Essential Blood Donations

040320.N.BD.EssentiaBloodDrive.jpg — American Red Cross Ohlebotomist Anna Afoakwa prepares to collect blood from Mark Kolbeck Wednesday, April 1, at Essential Health Sports Center in Brainerd. The event which was sponsored by Essential Health collected 64 pints of blood from 80 people. Essentia Health will be sponsoring another drive May 8th a the Essentia Health Sports Center. Donors are encouraged to go online and sign up a redcrossblood.org. Steve Kohls / Brainerd Dispatch

By Steven L. Kohls

April 02, 2020 at 1:51 PM

American Red Cross phlebotomist Anna Afoakwa prepares to collect blood from Mark Kolbeck Wednesday, April 1, at Essential Health Sports Center in Brainerd. The event, which was sponsored by Essential Health, collected 64 pints of blood from 80 people. Essentia Health will be sponsoring another drive May 8 a the Essentia Health Sports Center. Donors are encouraged to go online and sign up a redcrossblood.org. Steve Kohls / Brainerd Dispatch

By Steven L. Kohls

I was raised on a farm in western Minnesota where I participated in 4-H, high school sports, and everything that farm kids do for fun after chores. Graduated from Ridgewater Community College with an AA degree and my first taste of newspapering. I worked a summer on the Ortonville Independent as a reporter and photographer.