Police in Lenox report an investigation into a disturbance early Wednesday morning resulted in the arrest of one person on a couple of charges. Officers were called to a residence in the 600 block of south Walnut Street at around 12:45-a.m. Upon their arrival, officers learned  several individuals had left the scene.

Marie Merithew

Following investigation into the incident, arrest warrants were obtained. Wednesday afternoon, 37-year old Marie Merithew, of Kent,  was arrested in connection with the incident, on charges of Disorderly Conduct and Driving under Suspension. She was transported to the Taylor County Jail for processing and was being held pending an appearance before the magistrate.

With Veterans Day coming up on Nov. 11th, officials with the American Red Cross are encouraging eligible donors to schedule an appointment to give blood, in honor of those who have served the country in the U.S. armed forces. Blood donated through the Red Cross is distributed to about 2,700 hospitals and transfusion centers across the country for patients in need, including patients at many U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs medical centers. All blood types are currently needed, especially O negative, A negative and B negative.

Officials say another way to support veterans, military families and active-duty service members at hospitals and installations around the world is by sending a holiday card through the annual Holiday Mail for Heroes program. Between now and early December, the Red Cross will collect the cards and distribute them. Learn more at redcross.org.

A blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age (16 with parental consent in some states), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements.

Blood transfusions help save lives every day. Appointments to roll up a sleeve and donate can be made today by visiting redcrossblood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS.

Upcoming blood donation opportunities:

Audubon County: Nov. 6 from 12-6 p.m. at Exira Recreational Center, 106 N. Jefferson in Exira.

Carroll County: Nov. 11 from 1:30-6:30 p.m. at Templeton Community Fire & EMS, 117 S. Main St. in Templeton.

Cass County: Nov. 8 from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Griswold High School, 20 Madison in Griswold.;  Nov. 14 from 12-6 p.m. at Atlantic Catholic Parish Center, 105 W. Fifth St. in Atlantic.

Fremont County: Nov. 4 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Fremont Mills High School, 27 Jackson Blvd. in Tabor.; Nov. 6 from 12-6 p.m. at Nishnabotna High School, 907 Hartford Ave. in Farragut.

Harrison County: Nov. 15 from 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Alegent Health Community Memorial Hospital, 631 N. Eighth St. in Missouri Valley.

Mills County: Nov. 4 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at East Mills High School, 1501 E. 15th St. in Malvern; Nov. 11 from 12-6 p.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church, 512 Second St. in Glenwood.

Montgomery County: Nov. 13 from 12-6 p.m. at Community Center, 201 S. Third Ave. in Villisca.

Page County: Nov. 5 from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Shenandoah High School, 1000 Mustang Drive in Shenandoah; Nov. 8 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Shenandoah Medical Center, 300 Pershing Ave. in Shenandoah; Nov. 11 from 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at Iowa Western Community College, 923 E. Washington in Clarinda.

Pottawattamie County: Nov. 4 from 12:30-6:15 p.m. at American Red Cross Loess Hills Chapter, 705 N. 16th St. in Council Bluffs; Nov. 5 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at American Red Cross Loess Hills Chapter, 705 N. 16th St. in Council Bluffs; Nov. 6 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Oakland Riverside High School, 501 Oakland Ave. in Oakland; Nov. 8 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Abraham Lincoln High School, 1205 Bonham in Council Bluffs; Nov. 11 from 12:30-6:15 p.m. at American Red Cross Loess Hills Chapter, 705 N. 16th St. in Council Bluffs; Nov. 12 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at American Red Cross Loess Hills Chapter, 705 N. 16th St. in Council Bluffs; Nov. 15 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Kanesville Alternative Learning Center, 807 Ave. G in Council Bluffs.

Ringgold County: Nov. 12 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at First Christian Church, 201 W. Monroe in Mount Ayr.

Shelby County: Nov. 7 from 12-6 p.m. at St. Boniface Parish Center, 305 Duren St. in Westphalia; Nov. 12 from 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at Veteran’s Memorial Building, 1104 Morningview in Harlan.

Iowa Republican Senator Joni Ernst, a candidate for United States Senate, has announced her candidacy has been endorsed by Mills County Auditor Carol Robertson, from Glenwood. In announcing her support of Ernst, Robertson highlighted Ernst’s credentials as a former Auditor, her  Iowa values and record of service as a leader in the Iowa National Guard, as reasons for her endorsement.

The Iowa Western Department of Economic Development, and Workforce Development, in conjunction with the Iowa Western Small Business Development Center, have announced the top five area businesses in the “Dream Big, Grow Here” contest. Local businesses advancing in the competition include:  The Pudgy Pumpkin Patch Gift Shop in Red Oak, Egg Krate Antiques LLC in Elk Horn, Innovative Strength and Condition in Neola, Willow Creek Glass Chapel and Banquet Hall in Shelby and Kitchen Sisters LLC in Persia.

A wildcard, Valley Drug in Missouri Valley, was also selected by representatives of the Southwest Iowa Dream Big Grow Here contest. Each business was judged based on their creative and strategic approaches to getting votes during the contest, as well as the validity of their business model.

A regional pitch off contest for a chance to win $5,000 will be held on October 29th, 2013 from noon to 3pm at Iowa Western Community College in Council Bluffs. The public is invited to attend the regional pitch off by calling for reservations at 712-325-3350. The winner(s) will have a chance to compete for $10,000 at the statewide EntreFest Conference in 2014.

