The American Red Cross has issued the following press release regarding the urgent need for blood.

The American Red Cross has an urgent need for blood donations to prevent another blood shortage as hospitals resume surgical procedures and patient treatments that were temporarily paused earlier this spring in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Healthy individuals who are feeling well are asked to make an appointment to donate in the weeks and months ahead by downloading the free Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or enabling the Blood Donor Skill on any Alexa Echo device.

In recent weeks, hospital demand for blood products has grown by 30% after sharply declining in early April amid this rapidly changing and complex public health crisis. At the same time, blood drives continue to be canceled as many businesses and community organizations remain closed. Donors are needed to make and keep scheduled appointments to help meet the current need.

All those who come to give through May 31 will receive a special Red Cross T-shirt by mail, while supplies last. And thanks to Amazon, all those who come to give June 1-30 will receive a $5 Amazon.com Gift Card via email.*

“Blood donors have played a vital role in the lives of patients who have needed lifesaving transfusions during this pandemic, and patients continue to depend on donors each and every day,” said Paul Sullivan, senior vice president, Red Cross Blood Services. “The Red Cross appreciates the support of those who rolled up a sleeve to give in recent months, but the need doesn’t stop. We need the public’s help to avoid another blood shortage this summer.”

It’s important to remember that red blood cells must be transfused within 42 days of donation and platelets within just five days. So, they must constantly be replenished. There is no known end date in this fight against coronavirus, and the Red Cross urgently needs the help of donors and blood drive hosts to ensure blood products are readily available for patients.

Blood drive safety precautions

Each Red Cross blood drive and donation center follows the highest standards of safety and infection control, and additional precautions – including temperature checks, social distancing and face coverings for donors and staff – have been implemented to ensure the health of all those in attendance. Donors are asked to schedule an appointment prior to arriving at the drive and are required to wear a face covering or mask while at the drive, in alignment with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention public guidance.  

Upcoming blood donation opportunities, May 27-June 15:

Toombs

Lyons

6/1/2020: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., Patin Park Callaway Center, 168 Miot Drive

Toombs

Vidalia

6/2/2020: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., First United Methodist Church Vidalia, 209 Church Street, P.O. Box 150

Toombs

Vidalia

6/4/2020: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Vidalia High School, 901 North Street West

Appling

Baxley

6/16/2020: 2 p.m. - 6 p.m., First Baptist Church Baxley, 15 North Main Street

Tattnall

Reidsville

6/22/2020: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m., Reidsville Baptist Church, 146 Brazell Street

Toombs

Lyons

6/24/2020: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Lyons Upper Elementary School, 830 S. State St

About blood donation

All blood types are needed to ensure a reliable supply for patients. A blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age in most states (16 with parental consent where allowed by state law), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements.

Blood and platelet donors can save time at their next donation by using RapidPass^® to complete their pre-donation reading and health history questionnaire online, on the day of their donation, before arriving at the blood drive. To get started, follow the instructions at RedCrossBlood.org/RapidPass or use the Blood Donor App.

About the American Red Cross

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or cruzrojaamericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.

* Restrictions apply. Additional information and details are available at RedCrossBlood.org/Together.

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Written by Jeff Raiford

Category: Newsbreak

Published: 27 May 2020

Hits: 104

The following press release was issued by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation regarding a shooting death in Alamo.

On Sunday, May 24, 2020, at approximately 2:10 a.m., the Georgia Bureau of Investigation Eastman office was requested by the Alamo Police Department to conduct an investigation into a shooting that occurred on Bluebird Lane in Alamo, Wheeler County, GA. A large party was held at the residence of 4 Bluebird Lane to celebrate a high school graduation. While at the party, multiple individuals exchanged gunfire. Ronesta Kotoya Williams, 42, of Alamo, was shot and killed during this incident. Two other individuals were shot during this incident. Michael Waddell, 26, of McRae, is listed in critical condition and India Harris, 18, of Alamo, received a non-life threatening gunshot wound and is currently receiving medical treatment. No arrests have been made at this time.

The investigation is active and ongoing. Anyone with information regarding this investigation is asked to contact the GBI Eastman office at 478-374-6988 or the Alamo Police Department at 912-568-7153.

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Written by Jeff Raiford

Category: Newsbreak

Published: 24 May 2020

Hits: 2133

Jariyah Williams, a 2020 Honor Graduate With Distinction from Vidalia High School, signed a full-paid tuition scholarship Tuesday morning to Oglethorpe University, a liberal arts/performing arts university in Atlanta. She is the first VHS graduate to ever receive a theatrical scholarship. The four-year scholarship is estimated to be valued in excess of $160,000.

Williams, the daughter of Jade Williams, said she is excited about her future, and is appreciative of the support system she has had including that of her drama teacher at VHS Margaret Pournelle. 

