Briefs: Red Cross marking National Volunteer Month

Mansfield News Journal
·2 min read
News in brief

Many blood drives to be held in Richland County during April

April is National Volunteer Month, and the American Red Cross is celebrating the millions of people who volunteer to give blood, platelets and plasma throughout the year.Red Cross and PEANUTS are joining forces as a reminder it’s cool to be kind and help save lives by making a blood or platelet donation.

A dozen blood drives remain in Richland County this month. Book a time to give by visiting RedCrossBlood.org, downloading the Red Cross Blood Donor App, or calling 1-800-RED CROSS.

As a thank-you, all who come to give through April 23 will receive a Red Cross and PEANUTS T-shirt featuring Snoopy as the coolest beagle in town, Joe Cool, while supplies last. Those who come to give in April will also be automatically entered for a chance to win a three-night trip for two to Sonoma County, California. The getaway includes flights, hotel, a $1,000 gift card and tours of the Charles M. Schulz Museum and Snoopy’s Home Ice, courtesy of Peanuts Worldwide.

April is National Safe Digging Month

Since 2008, April in Ohio has been proclaimed Safe Digging Month. Columbia Gas of Ohio encourages customers and contractors to contact 811 at least 48 hours before starting any digging project.

Thousands of buried utilities are damaged each year due to digging activities. Safe Digging Month reminds homeowners and contractors that digging without knowing the approximate location of underground utilities can result in serious injuries, inconvenient service disruptions and costly repairs when gas, electric, communications, water and sewer lines are damaged.

Contacting 811 is free. Dial 811 at least 48 hours before digging. After an initial contact of 811, professional locators will arrive at the digging site to mark the approximate locations of underground lines with flags, spray paint, or both. Each color of paint and/or flag represents a unique type of underground utility.

As part of National Safe Digging Month, Columbia Gas encourages homeowners to take the following steps when planning a digging project this spring:

  • Always call 811 a few days before digging. Call at least 48 hours before beginning your project.

  • Consider moving the location of your project if it is near utility line-markings.

  • If a contractor has been hired, confirm that the contractor has called 811. Don't allow work to begin if the lines aren't marked.

Visit ColumbiaGasOhio.com/811 for more information.

Upcoming meetings:

● Shelby Park Board, 7 p.m., Monday, conference room, 5 Water St., Shelby

● Ontario Board of Education, 7 p.m., Tuesday, Ontario High School library, 467 Shelby Ontario Road, Ontario

This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: Blood drives planned in Richland County, Columbia Gas digging reminder