McKenzie County ND

“I just donate to help someone who needs blood,” said Larry Haakenson, just one of 40 donors that day, but one who has given the gift-of-life “off and on” for over 50 years. For the past three years, as a resident of Watford City, he has made it a practice to be a donor of double the red blood cells, thanks to the use of the haemonetics machine, or 2 RBC, which removes twice as many red blood cells as a concentration while the donor is returned his own plasma, platelets and an additional 500 ml of saline solution.

“Some day I may need it,” reflects Larry.

Feb. 13, 2008 was cold, but more than 24 heroes came from Alexander, Arnegard, Charlson, Keene and Watford City. Those who registered to donate blood arrived to do so in Lower Level of 1st International Bank & Trust of Watford City. Many walk-ins came to donate as well.

The crew of five from United Blood Service in Bismarck used two rooms; one for interview and lab work, the other for gathering the units of blood. Kathy Skarda, McKenzie County coordinator, had organized the location as the Watford City Civic Center was being remodeled. She is on the far left in the photo, next to Mary Chap, Michelle Bollmouth, Sara Carr, Amanda Myers, and Donor Services Supervisor Amy Beehler.

I volunteered to greet and check identification, in addition to charging each donor to read three pamphlets from 11:30 until 2:30 p.m. That I.D. must include one of three things: a date of birth, a Social Security Number or a Blood System assigned donor number. The required reading lists medications and the proper amount of days the donor must be free of the specific med in order to donate. It also asks for a list of all countries, including city and area, that the donor has visited, along with the dates, in the past three years. If the donor has visited any European countries since 1980 they must also be listed.

Kathy Skarda periodically schedules Blood Drives in Watford City. You can help fill one of theose 75 sign-up slots by calling her at 842-2381 or home 675-2333. Or you may make an appointment through United Blood Services by visiting www.UnitedBloodServices.org

The third wave of Oil Boom is going strong in McKenzie County. Lessons of the past, revenues set aside by legislation to provide money to offset the impact and increased wages to retain hired help are factors that have eased its impact.

Ron Anderson, McKenzie County commissioner from Keene was first to present information on local and county issues at Tuesday’s (Feb. 12, 2008) meeting in a Town Hall Meeting sponsored by the McKenzie County Jobs Development Authority, the North Dakota Petroleum Council and the North Dakota Association of Oil and Gas Counties held in Watford City. (more…)