BLOOD DRIVES SET

CAPE GIRARDEAU -- Three American Red Cross blood drives will be held here soon.

The Red Cross and HHC 135th Engineering Group has scheduled a blood drive Sunday from 8 a.m. to noon at the National Guard Armory, 2626 Independence.

Southeast Hospital, 1701 Lacey, will host a blood drive from noon to 5 p.m. Jan. 9 at the hospital's Harrison Room, and St. Francis Medical Center, 211 St. Francis Drive, will hold a drive from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Jan. 10 at the center's conference rooms A & B.

Additional information concerning any blood drive is available by calling 658-2126.

"These blood drives are intended to help prevent a blood shortage in the first few weeks of the new year," said a Red Cross spokesman. "Many patients plan their elective surgeries in January."