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.