Briefs: Red Cross plea for donors, Eerie Galion Walks, School Bus Safety Week

Thousands of additional donations needed to replenish Red Cross blood supply

The Red Cross must collect 10,000 additional blood and platelet donations each week over the next month to sufficiently meet hospital needs. Donors of all blood types are urged to book a time to give now, especially those with type O blood or those giving platelets.

There are currently six blood drives scheduled in Crawford County now through Nov. 9, including drives in Bucyrus, Crestline and Galion.

Appointments can be made using the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767). Flu and COVID-19 vaccines don’t affect donor eligibility

To encourage more blood and platelet donations, the Red Cross is offering new incentives to donors over the next month. All who come to give Oct. 21-Nov. 9 will receive a $10 gift card by email to a restaurant merchant of their choice. They’ll also be automatically entered to win a $5,000 gift card.

Eerie Galion Walks step off this month

GALION — Strange and unusual stories from Galion’s past will be highlighted this month on Eerie Galion Walks, taking place this Saturday and again on Oct. 27.

Presented by Preserving Galion Inc., walks will begin promptly at 8 p.m. each night at The Gazebo in Park Square. For over an hour, guests will be transported to the past with eerie stories told at the very locations where each took place. The walk will end with the unveiling of recent paranormal findings at the Gill House, where refreshments will be served.

Tickets for Eerie Galion Walks are $10 and can be obtained at gillhouse.ticketleap.com/eerie-galion-walk. Minors must be 8 or older, be accompanied by a parent or guardian, and have a ticket.

This is National School Bus Safety Week

COLUMBUS — National School Bus Safety Week began Monday and runs through Friday. During this week, the Ohio State Highway Patrol is increasing enforcement efforts on school bus violations. These violations include passing a stopped school bus, school zone violations and other school bus or school zone-related activity.

National School Bus Safety Week is supported by the National Association for Pupil Transportation and serves as a reminder to motorists, students and school bus drivers of the important role they all have in ensuring children’s safety. This year’s theme is “BEEP! BEEP! School bus safety starts with me,” a unique reminder to both motorists and students about the dangers that exist outside the school bus.

Since 2018, there have been a total of 6,298 school bus-related traffic crashes in Ohio, resulting in eight fatalities and 1,982 injuries. One of the eight killed was an occupant of a school bus.

Additionally, school buses are required to be inspected twice a year to ensure the bus is operating properly. Since 2018, the Ohio State Highway Patrol has performed more than 200,000 inspections.

Upcoming meeting:

● Bucyrus City Schools Board of Education, 5:30 p.m., Thursday, Board of Education Office, 170 Plymouth St., Bucyrus

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