Newspaper Page Text
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The ADVANCE, October 4, 2023/Page 9A
Star
continued from page 7A
However, those who make
a better world are those of
the latter variety — those
selflessly looking for truth
and how to make things
better.
Eric Johnson is clearly
someone driven to make
things better.
When he writes
“American cities need
Republicans — and
Republicans need
American cities,” it is not
because he sees a more
promising career path for
himself in the Republican
Party.
It’s because he truly
believes that America’s
cities need mayors “to
champion law and order
and practice fiscal
conservatism.”
If we want to see an
example of the opposite of
what Eric Johnson and
Dallas’ citizens have
achieved, look no further
than Chicago.
Earlier this year,
Chicago Mayor Lori
Lightfoot, who served
from 2019 to 2022, became
the first Chicago mayor in
40 years not to get
reelected.
Over this period,
serious crime in Chicago
increased 33%.
Lightfoot’s rejection
Amber
continued from page 7A
tried to figure out our best
course of action. We finally
decided to continue driv
ing to her house, keep an
eye on the stinging insects,
and pray that neither of us
got stung.
Thirty minutes later,
we leapt from the car in
relief. I took my key fob,
and with a lot of distance
seemed like the lights were
going on among Chicago
voters that the progressive
agenda is not going to solve
their horrible crime
problem.
Paul Valias, a
conservative Democrat
running on law and order
and strengthening police
enforcement, finished first
in the February mayor
election in which Lightfoot
finished third.
However, with no
candidate capturing a
majority, the election
moved to a runoff, and
progressive Brandon
Johnson, who finished 11
points behind Valias in the
first round, edged him out
52.2%-47.8% in the runoff.
Johnson brought in
socialist Sen. Bernie
Sanders and successfully
peddled the same failed
progressive message to
Black and Hispanic voters
in Chicago.
In the same Gallup poll
in which Dallas was
selected as the safest city in
America, Chicago came in
next to last, with only 27%
saying that Chicago is safe.
For sure, Chicago
voters bought more of the
same and will get more of
the same failures.
Last year, Whole
Foods closed its store in
the Englewood
neighborhood of Chicago
and Walmart has closed
between me and the SUV, I
popped open the back and
a few mad wasps flew out. I
took a long pole and fished
out the bird feeder and set
it in her yard, then armed
with a water hose and with
my fastest running sneak
ers laced upon my feet, I
opened the lid to the metal
feeder. There it was — a
beautiful, paper-like wasp
nest the size of my out
stretched hand.
As I said, Mom and
four stores.
All because of crime.
What is Mayor
Brandon Johnson’s
solution? Government-run
grocery stores.
“The city of Chicago is
reimagining the role
government can play in our
lives by exploring a public
option for grocery stores,”
said a spokesperson for
Chicago’s Economic
Security Project.
For sure this is an idea
destined for failure.
Citizens of all
ethnicities in Chicago
deserve leadership that
they will not get from their
Black Democrat mayor
that Dallas is getting from
their Black Republican
mayor.
Safe and prosperous
communities.
Limited government,
individual freedom, rule of
law and traditional family
values.
Conservatism is the
answer.
Star Parker is president of
the Center for Urban Renewal
and Education and host of
the weekly television show
"Cure America with Star
Parker." Her recent book,
"What Is the CURE for
America?" is available now.
To find out more about Star
Parker and read features by
other Creators Syndicate
writers and cartoonists, visit
the Creators Syndicate
website at www.creators,
com.
COPYRIGHT 2023 CREATORS.
COM
I won’t soon forget that
day — the day we drove a
car with a bird feeder full
of wasps from Bonaire to
Ohoopee and lived to tell
about it. We won’t ever
make that mistake again.
As for us, neither of us feel
that we are wasp whisper
ers or anything special
like that. No, those wasps
simply had mercy upon us
that day, and we are oh so
grateful for that mercy. So
grateful!
MHMH
continued from page 4A
cer Treatment Center and
the Low Country Cancer
Care Center, and much
more. As it moved from a
community-owned facility
to join HCA Healthcare’s
international network of
health care facilities in
2021, Meadows has been
able to provide even more
progressive care through
its HCA Healthcare part
nerships.
Miller outlined key
dates in the hospital’s de
velopment, as well as what
it has meant for Mead
ows to become part of the
HCA Healthcare family.
