The Current Online

Former Current editor Dana Fecho is now reporting for UCM’s Muleskinner. Find her stories here.

Modesty didn’t keep Clark from being recognized

by DANA M. FECHO

Virginia Clark brings school and work together

A shy, modest woman sits behind her computer in her cubicle in the PACE office. Her face lights up when a student enters her view.
PACE customer assistant Virginia Clark raked in the February employee of the month award.
She has worked full-time in the PACE office for a year and a half. However, she did work part-time for two and a half years as a secretary, again in PACE. Besides her job with PACE, Clark is working on her associate of arts degree here at Longview for knowledge purposes.
“I really like my job and helping PACE students. I’m happy here,” Clark said.
Clark was a secretary for the Federal Communication Commission and the Department for Commerce for 13 years before getting married.
When she is not attending school or working, she enjoys sewing, reading and NHRA drag racing. Time with her husband of 15 years and two daughters, ages 13 and 10, is also precious to Clark, who lives in Lee’s Summit. Her pets include two hamsters and a frog.
Because her husband works for the Army as a staff sergeant, the Clark family has lived in Indiana, Virginia and Georgia. They lived in Frankfurt, Heidelberg and Ansbach, Germany. Their 13-year-old daughter was born in Nuremberg, Germany.
He was the communications NCO for the Fifth Core Commander in Germany and helped set up communications for the Bosnian troops at the beginning of the war. Also, he taught at a computer science school in Georgia.
When she learned she won the prestigious award, Clark felt “shocked, stunned and very, very surprised.”
PACE is intended for adults who already work full-time. Many options are available for classes—evening, weekend, Internet and cable TV are just some alternatives.
“I think PACE has a great team and I’m proud to be a member,” Clark stated.
PACE academic advisor Suzette Mullins described Clark: “Not only is she an outstanding employee, she is an outstanding human being.”

by DANA M. FECHO

A 67 million-year-old, 42 foot-long Sue awaits you at Union Station.
A T. rex Named Sue is now appearing on a limited basis at Science City. Admission into Science City allows one to admire the most complete and preserved T. rex skeleton ever found. Follow the huge dinosaur footprints around Union Station which lead one to Sue’s room.
Stepping inside the darkened room, eyes adjust to the darkness and then she is spotted. It is an amazing sight for anyone to witness. Sue overshadows humans who towers 12 feet tall below her hips, and her head, with a weight of one ton, slightly ajar with the 58 teeth showing ranging is size from seven-and-a-half to 12 inches long, lets one know that humans would be no match for an animal like that today. Even as large as her head was, the brain cavity was only large enough to hold a quart of milk.
Sue Hendrickson, for whom the bones were named, discovered the remains in a South Dakota field in 1990. What ensued was a five-year legal battle over the proper ownership of the bones. Since the fossil was found on a Sioux Indian reservation, a judge had to decide whether the rancher, Maurice Williams, or the Sioux were entitled to the bones. The judge ruled in favor of Williams.
Williams decided to sell the artifacts at Sotheby’s, a well-known public auction house. After just eight minutes of bidding, the Field Museum bought Sue for $8.36 million, with help from McDonald’s and Walt Disney, in 1997. After years of preparation, the actual skeleton went on display at the Field Museum in Chicago on May 17, 2000. A little over one month later, two traveling exhibitions of A T. rex Named Sue started their tour of America.
Along with the towering cast of Sue, interactive displays are spread throughout the exhibit. Visitors are able to look through heads of two dinosaurs to see how they observed the world. A full-size head spins around so one can examine all sides. A 12 inch-long tooth one can touch accompanies the head. Smells of Sue’s world are also available to sniff. A couple of exhibits deal with how Sue moved when she was alive.
Union Station is sponsoring additional activities that highlight Sue and other dinosaurs. On Oct. 19 and 20, Hendrickson stopped by to promote her book and answer questions. Jurassic Park will be shown Nov. 3 and 4 in their theater, with Valley of Gwangi showing Nov. 10 and 11. Finally, Caveman will show on Nov. 17 and 18.
Fitz’s Bottling Company, inside Union Station, is also mocking the T. rex theme. Menu items now have dinosaur puns in their names.
Sue can be seen at Union Station, located at Main and Pershing Roads in Kansas City, MO until Jan. 1, 2002. Science City admission, which also includes Sue, is $12.50 for adults, $11 for seniors and $9 for children. The hours are Monday through Saturday 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Sunday’s exhibition times are from noon to 5:00 p.m. For more information, call 816-460-2020 or visit www.sciencecity.com.

by DANA M. FECHO

The Community Blood Center (CBC) came to Longview September 26 to collect blood from students and faculty. Blood poured in—a record 73 units were collected and 34 of those were first-time donors.

Taking about a month to organize, Longview’s Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) arranged the event before the tragedies in New York City and Washington. In addition to the 73 people previously signed up, additional donors came throughout the day wanting to offer blood.

Sandra Clark, Vice-President of Public Relations for PTK, summed up the reasons people gave blood, “The tragedies and a great bunch of students at Longview.”

Six cots were set up in the Private Dining Room for the donors. However, before blood was drawn, numerous tests were performed and personal history was discussed in private cubicles.

Contributors had to meet certain requirements before they were even able to fill out the forms. They must be in good health, at least 17 years old and weigh at least 110 pounds.

If a piercing or tattoo is present, a donor must wait 12 months before giving blood unless a professional used a piercing gun. Once someone has traveled to an area where malaria is transmitted, that person is no longer allowed to donate blood.

With a finger prick, the nurse in the cubicle identified the blood type and amount of iron in the blood. Blood pressure, temperature and pulse rate were also checked. A discussion of medical history soon followed. Any questionable habits helped rule out potential bad blood.

Potential donors are deferred when the blood may not be healthy, or donation is a risk for the donor. If one is anemic or has a temperature, he or she deferred. This won’t prevent them from donating in the future. These conditions may indicate a cold is taking over the immune system. CBC had to defer 15 people for various health reasons. Most can try to donate at a later time.

After finishing the interview, donors are led to the cots. During the small talk, the nurse applies the blood pressure cuff and iodine to the inside of the arm. The bag and needle are prepared. As the cuff tightens, the donor squeezes the ball in their hand, and the nurse inserts the needle into the vein. Blood runs down the tube and into the collection bag.

First-time donor Jill Miller decided to donate before the attacks on the U.S. She was not nervous about donating because she has no problems with needles. “It’s a small sacrifice. You’re helping people. It wasn’t too bad—it stung a little bit,” she said.

CBC distributes blood to more than 70 hospitals in over 60 nearby counties. Nine locations help serve this large area around the metro. The blood collected by the CBC stays in the area, unless an abundance of blood was received and is not needed immediately in the area. To meet demands, about 2,800 units of blood are needed each week. Donors may give blood every eight weeks.

Jamie Acker, a nurse with the CBC, explained that donating blood has proven to be beneficial. It helps your body to produce more blood. By donating, the free radicals in blood are not allowed to build up as much. This could help prevent the plaque build-up in arteries that might lead to a heart attack.

“No one thinks about [donating blood] until they or someone they know needs it,” Acker said.

After the donation process, donors were given sandwiches, chips and pop from PTK. CBC supplied apple juice. “We have the best apple juice around,” Acker added.

PTK was very happy with the turnout of the blood drive. Another drive will be scheduled for next semester—probably around March. “It’s really been phenomenal,” PTK President Natasha Becken declared.