A large group of runners and walkers gathered at the high school in Atlantic this (Saturday) morning to participate in the first of what’s hoped to be an annual event. The “Color the Town” Color Run/Fun walk began just after 8-a.m. with the bang of a starter’s pistol.

All photos by Color Run participant & KJAN News Director, Ric Hanson.

The 5k event ended at the high school with participants throwing open colored packets of corn starch into the air after the last runners/walkers crossed the finish line, creating a rainbow effect and splashing anyone with power who didn’t get hit at any of the four color stations along the 3.1-mile route.

Fresh fruit and water along with donuts were made available by the Atlantic Hy-Vee and Atlantic Fitness. The event served as a fundraiser for the Atlantic High School Student Council.

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) – A Mississippi River bridge linking Davenport, Iowa, and Rock Island, Illinois should open soon after repairs that took weeks longer than expected. John Wegmeyer, an engineer with the Illinois Department of Transportation, told the Quad-City Times on Friday the Centennial Bridge should be open within a week. When the 74-year-old bridge was closed for repairs on August 3rd, the contractor was given 35 days to reopen the span. As of Friday, the bridge had been closed 67 days.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A jury has rejected an Iowa prison guard’s lawsuit that said she was sexually harassed after inmates were repeatedly allowed to watch sexually graphic and violent moves. The Polk County jury reached its decision Friday afternoon, a day after hearing closing arguments in the case of Kristine Sink, who filed the sexual harassment lawsuit in 2012.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – MidAmerican Energy Company says it plans to develop a wind farm in southwest Iowa and expand another operation in northwest Iowa. The Des Moines-based company announced yesterday it plans to build the wind farm in Adams County and expand an existing farm in O’Brien County. MidAmerican estimates the developments would result in 67 new turbines.

ARLINGTON, Iowa (AP) – An eastern Iowa couple faces animal neglect charges after malnourished horses were found on their property. Cedar Rapids television station KCRG-TV reports that Fayette County sheriff’s deputies executed a warrant Thursday at the Arlington home of Duane and Margaret Landis.

The Red Oak Police Department received a call Friday night regarding an individual purchasing alcohol for minors. Responding officers observed the vehicle described by the caller leaving a grocery store. The vehicle was stopped in the 100 block of East Walnut Street in Red Oak.

After the investigation officers arrested 21-year old Jacob Elwood, of Red Oak. Elwood was charged with Supplying Alcohol to a Minor, an aggravated misdemeanor. He was also cited for having an open container of alcohol as a passenger. Elwood was transported to the Montgomery County Law Enforcement Center and held on a $2,000 cash bond.

19-year old Brett Martin, of Griswold, was charged with .02 (point oh-two) violation and cited for minor in possession of alcohol. Martin was transported to the Montgomery County Law Enforcement Center and later released. 17-year old’s Kenzey Nicklaus, Hannah Misner, both of Griswold and 17-year old’s Bridgett Sand and Morgan McFarland, both of Red Oak, were transported to the Montgomery County Law Enforcement Center and cited into juvenile court for minor in possession of alcohol and were released to their parents.

The Red Oak Police Department was assisted by the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office.

Political experts say the phenomenon of “early” voting has changed the dynamics of modern campaigns. Ann Selzer is president of the company that conducts the “iowa Poll” for The Des Moines Register.  Both political parties in Iowa are engagined in a battle for those marginal voters who may not be enthusiastic about the two major parties, but can be convinced to vote early. And Chris Larimer, a University of Northern Iowa political science professor, says campaigns are using different strategies to reach different voters. Drake University political science professor Art Sanders says the campaigns are focused on finding “unlikely” voters. Sanders, Larimer and Selzer made their comments during taping of the “Iowa Press” program. Early voting in Iowa began on September 25th. Campaigns are telling voters if they cast their ballots early, they’ll stop getting campaign calls and mailings. Prospective voters for Republican U.S. Senate candidate Joni Ernst are also being invited to participate in telephone conference calls with rising stars in the G-O-P who encourage early voting.

(Radio Iowa)

First Lady Michele Obama spoke to a crowd of over 12-hundred at Drake University Friday afternoon, urging students and supporters to “show up” and “get to work” to elect Bruce Braley to the U.S. Senate. A satellite voting station on the Des Moines campus remained open for 45 minutes after the First Lady’s speech ended and some in the crowd said they were planning to go vote. During her 23-minute speech Obama reminisced about campaigning with her husband in Iowa for the 2008 and 2012 elections and she warned President Obama’s agenda would be stymied if Republicans win the U.S. Senate. Obama mispronounced Braley’s name as “Bailey” seven times before the crowd got involved as she was reciting a web address. The crowd cheered and applauded. Within half an hour of the event’s conclusion, Republicans had claimed the domain name “VoteBruceBailey.com” and linked it directly to the campaign website for Joni Ernst, Braley’s Republican opponent. The Braley campaign handed out cards at the rally, asking for more volunteers to sign up to canvas neighborhoods and turn out voters.