Jariyah overcame a speech impediment for which she says she was bullied in elementary and middle school, but after working with speech professionals, she learned that she could realize her dreams and perform on stage successfully. She encourages young people to reach for their dreams and be confident that they, too, can fulfill them.

The scholarship winner participated in plays all four years of her high school career, and won regional and state honors for her acting. She was the 2020 Regional 2AA Literary Champion in Oral Interpretation - Duo with the piece "The Help." In addition, she is the 2019 VHS Homecoming Queen, the 2019-20 SGA Executive Vice President, and was a band captain for 2 years and dance team captain for 4 years. 

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Written by Kathy Hilt

Category: Newsbreak

Published: 27 May 2020

Hits: 327

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation has issued the following press release regarding child sexual exploitation in Georgia.

Since March 16, 2020, when Georgia public elementary, secondary, and post-secondary schools ceased in person classes, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation’s Child Exploitation and Computer Crimes (CEACC) Unit, along with other GBI regional offices, have executed 16 exigent search warrants related to online child sexual exploitation. In addition, the GBI CEACC Unit has assisted other agencies with similar search warrants. As a result, the GBI has arrested 15 individuals for the possession, distribution and/or production of child sexual abuse images. Some of those arrested were also charged with the associated crime of child molestation.  Consequently, the GBI CEACC Unit has rescued 8 children from situations in which they were being sexually abused. Other previous child victims were also identified but the offender no longer had access to the child. Some of the offenders subsequently indicated they had numerous undetected victims. It is possible additional victims will be discovered as more interviews are conducted and digital forensic analysis of digital devices occurs. Additional charges and arrests may be forthcoming.

During the unprecedented COVID-19 quarantine, there has been an understandable concern that abused children will be at home more often with their abusers and without contact with mandatory reporters such as teachers who may normally notice abuse indicators or be available to hear and report an outcry by a child. Additionally, as a result of the COVID-19 quarantine, children have been online using various social media applications, chat rooms, and various gaming platforms more often than they were before. Each of these are prime online locations where sexual predators will attempt to solicit conversation with children for the purpose of enticing them for sexual purposes.

While the Georgia Bureau of Investigation’s Child Exploitation and Computer Crimes (CEACC) Unit executes this mission daily, it is continuing to do so while schools are out to actively work to find and rescue children from those that are sexually abusing them. Instances in which there is a belief that a child is in danger are always acted on immediately. This has not changed during the period of quarantine.

Through cybertips from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), the GBI CEACC Unit and the GBI coordinated Georgia Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force are able to find children being sexually abused by working investigations involving child sexual abuse images. The large majority of these cybertips contain information reported to NCMEC by Internet service providers. The cybertips are most often related to child sexual abuse imagery, but are many times also related to the online enticement of children, sextortion, and child sex trafficking. Many of these child sexual abuse imagery cybertips involve horrific sexual violence perpetrated on very young children. The demand for this content causes more children to be sexually abused and more abuse material to be created.  Additionally, these images stay online forever and the child is revictimized every time someone views their abuse images for sexual gratification.

GBI Special Agent in Charge and Commander of the Georgia ICAC Task Force Debbie Garner commented “we are finding child victims of sexual abuse that we would not have otherwise known about by working these child sexual abuse imagery cybertips from NCMEC – and we will not leave a child in danger.” In 2019, the average number of cybertips received by the GBI from NCMEC was 600 cybertips per month, equating to the receipt of close to 7,100 cybertips in 2019. In March of 2020 alone, the GBI received over 1,000 cybertips from NCMEC. In April 2020, the GBI received almost 1,400 cybertips from NCMEC.  By comparison, in April of 2019, the GBI received 587 cybertips from NCMEC. Nationally, NCMEC indicates a 106% increase in reporting when comparing March 2019 and March 2020 report numbers.  Cybertip numbers have consistently and markedly risen every year.  While this new surge in cybertips has not been confirmed to be as a direct result of the COVID-19 quarantine and children being online more, it is certainly believed to be a factor by those heavily involved in this mission.

In March and April 2020, the Georgia ICAC TF as a whole has made 49 arrests.  In 2019, the Georgia ICAC TF made 474 arrests.  The Georgia ICAC Task Force is comprised of over 250 local, state and federal law enforcement and prosecutorial agencies and is one of 61 ICAC Task Forces across the United States that work as a cohesive team.  The ICAC task forces work diligently to identify and arrest those involved in the child sexual abuse imagery production and trade.  The ICAC Program, created by the U. S. Department of Justice, was developed in response to the increasing number of children and teenagers using the Internet, the proliferation of child pornography, and the heightened online activity by predators searching for unsupervised contact with underage victims.

If you would like additional information related to the internet safety education and tips to keep children safe online please visit www.netsmartz.org.  If you suspect or have information related to the abuse or exploitation of a child, please call your local law enforcement agency and/or the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 1-800-THE-LOST or www.missingkids.org.  

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Written by Jeff Raiford

Category: Newsbreak

Published: 22 May 2020

Hits: 1404