(Joel McCall/KNOD)

Two southwest Iowa teens were injured during a single-vehicle accident late Wednesday night, about 5-miles east of Shenandoah. Page County Sheriff Lyle Palmer reports 16-year old Brydget Bird, of Essex, and a passenger in her car, 16-year old Sayj Martin, of Shenandoah, were transported by Mercy 1 helicopter to Creighton Medical Center in Omaha, following the crash that happened at around 11-p.m. on E Avenue, a half-mile north of Highway 2. The teens, who were both wearing their seat belts, suffered possible, unknown injuries.

Palmer says the girls were traveling north on E Avenue in 1996 Mercury Mystique, when they met another car. Bird panicked and moved too far over to the right side of the road. Two tires on the vehicle left the pavement causing it to go out of control before entering a ditch and colliding with a large road culvert. The vehicle was totaled in the crash. Damage to the road tube was estimated at $500.

Emergency personnel used the jaws of life to extricate the females, who were trapped in the car. Crews were on the scene for about two-hours. No citations have been issued.

w/ Ric Hanson

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IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Due to a surge in enrollment at Iowa State University, a record number of students are attending Iowa’s public universities this fall. An Iowa Board of Regents report released this week shows that 76,465 students are enrolled at ISU, the University of Iowa and the University of Northern Iowa. The number is the seventh straight annual increase at the three schools and amounts to 9,000 more than were enrolled just 15 years ago.

This year’s increase was driven by an enrollment count of 33,241 at ISU, more than 2,000 additional students and a 7 percent increase compared to last year. The University of Iowa’s enrollment of 31,065 was a decline of 433 students, while UNI’s 12,159 enrollment was a decrease of 114.

The City Council in Atlantic Wednesday unanimously approved the establishment of rules and regulations for the use of the City’s Truck Parking lot off of Commerce Street. The motion to approve was made by Councilman Steve Livengood, who had earlier met with the Public Safety Committee, which recommended the City establish rules and a fee structures that would help the City address the various needs and problems associated with the site.

Under the rules, only tractors, trailers or similar combinations with a GCWR of more than 26,000 pounds when the towed vehicle’s GVWR is more than 10,000 pounds, will be allowed on the lot. The resolution also allows for no more than three parking stalls to be rented by an individual truck driver, same company or entity. Individuals or companies that legally reside in Atlantic can lease stalls for $1,200 per year minimum. Rental fees are due prior to January 1^st of each year, with the lease period for one-year at a time. The City may set aside up to three stalls for short term leases at $40/week, for up to three weeks.

Livengood said the lot needs to be graded at very little cost to the city, a gravel surface added, and some way to designate stalls for the trucks and trailers, such as the addition of posts/signs with a numbering system. There are already concrete “dolly pads” in-place for truckers to drop their trailers and lower the supporting gear. The Council agreed, that the first thing the must be accomplished, is for the lot to be cleaned up.

The Council, on a four-to two vote, approved a request by the Iowa Department of Transportation, to pay for the Design Engineering costs associated with the Highway 6/7th Street Reconstruction Project. Councilpersons Shouse, Halder, Hayes and Hartkopf voting in favor, Livengood and Jimerson voting against. Livengood and Jimerson were opposed to the request because the ultimate responsibility for the road and its condition, falls on the State.

The split vote resulted from the fact there is no guarantee that if the City agreed to pay for some of the engineering costs, the DOT will, as they’ve hinted, bump the project up on their list for 2014 and doesn’t get dropped if funding isn’t available or the schedule gets pushed back. City Administrator Doug Harris said the DOT has agreed to limit Atlantic’s costs to $68,000, and funding approval from the Regional Planning Affiliate 13 for an advance draw down of future federal State Transportation Program (STP) funds, to pay the $68,000 for the design engineering phase. The total cost of the project is estimated at nearly $1.2-million.

Harris said he has received permission from the Regional Transit Authority to borrow ahead four-years and use the STP grant funds, which would mean those funds would not be available for City projects, which will also impact the taxpayers. In other business, the Atlantic City Council tabled until their next meeting on Nov. 6th, action on a resolution accepting and approving the acquisition of properties at 611 Linn and 1200 Birch Street, because the court has not yet released the abandoned properties. And, Mayor Dave Jones issued a proclamation recognizing Phillip Chinitz for his dedication and “tireless efforts to preserve Atlantic’s rich history.”

Chinitz is a lifelong resident of Atlantic, graduated from AHS and served in the military before coming back to town and becoming a sports writer for the local paper. Because of the efforts of Phil and his wife Trena to preserve the knowledge of Atlantic’s rich history, and is recognized as an authority on the City’s past, the Mayor appointed Chinitz as the “Official Historian for the City of Atlantic.”

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press…

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley was among 18 senators who voted against a measure that reopened the federal government and avoided a financial default. Grassley, a Republican, says he voted against the measure worked out by Majority Leader Harry Reid and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell because it did nothing to address the nation’s debt. The GOP-led House joined the Senate in approving the package.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The winners of this year’s World Food Prize continue to press their case that biotechnology research and innovation is necessary to keep food production in step with a growing world population. Biotechnology researchers Robert Fraley, Marc Van Montagu, and Mary-Dell Chilton, share the $250,000 prize award which they’ll receive in a ceremony at the Iowa Capitol later today.

MUSCATINE, Iowa (AP) — Three cows had a chance to take a look around Muscatine after falling out of an open trailer door. The Journal reports three cows tumbled onto a downtown street yesterday afternoon. Their owner, Jack Whan of Sherrard, Illinois says a door came open on his trailer and the cattle fell out. The cows weren’t hurt.

WILTON, Iowa (AP) — Some people in the eastern Iowa city of Wilton are complaining about smells emanating from a new plant that produces animal food. The Muscatine Journal reports the issue came up at a Monday night City Council meeting when resident William Locey told members the air was so bad at times that, “you can’t breathe it.”