The Wilkes-Alleghany Chapter of the American Red Cross has announced nine blood drives for August.

They will be held:

Aug. 3 at Hampton Inn from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. (call 838-5000 for more information);

Aug. 7 at Millers Creek Baptist Church from 2:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. (contact Geraldine Bumgarner at 973-4442 for more information);

Aug. 11 at Wal-Mart (for employees only) from 1 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.;

Aug. 14 at Union Baptist Church in Hamptonville from 2:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. (contact Rev. Ken Pardue at 468-8060);

Aug. 15 at North Wilkesboro VFW from 2 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. (838-4563);

Aug. 18 at Avante Nursing Center from noon to 4 p.m. (contact Sherry Dancy at 838-4141);

Aug. 28 at Welcome Home Baptist Church from 2:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. (contact Marcella Greer at 838-5697);

Aug. 29 at Alleghany High School from 8:45 a.m. to 1:15 p.m.;

Aug. 31 at East Wilkes High School from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Anyone wishing to make an appointment to give blood can call the American Red Cross office at 838-4563.

Gerald Strader of Strader Photography in Wilkesboro has completed course work at the East Coast School Photographic Workshop, a school of professional photography. Strader participated in a week of study with Bob Boyd of Durham and Lake Norman, studying the craft of photography along with more than 100 other photographic students from the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern states. Classes were held July 9-13, 2000.

Seven classes were offered at the Sheraton Imperial Hotel and Conference Center, including portrait, commercial and wedding photography, marketing, and photographic artisan instruction. The instructors were some of the nation’s top photographers. The school is affiliated with both the Professional Photographers of North Carolina, Inc. and the Professional Photographers of America.

Gerald owns and operates Strader Photography and specializes in storybook weddings and fine children and family portraiture.

The Employment Security Commission of North Carolina (ESC) announced today that Rodney S. Huffman, Veteran Employment Consultant II in the North Wilkesboro Job Service Center, completed 25 years of service with the North Carolina State government.

ESC administers the unemployment insurance program for workers who lost their jobs through no fault of their own. ESC provides placement, counseling, and assessment services to workers and a broad range of services to North Carolina employers, including screening and referral, testing and labor market information.