braggs and it is not clear how many people evacuated before the flooding began. Across the state, 87 people have been injured.
NEBRASKA CITY, Neb. (AP) — Only weeks after reopening in the wake of historic flooding along the Missouri River in March, Interstate 29 on and off ramps for Highway 2 in southwest Iowa have again closed due to flooding. Highway 2 connects southwest Iowa to Nebraska City, Nebraska, over the Missouri River. The Omaha World-Herald reports that as of Saturday morning, floodwater was covering the ramps to the highway from I-29.
IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — The National Weather Service says a tornado that hit south of Iowa City rated an EF-1, with winds of 110 mph. That word came Saturday after teams surveyed storm damage in Washington and Johnson counties. Cedar Rapids television station KCRG reports that the teams found damage to rooftops and trees and say some outbuildings and mobile homes were flipped. No injuries have been reported.
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — The Salvation Army in Cedar Rapids is seeking donations to help buy box fans to be distributed to those in need as the weather gets warmer. The organization says its goal is to raise $4,000 to buy 200 fans. Community members are also welcome to donate new fans that are sealed in the box.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — The National Weather Service says a tornado that hit south of Iowa City rated an EF-1, with winds of 110 mph. That word came Saturday after teams surveyed storm damage in Washington and Johnson counties.

Cedar Rapids television station KCRG reports that the teams found damage to rooftops and trees and say some outbuildings and mobile homes were flipped. No injuries have been reported.

Frytown, a village of about 200 that sits about 10 miles south of Iowa City, saw the brunt of the damage, with several trailers at a mobile home park there overturned.
The tornado also disrupted Iowa City West High School’s graduation ceremony Friday evening, forcing students, their families and staff to seek shelter inside the Carver-Hawkeye Arena as tornado warnings sounded..

The Fremont County Sheriff’s Office would like to inform the public that the I-29 Exit 10, Nebraska City Exit, northbound on ramp and southbound off ramps are closed because of water over the ramps and it is unknown when they will reopen.

This means if you are southbound on I-29 from Council Bluffs that there is no access to any gas stations till you get to Rock Port, Missouri. which is approximately sixty-eight miles.

Please make sure that you have fuel to make the trip because first responders have very limited access to the Interstate.

The Cass County Conservation Board is holding a National Trails Day T-Bone Trail Ride one week from today (Saturday). The program will meet at the I-80/T-Bone Trail Trailhead, north of Atlantic on Saturday, June 1st beginning at 1-p.m.

The event is FREE! Bike, walk, stroll…everyone is welcome! Come out and celebrate National Trails Day!  All ages/abilities welcome!

The event will be cancelled if there is inclement weather.