Red Cross Requesting Blood Donations
Red Cross Requesting Blood Donations
Submitted by: Kimberly Grant, Huntsville Real Estate Agent
Huntsville Real Estate Blog
Alabama’s Red Cross has issued an emergency request for blood donors. They are estimating that their reserve is less than a day’s supply. A representative from the Red Cross has stated they are unsure if they have enough to ensure that local hospitals have what they need. In some cases, hospitals are having to postpone some elective surgeries. Residents are encouraged to come out to donate because one pint of blood can save as many as three lives. Also, blood collected in the Huntsville area goes to help hospitals in Alabama, the Mississippi coast, and the Florida panhandle. The Red Cross needs all blood types but there is a special request for type O and type B.
Surprisingly, I found that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has recently restricted gifts to blood donors such as gift cards, sports tickets, and similar things of value. Tammy Barnes, the North Alabama district director of LifeSouth, says this has really hurt the number of donors in the area. There are movie tickets and free t-shirts available to local donors, but no more restaurant or shopping gift cards. The summer vacation season has also hurt the number of donations with an estimated 20% of donors coming from high school and college students (who are now on summer vacation).
I encourage you all to try to assist the Red Cross with a blood donation. Remember, just ONE PINT can save as 
many as THREE LIVES. One little deed can do so much to help others. With the upcoming holiday, there can be an increase in accidents and injuries and you just don’t know what type of difference you can make. So if you are able to donate, please go out and support the Red Cross and give blood. You never know it might just save a life!!
Kimberly Grant
Realtor, Exit Leon Crawford Realty
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I got a call from a good friend and she told me a nightmare of a story she is having with her brand new home. She is in a new subdivision and is only the third completed home on the block. She has been in the new house for about three months and recently she says she has been hearing noises and scratching sounds that appear to be coming from the attic. This went on for a while and they eventually called a pest control company to come out. As it turns out, they have an attic full of flying squirrels. The company told them to call a wildlife company, but of course, still charged them for a service call. They contacted the wildlife company who came out and gave them an estimate for $2000 to trap the squirrels and remove them. They also told them that the squirrels got in through a hole where the roof was not completed and recommended they contact the builder. It seems as trees and lots were being cleared in the new subdivision the squirrels made their way into the house. My friend contacted the builder who tells them that they will not pay $2000 for wildlife company to remove the squirrels but they will come and patch the hole and put down poison in the attic. So of course my question was, “Who wants an attic full of dead squirrels?” The couple demanded the builder come up with a better solution since it was the incomplete roof that was the source of this problem. Try to guess the builder’s response…. YOU SHOULD HAVE GOTTEN A HOME INSPECTION. The builder’s position was that they were willing correct the situation but it their decision in HOW to correct it. When my friend told me that I said, “But you did get a home inspection, right?” She said no because her real estate agent and mortgage company told her it wasn’t required and really wasn’t needed since it was new construction. She said she figured why spend $300 if it wasn’t necessary. This was one of those time when I really wished I lived in her area so I could have represented her. I was appalled!! 
The 28th annual Mercedes-Benz Cotton Row Run was held near Big Springs Park. There was a 10K (6.2 miles) run that started at 7 am this morning. There was a 5K (3.1 miles) that begain at 10 am and a 1 mile Fun Run aiming to attract children 10 and under and their adult companions that went through historic downtown. Security, traffic control, and medical support provided for the safety of all the participants. The Cotton Row Run is conducted by the Huntsville Track Club and for the past 27 years has drawn runners from all over the country. Lodging was provided by Holiday Inn Downtown Huntsville and there were numerous local companies sponsoring the event. Papa John’s provided free pizza to all the runners, Pepsi Cola provided soft drinks to all the runners, and Garden Cove Produce provided bananas, water, and Gatorade.
The Rocket City Real Estate Source 