The American Red Cross today (Tuesday) issued an emergency request for platelet and blood donors of all blood types, due to that fact they received fewer donations than expected in June and the first week of July. Tricia Quinn, CEO for the Red Cross Midwest Blood Services Region said “We are counting on generous volunteer blood and platelet donors to step up and give now. Every two seconds, someone in the U.S. needs blood. Each day donations come up short, less blood is available for these patients in need.”

Nationwide, donations through the Red Cross were down approximately 10 percent in June, resulting in about 50,000 fewer donations than expected. The shortfall is similar to what the Red Cross experienced in June 2012. 

The Red Cross urgently needs donations to ensure an adequate blood supply is available for patients all summer long.  Each day, the Midwest Blood Services Region must collect approximately 500 blood donations to meet patient needs. Eligible donors with types O negative, B negative and A negative blood are especially encouraged to give. Type O negative is the universal blood type and can be transfused to anyone who needs blood. Types A negative and B negative can be transfused to Rh positive or negative patients.

There is also an urgent need for platelet donations. Platelets – a key clotting component of blood often needed by cancer patients – must be transfused within five days of donation, so it’s important to have a steady supply of platelets on hand. To donate blood, call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or visit redcrossblood.org to make an appointment or for more information.

Upcoming blood donation opportunities:

Audubon County

July 15 from 12-6 p.m. at Exira Recreational Center, 106 N. Jefferson in Exira, Iowa

Carroll County

July 10 from 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at American Legion Hall, 302 Main St. in Dedham, Iowa

Cass County

July 18 from 12-6 p.m. at Atlantic Catholic Parish Center, 105 W. Fifth St. in Atlantic, Iowa

Fremont County

July 12 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Nishnabotna Middle School, 105 E St. in Hamburg, Iowa

Harrison County

July 16 from 12-6 p.m. at Community Center, 108 W. Fourth St. in Logan, Iowa

Montgomery County

July 15 from 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at YMCA, 101 E. Cherry St. in Red Oak, Iowa

Page County

July 10 from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Clarinda Regional Health Center, 220 Essie Davison Drive in Clarinda, Iowa

Pottawattamie County

July 9 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at American Red Cross Loess Hills Chapter, 705 N. 16th St. in Council Bluffs, Iowa

July 13 from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at United Church of Christ, 106 Lincoln St. in Minden, Iowa

July 15 from 12:30 to 6:15 p.m. at American Red Cross Loess Hills Chapter, 705 N. 16th St. in Council Bluffs, Iowa

July 16 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at American Red Cross Loess Hills Chapter, 705 N. 16th St. in Council Bluffs, Iowa

July 21 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Broadway United Methodist, 11 S. First St. in Council Bluffs, Iowa

July 22 from 12:30-6:15 p.m. at American Red Cross Loess Hills Chapter, 705 N. 16th St. in Council Bluffs, Iowa

July 23 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at American Red Cross Loess Hills Chapter, 705 N. 16th St. in Council Bluffs, Iowa

Ringgold County

July 16 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at First Christian Church, 201 W. Monroe in Mount Ayr, Iowa

Shelby County

July 9 from 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at Veteran’s Memorial Building, 1104 Morningview in Harlan, Iowa

July 10 from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Harlan Primary Elementary School, 2105 Durant St. in Harlan, Iowa

July 16 from 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at Elk Horn Lutheran Church, 4313 Main St. in Elk Horn, Iowa

July 17 from 12-6 p.m. at St. Boniface Parish Center, 305 Duren St. in Westphalia, Iowa

Taylor County

July 23 from 12-6 p.m. at American Legion Hall, 106 W. Ohio in Lenox, Iowa

The CAM School District’s Board of Directors approved a contract with a new elementary school teacher during their meeting Monday morning, in Anita. Board Secretary Linda Edwards told KJAN News the Board approved the hiring of Jessica Tamerius, who will serve as a Second Grade teacher at the North Elementary School. Jessica is from Creston, and currently lives in the Greenfield area.

The Board Monday also moved to proceed with the ground work for a new multi-purpose building.

Members of the Exira and Elk Horn-Kimballton Boards of Education held a joint session Monday evening in Elk Horn, to discuss the future of the two districts following voter approved reorganization on June 25th. Exira-EHK Superintendent Dean Schnoes says the discussion was a continuation of preliminary talks which were held prior to the vote.

Schnoes said they’ve taken several steps as far as committees that are in the two districts being used as joint committees. Board policies have been reconciled so they have the same language. Issues that were previously deemed “just in case” the vote was approved, can now be finalized, and, plans are to work with financial experts to prepare one budget early next year instead of two. He says there are still some matters that need to be taken care of before July 2014, though.

The fact reorganization was approved by the voters was a relief to a lot of people, according to Schnoes, because of declining enrollment and the resulting financial stress the districts were facing. He says enrollment is always a concern, because it drives a school districts. When enrollment drops to a certain level, Schnoes says it causes districts to re-evaluate where they need to be, “down the road.”

He said while they can start looking at five- and/or 10-year plans, for now, nothing will change with the facilities or grades. Schnoes said the boards also discussed the re-alignment of a combined Board representation, and other matters during Monday night’s meeting.  He provided the members with information pertaining to when their terms expire. Three members of the EHK board will have the option to file papers for re-election this fall, while two members of the Exira board will be deciding on their future, as well. Once the elections are held, they’ll have to sit down and determine the makeup of the new, combined board prior to July 1^st, 2014.

The Page County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest Monday morning of a man wanted on local warrants. 39-year old Cory Wade Casteel, of New Market and formally of Shenandoah, was arrested at around 9:45-a.m. at the Page County Courthouse. Casteel appeared before the magistrate and was released on his own recognizance, with orders to appear later in court.