American Red Cross

Two members of a local American Red Cross chapter could be on their way to the Midwest this week to help flood victims. Mike Mowen, director of emergency services for the Washington County Chapter of the American Red Cross, said he received notice Thursday that two of his volunteers were to be put on alert for possible deployment to the Upper Midwest, where weeks of rain have caused heavy flooding in parts of Iowa, Michigan, Wisconsin and Missouri....

CHAMBERSBURG, Pa. - The Franklin County Chapter of the American Red Cross is hosting a military appreciation event from 1:30 to 8 p.m. Saturday, April 24, at the New Franklin Ruritan Club. The events includes free CPR training, a dinner for current military members and veterans and a support group meeting. To register for the event or to get additional information, call Emergency Services Director Allen White at 717-264-6214 or e-mail him at awhite@franklin-redcross.org "> awhite@franklin-redcross.

During the week of April 12, Broadfording Christian Academy students participated in the school's annual servathon in Washington County as well as at two camps in Mercersburg, Pa. The following organizations were served this year: Loyalton Assisted Living, Cove Valley Youth Camp, Antietam National Battlefield, Camp Tohiglo, Hagerstown Fairgrounds, Discovery Station, the Leonard P. Snyder branch of Washington County Free Library, Western Maryland...

In Washington County and elsewhere in the 100-county Greater Alleghenies Region of the American Red Cross, supplies of O negative blood are down to one day, according to spokeswoman Marianne Spampinato. There is fewer than two days of supplies of O positive, B positive and A negative blood on hand, she said. Upcoming blood drives include: American Red Cross chapter, 1131 Conrad Court, Hagerstown, Friday, July 15, noon to 6 p.m. North Hagerstown High School, Thursday, July 21, 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., call 301-791-2585 for appointments.

Washington County Chapter of the American Red Cross 1131 Conrad Court Hagerstown Telephone: 301-739-0717 Web site: hagerstownmdredcross.org Office hours: Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. In existence since 1917, the Washington County Chapter of the American Red Cross is funded through United Way, memorials, donations, grants, mailed appeals, annual membership campaigns, holiday gift wrap, etc. Julie Barr-Strasburg is the executive director; Teresa Elwood is director of blood services; and Cindy Blackstock is director of emergency services.

MARTINSBURG, W.Va. - A family of 12 was being assisted Friday evening by the American Red Cross after a fire caused about $150,000 in damage to their ranch-style home south of Martinsburg, according to Berkeley County emergency officials. No one was injured in the blaze, officials said. The fire at 371 Cardinal Drive, west of Interstate 81 near the community of Tablers Station, W.Va., was reported about 5 p.m. and began in the addition of the single-story wood frame home in Valley View Acres, said Russell Carpenter, South Berkeley Volunteer Fire Department's assistant chief.

Dunkin' Donuts customers may purchase a 2-pound coffee gift pack to benefit the American Red Cross in Maryland through May. Maria Johns, director of financial development for the Washington County chapter of the Red Cross, said both franchises in Hagerstown - Dual Highway and Pennsylvania Avenue - are participating. One dollar from the sale of each gift pack will be donated to American Red Cross disaster relief, which helps local families after fires or other disasters. Red Cross volunteers across Maryland respond to fires and provide food, clothing, shelter and emotional support to disaster victims.

Citing an urgent need for Type O negative blood, the Washington County Chapter of the American Red Cross encourages the public to donate blood at one of two blood drives scheduled this afternoon. The Hagerstown Donor Center at 1131 Conrad Court is open until 6 p.m. Sharpsburg Bible Church, corner of Antietam and South Potomac streets in Sharpsburg, is hosting a blood drive until 6:30 p.m. The local Red Cross hopes to collect 60 units of blood today. According to The Greater Alleghenies Region of the American Red Cross, at the beginning of the day only 14 units of O negative blood were available for 97 hospitals serving 100 counties in the region.

Fonnie R. Crawford Jr., 76 AUG. 24, 1932-FEB. 20, 2009 CHARLES TOWN, W.Va. - Fonnie R. Crawford Jr., 76, of Charles Town, died Friday, Feb. 20, 2009, at the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Martinsburg, W.Va. Born Aug. 24, 1932, in Wardensville, W.Va., he was the son of the late Fonnie Crawford and Pearl Mae Cassel Crawford. He retired from the Bank of Charles Town as senior vice president with 33 years of service. He served in the U.S. Army.

NOV. 24, 1939-MARCH 31, 2009 CHARLES TOWN, W.Va. - Gilbert Albert Mehling, 69, of Charles Town, died Tuesday, March 31, 2009, at City Hospital. Born Nov. 24, 1939, in Waukesha, Wis., he was the son of the late Gilbert M. Mehling and Caroline Nelson Mehling. He was semi-retired, and self-employed as a systems analyst and Web site designer. He volunteered with the local American Red Cross, C&O Canal bike patrol and Jefferson County CERT. He served in the U.S. Army.