Briefs: Red Cross blood drives, River Valley to honor veterans, minimum wage increasing

Red Cross seeks donors to ease blood and platelet shortage

The American Red Cross continues to experience a national blood and platelet shortage and asks the public to book a time to give as soon as possible. Donors of all blood types are urgently needed, especially type O blood donors and those giving platelets.

The Red Cross experienced a significant blood and platelet donation shortfall in August, contributing to the current blood and platelet shortage. To ensure the blood supply recovers, the Red Cross must collect 10,000 additional blood products each week over the next month to meet hospital and patient needs.

Several blood drives are scheduled at The Alber Red Cross Center, 1849 Summerset Drive. They are set for noon to 6 p.m. Tuesday, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, and noon -to 6 p.m. on Oct. 11.

The Red Cross offers three ways to make a donation appointment: Download the Red Cross Blood Donor App; visit RedCrossBlood.org; or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).

As a thank-you, those who give through Oct. 20 will receive a $15 Amazon.com Gift Card by email.

River Valley preparing for annual Veterans Day celebration

CALEDONIA — River Valley High School at 4280 Marion Mt. Gilead Road will host its annual Veterans Day Celebration on Nov. 9. Registration begins at 7:15 a.m. with the program beginning at 8. Lunch will be provided for area veterans who attend. Call 740-725-5802 for more information.

Ohio minimum wage to increase in 2024

COLUMBUS — Ohio’s minimum wage is scheduled to increase on Jan. 1 to $10.45 per hour for non-tipped employees and $5.25 per hour for tipped employees. The minimum wage will apply to employees of businesses with annual gross receipts of more than $385,000 per year.

The current 2023 minimum wage is $10.10 per hour for non-tipped employees and $5.05 per hour for tipped employees. The 2023 Ohio minimum wage applies to employees of businesses with annual gross receipts of more than $372,000.

The Constitutional Amendment (II-34a) passed by Ohio voters in November 2006 states Ohio’s minimum wage shall increase on January 1 each year by the rate of inflation. The state minimum wage is tied to the Consumer Price Index (CPI-W) for urban wage earners and clerical workers over the 12-month period prior to September.

For employees at smaller companies with annual gross receipts of $385,000 or less per year after Jan. 1, 2024, and for 14- and 15-year-olds, the state’s minimum wage is $7.25 per hour. For these employees, the state wage is tied to the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour, which requires an act of Congress and the President’s signature to change.

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