(Radio Iowa)

The Missouri River will be rising at least three more feet over the coming weeks as the U-S Army Corps of Engineers prepares for next year with above-normal releases from Gavins Point Dam. Jody Farhat (FAR-hot), chief of the Missouri River Basin Water Management Division in Omaha, says the increased releases now will help lower the risk of flooding next season. Along with flood control, Farhat says excess water will extend the navigation season. She says it will also mean an increase in hydropower generation. Farhat says the Corps is holding public meetings on October 28th in Pierre, South Dakota, and on October 29th in Council Bluffs for people who are interested in the water management operations.

(Radio Iowa)

w/Mark Saylor

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Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Michelle Obama is urging Iowa Democrats to get out and vote for Senate candidate Bruce Braley. The first lady attended a rally this afternoon at Drake University. She said she was “beyond thrilled” to be there with Braley. The four-term congressman from Waterloo, is locked in a tight race against Republican Joni Ernst, a state lawmaker from Red Oak and officer in the Iowa National Guard.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The judge overseeing a gay former state official’s discrimination lawsuit against Governor Terry Branstad and several aides is recusing himself. Chief Judge Arthur Gamble says in a court order that he feels a conflict of interest has arisen and he must step aside from former Workers’ Compensation Commissioner Christopher Godfrey’s lawsuit.

OAKVILLE, Iowa (AP) — Workers are demolishing the Apostolic Christian Church of Oakville brick by brick and burning the wood that remains. The Hawk Eye reports the church held its last service in January 2013 in the Oakville building. It moved that same month into a new building in Mediapolis.

ORANGE CITY, Iowa (AP) — A plea hearing is planned next week for an Orange City day care provider who is charged with killing a 3-year-old girl. Assistant Iowa Attorney General Coleman McAllister tells the Sioux City Journal details on 34-year-old Rochelle Sapp’s plea agreement won’t be made public until her hearing next Thursday.

A restaurant in the central Iowa town of Ogden is serving the state’s best breaded pork tenderloin, according to a contest run by the Iowa Pork Producer’s Association. The Lucky Pig Pub and Grill has won the 12th annual contest and was presented with $500 and a plaque. Craig Christensen and his wife, Carol, own the restaurant. Craig gives credit to their employees.

The Lucky Pig Pork Tenderloin

“We have a great crew that works there in the kitchen and the front of the house,” Christensen says. “We take a lot of pride in what we do and how we prepare stuff. It’s a nice reward to all of the hard work we do in making this food.” The Christensens purchased the restaurant three years ago and provide the pork from the hogs raised on their farm near Ogden

“One of the things you have to have here in the Midwest is a great pork tenderloin, right? So, that was our first effort and our first big push was to add the best tenderloin we could,” Christensen says. “It took a little while and a little trial and error, but boy, we came up with a good one and we think we’re serving up something people seem to like.” Judges noted that the Lucky Pig’s tenderloin is hand-pounded in-house and double coated in a batter and bread crumb mixture. It also has “an ideal meat-to-bun ratio and a unique spice.”

The second place winner is this year’s contest is Brick Street Butler Café in Bondurant,which won a $250 prize and a plaque. The following also placed in the top six, and received Honorable Mention plaques:  TC’s Point After in Dewitt; B & S’s 529 in Carroll; Go Fish Marina Bar and Grill in Princeton, and the Menlo Café in Menlo.

(Radio Iowa)

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports four arrests. 47-year old Lisa Mae Bolan, of Glenwood, was arrested Friday (Oct. 10th) at 1:12-a.m. in Glenwood, for Possession of a Controlled Substance. Her bond was set at $2,000.

On Thursday (10/9), 34-year old Kale Garrett Hardman, of Malvern, was arrested at the Mills County Jail on a warrant for Theft in the 3rd degree, and Trespassing. His bond was set at $2,300.

On Wednesday, 59-year old Gregory N. Jones, of Malvern, was arrested just after 9-p.m. following a traffic stop on Highway 34. He was charged with OWI/1st offense and held in the Mills County Jail on $1,000 bond.

And on Tuesday, deputies in Mills County arrested 23-year old Derek Edward Rodwell, of Glenwood, on a warrant for Simple Assault. He was taken into custody at the Sheriff’s Office. Bond was set at $300.