Other Writings @
the Longview Current

I discovered my love for writing while volunteering as a writer for the Longview Current, the school newspaper at Longview Community College in Longview, Missouri, from 1985 to 1988. I experimented with many storytelling techniques while volunteering as a reporter, movie critic, and columnist. While most of my writing was under a personal, Dr. Pangloss, I also submitted a few articles in my own name.

Want to be a hero? Would you like to give a complete stranger the chance of a lifetime? The Student Government, through the Community Blood Bank of Greater Kansas City, will sponsor their semi-annual Blood Drive March 26 from 8:30 a.m. until 12:30 in the Private Dining Room of Building 11.

"Bloodmobile staff and equipment are dispatched (to Longview) from the Community Blood Center of Greater Kansas City, the nonprofit organization providing the total blood supply for 40 Missouri and Kansas counties," said a spokeman for the blood drive. Longview's goal is to collect 55 pints of blood. Students are encouraged to make an appointment to donate.

The blood donation procedure has remained "safe, quick and painless" for years, according to the Community Blood Bank information sheet. The only major difference in procedure is a slightly revised form the volunteer must sign to facilitate the screening of blood for the HTLV III virus, commonly known as Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome.

"The standard first-time donor regenerates his first pint of blood in 4 weeks, with successive visits taking less time to regenerate," according to the information packet. "The experienced donor can regenerate one pint every 12 hours." If appointments are kept, the en- tire procedure should take less than an hour.

And to top it all off, it's free. So see Stephen Harris, Missy Enke or Vince Francis to sign up. Anyone can be a donor if they are 17 or older, weigh over 100 pounds and have no history of hepatitis, epilepsy or malignancies. "other than cured skin cancer.'