Saying Goodbye to Andy & Blood Needed

Wednesday Jul 4th, 2012 39 Views Northwest Report

Saying Goodbye to Andy & Blood Needed plus Food Forethought. I’m Greg Martin with today’s Northwest Report.

This is a critical time of year for blood donations and many blood centers are in need of donors. Summer is hard on the blood center for two reasons. Donors tend to be out of town during the summer months, and there are more recreational accidents where people end up needing blood transfusions. Might be a good time to make an appointment and help out.

Just a reminder on this 4th of July to be careful with fireworks. Make sure you check the local regulations and use extreme caution to prevent fires and injury. Better yet, take in your local fireworks display.

In 1964 my dad died and for this young Kansas boy Sheriff Andy Taylor was quite the role model. He kind of became my pa, Andy Griffith died early yesterday morning at the ripe old age of 89 and even though he played many other characters on TV including Matlock...he will forever be the Sheriff of Mayberry.

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Now with today’s Food Forethought, here’s Lacy Gray.

Many areas around the country have banned fireworks this 4th of July season due to horribly dry conditions and wildfires that have happened as a result. Confusingly for many people, these bans are aimed at the private use of fireworks, but do not ban the sale of fireworks. This is due in part to the very real possibility of constitutional challenges to such bans. But these bans are not put in place to cramp anyone’s celebration style or ruin their holiday; they are becoming more and more necessary for community safety and welfare. Those in favor of fireworks contend that if fireworks are used correctly, with common sense safety precautions, then they’re not dangerous. While most people would follow safety precautions, it only takes one not doing so to cause a life changing catastrophe. I have fond memories of shooting fireworks and twirling sparklers as a child, and I would love to be able to share that same experience with my grandchildren, but common sense tells me I need to look at the bigger picture. There are safer options to fireworks that omit flames. Granted they may not be as exciting or make spectacular light displays, but in the long run it’s worth the sacrifice.

Thanks Lacy. That’s today’s Northwest Report. I’m Greg Martin on the Ag Information Network.