Briefs: Red Cross seeks blood donors, Rail Safety Week, Ohio Mutual retirement

Red Cross facing a national blood shortage

The American Red Cross is experiencing a national blood shortage. Fewer donors than needed gave this summer, drawing down the national blood supply and reducing distributions of some of the most needed blood types to hospitals. Hurricane Idalia further strained the blood supply with blood drive cancellations and reduced blood and platelet donations in affected areas.

Donors of all blood types are urgently needed, and there is an emergency need for platelet donors and type O blood donors.

Two blood drives are scheduled in Crawford County from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sept. 28. One will be held at Bucyrus High School. The other will take place at Colonel Crawford High School.

Schedule an appointment to give by downloading the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).

Rail Safety Week reminds Ohioans to be alert at rail crossings

COLUMBUS — The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio, the Ohio Rail Development Commission and the Ohio Department of Transportation are participating in Rail Safety Week, Sept. 18-24.

Every three hours, a person or vehicle is hit by a train in the United States. Crashes at rail crossings can be more severe than other collisions and are more likely to result in death and injury.

The state is encouraging the public to follow these steps for safety:

• Always expect a train. Trains do not run on schedules.
• Walking on or beside railroad tracks is illegal.
• The only safe and legal place to cross tracks is at designated public crossings with a crossbuck, flashing red lights or a gate.
• Crossing tracks on a bike, with a stroller, in a wheelchair or on other narrow wheels requires caution and extra attention.
• Never pass flashing lights or go around lowered gates.
• Wait to cross until you can see clearly in both directions.
• Stay off railroad bridges, trestles and out of railroad tunnels. Do not attempt to hop aboard railroad equipment.

With 36 freight railroads operating approximately 5,300 miles of track and over 5,600 public grade crossings, Ohio is the fifth leading state in terms of goods transported by rail.

In 2022, there were 61 train-vehicle collisions at public railroad crossings in Ohio, including four fatalities.

Ohio Mutual CFO announces retirement

Ohio Mutual Chief Financial Officer David Hendrix has announced his plan to retire from the company effective Dec. 31. Upon Hendrix’s retirement, current Corporate Controller Andrew M. Wallen will assume the role of chief financial officer for Ohio Mutual.

Hendrix joined Ohio Mutual as controller in July 2005 and was promoted to CFO the following year. Prior to his tenure at Ohio Mutual, Hendrix served as forensic accounting manager for the Office of the Ohio Insurance Liquidator and was an audit manager for Ernst & Young, LLP.

Wallen joined Ohio Mutual as controller in 2022 after serving 15 years at Nationwide Insurance in a variety of accounting and financial reporting roles and as senior vice president, controllership operations director for Huntington Bank in Columbus.

Bucyrus Telegraph-Forum