He noted that Meadows
opened its 8-bed intensive
care unit in 1969; in 1992,
Meadows began offering
MRIs in a mobile unit,
added the first CT scan
ner in 2000, and opened its
sleep lab that same year; in
2001, Meadows opened its
cardiac catheterization lab;
in 2005, the hospital added
chemotherapy for adult
cancer patients; in 2009
Meadows broke ground for
a new hospital and opened
the new facility in 2011.
“HCA Healthcare is
one of the nation’s largest
providers of health care
services with a strong com
mitment to high-quality
hospitals serving patients
and giving back to their
communities,” Miller said,
adding that HCA Health
care enables its facilities to
conduct research and share
best practices. “As part of
the HCA Healthcare fam
ily, I am confident that
Meadows will continue
to grow and serve the sur
rounding communities.”
Mike Calhoun, former
chair of the MHMH Alli
ance Board, told the audi
ence as he stepped to the
podium that the 60th an
niversary observance was
an emotional moment for
him. “I have had a long con
nection with Meadows,” he
said of his 30-year associa
tion with the hospital. He
and family members have
been patients there, two
of his three children were
born there, and he has been
involved with leadership
and the board directors at
the facility. Calhoun noted,
“Sixty years is remarkable
in the life of any organi
zation, and in that time,
Meadows has touched the
lives of tens of thousands
of people. But Meadows is
more than an organization,
it is a family, and I feel very
privileged and honored to
be here tonight.”
Calhoun enthused,
“With the most advanced
technology currently
available, an able staff and
dedicated volunteers, and
fortified with HCA Health
care’s support, in my opin
ion, the future of hospital is
very bright and strong.”
Calhoun announced
to the assembly that as a re
sult of the sale of the com
munity-owned hospital to
HCA Healthcare in 2021,
a foundation was estab
lished and a board named
to provide stewardship for
the proceeds from the sale.
Calhoun chairs the board
whose others members
include Reid McArthur,
vice chair; Dennis Ingley,
treasurer; Tim Truxel, sec
retary; Polly Ann Martin;
Ronnie Stewart; and An
thony Miller. Calhoun
announced that Dr. Susan
McLendon will serve as
executive director of the
Meadows New Founda
tion, with Angie Amerson
serving as administrative
secretary.
“As time progresses,
the foundation will pro
vide supporting funds for
community health care
education and wellness
initiatives while protect
ing the principle of the sale
proceeds to provide servic
es for future generations,”
Calhoun said.
Dr. McColl, represent
ing the Meadows medical
staff, related that she has
been a part of the Meadows
story since 2002, when her
husband Dr. Kurt Hoffman
was recruited to join the
medical staff. She signed
onto the medical staff in
2007 as a gynecologist at
the Meadows Women’s
Medical Center, also as
suming the part-time role
of CMO that same year.
When Meadows merged
with HCA Healthcare in
2021, she became the full
time CMO.
“In the 17 years I have
been with Meadows, the
hospital’s recruiting and
bringing in new physi
cians has been a priority.
Since 2021, Meadows has
added many surgical sub
specialists to its staff and
with its association with
HCA Healthcare and sister
hospitals in Savannah and
Dublin, Meadows is now
able to offer bariatric sur
gery, pediatric outpatient
surgery, plastic surgery,
and more.”
Meadows is expanding
into education for new resi
dent physicians. “Last year
we had a fellowship for
family medicine physicians
who have a desire to do
obstetrics and gynecology
as part of their practice,”
Dr. McColl said, adding
that plans call for residency
positions in emergency
medicine, internal medi
cine, and obstetrics and
gynecology over the next
couple of years.
“Our hope is that the
young physicians we bring
to Toombs County will
see that rural medicine is
a fun place to have a career
and after they finish train
ing to join us in the care of
patients here in Toombs
County,” the CMO stated.
SUCCESSFUL FESTIVAL!
a 1ALTAMAHA
Member
WELCOME TO
THE REAL
SQUEAL!
Be safe and
enjoy great
food, music,
and fun in
our great
community.
Ronalttl V. Hall
FUNERAL HOME
Locally Owned & Operated
310 North Street West, Vidalia, GA
912-537-7877
www.ronaldvhall.com