Newspaper Page Text
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♦ WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2007
BRIDGE
From page iA
Cecil Staton, R-Macon,
a member of the Houston
County legislative delega
tion, serves on the commit
tee.
All the whereases of the
resolution cite the accom
plishments of Wiggins as a
founding father of the part
nership in 1993 and his ser
vice as chairman since 1999
due to repeated requests
from the community and his
absolute passion for Robins
Air Force Base and Middle
Georgia.
The resolution credits
Wiggins with successfully
guiding Robins Air Force
Base and the community
through many challenging
issues including reduced bud
gets, privatization threats,
lack of adequate on-base
and off-base housing, and
lack of medical participation
in the TRICARE program;
PLAN
From page iA
for the “prevention or elimi
nation of slum and blight.”
That is also the initial pur
pose of the Redevelopment
Authority, which has an
initial target area of Ignico
Drive, Davis Drive and Tabor
Drive. Mayor Donald Walker
said the Redevelopment
Authority is however not
just cleaning up but build
ing anew - like the new law
enforcement center and a
new fire station.
“As the Redevelopment
TRIP
From page iA
a picky eater but in this par
ticular case: “1 even enjoyed
the meals they served,” she
said. “Maybe because I did
not get seasick.”
That may have been
because she’d been on a ship
before, adventuring before to
Europe, traveling to Greece,
Italy and France.
“My roommate was from
Alaska,” she added. “We still
Open letter to the community from
the Medical Executive Committee of
The Medical Center of Central Georgia
Dear Community Member:
As members of the Medical Executive Committee of the Medical Center of Central
Georgia, which is the only Level One Trauma Center between the Atlanta and Florida
border, we believe it is critically important that there be funding for a state-wide trauma
network.
We are pleading for the community's support, as well as action from the Georgia General
Assembly in passing legislation to create adequate funding for a state-wide trauma network.
We are facing increasing burdens on subspecialty physicians who care for critically injured
patients sent to the Medical Center.
Tire Fact Sheet on Georgia's Trauma Physicians, produced by the Georgia Board for
Physician Workforce, highlights the current supply and distribution of physicians that
provide trauma sendees. This document indicates that a state-wide trauma network would
save lives. States with funded trauma networks, like Maryland, document a lower trauma
mortality.
We are concerned that without help from the Georgia General Assembly we may become
unable to provide our present level of physician and hospital coverage for patients who are
critically injured. Specialists such as trauma surgeons, neurosurgeons, orthopaedic
surgeons, plastic surgeons, otolaryngologists (ENT physicians), anesthesiologists, and
diagnostic radiologists are becoming increasingly difficult to attract to Macon.
Hospitals throughout Georgia have been dropping their trauma level designation in recent
years because of the financial burdens and lack of physician specialist coverage.
We sincerely solicit and appreciate support from the public on this issue.
Sincerely,
Medical Executive Committee Members
Paul Chandler, M.D.
Chief of Staff
Department of Radiology
Mark Grossnickle, M L)
Chair
Department of Radiology
Mac*am Ayoub, M.L).
Department of Trauma Surgery
Linda Hendricks. M.D-
Department of Medical Sendees
Martin Dalton, M.D.
Dean
Mercer (./ravers tty School of Medicine
and the growth of Robins
Air Force Base from about
18,000 to 27,000 personnel,
it’s increased its economic
impact on Georgia from $2.3
billion to $4.2 billion, and
survival of three base closure
and realignment rounds.
The resolution states
Wiggins is known nationally
as Middle Georgia’s Mr. Air
Force, and “he deserves rec
ognition for dedicating his
heart and soul to Robins Air
Force Base and the airmen
who serve our great country
so proudly.”
The resolution also
authorizes and directs
the Department of
Transportation to place
and maintain appropri
ate markers dedicating the
Eddie Wiggins Bridge. The
Secretary of the Senate is
authorized and directed to
transmit appropriate copies
of this resolution to Wiggins
and to the Department of
T ransportation.
Authority,” Walker said, “we
can do many things we as
elected officials cannot, like
a tax anticipation loan on
SPLOST proceeds.”
Walker said the loan on the
special purpose local option
sales tax funds, would allow
the city to start now, “not
wait for the money to come
in,” on the $5 million law
enforcement center.
Councilman Steve Smith,
who made the motion to self
appoint the city council to
the new authority, said by
doing so, “we make ourselves
accountable to the voters,”
unlike another appointed
exchange mail.”
Seasoned veteran or not,
Antarctica, said expedi
tion Leader and Executive
Director of Students on Ice,
Geoff Green “is like travel
ing to another planet.
“Yet, it is also an amazing
window to our world, and
a cornerstone of our global
ecosystem ... We hope these
expeditionary students will
return home as ambassadors
and leaders for our planet’s
environment, with a new
Marcia Hutchinson. M.D.
Vice President, Medical Affairs
Medical Center of Central Georgia
Ernest Carlton, M.D
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology
JfJjEyT
Edgar H Picice, M.D.
Chair
Department of Pathology
finwn Ekeledo, M.D.
Department of Surgery Services
Sanjiwan Tarahadkar. M.D.
Department of Anesthesia
Base housing residents prepare to move
Special to the Journal
More than 100 base hous
ing families are preparing
to move out as Robins Air
Force Base gets ready for
phase two of its housing
privatization.
The first phase privatized
670 housing units located
off base and is complete.
The second phase is sched
uled to complete the priva
tization program and is due
to be awarded to a contrac
tor this summer.
As a precursor to phase
GRANT
From page iA
the department gets.
There were 3,100 in 2005,
3,400 in 2006, and he esti
mated 2007 would sur
pass 3,800, “if it goes like
board.
Councilman Dean Cowart
said the urban redevelop
ment plan “is a commitment
to the city to start looking
inward, to match what we
have in the outer areas of
the city.”
Walker objected to Cowart’s
characterization that the
city has forgotten the older
part of town. “The city has
removed 3,000 substandard
housing units, removed the
hotels on Ist Street, devel
oped the Villages at Town
Center and brought two col
leges within two blocks of
City Hall.”
level of inspiration and moti
vation for the future.”
The students, Deighton
said, received lectures daily
by top scientists from colleg
es like UCLA and countries
like Australia, their topics
about everything from wild
life identification and hab
itats, global warming and
currents.
This 14-day adventure
really got started, she said,
in Argentina. Ushuaia is a
port city, a gateway to the
Audi U Hale, M.D.
(.^hair
Department of Psychiatry
Ralph C. Griffin, Jr., M.D.
Chair
Department of Emergency Medicine
Felix Sogadc, M. D.
Chair
Department of Medicine
Lours Goolsby, M.D.
Sr. Vice President, Medical Affairs
The Medical Center of Central Georgia
LOCAL
Wakh Floyd. 111, M.D.
Chair
Department of Surgery
Tim Longa leer, M.D.
Chair
Department of Urgent Care
two, Pine Oaks and
Crestview residents will be
receiving notices in the next
week giving them time to
find other accommodations
so that demolition of 137
units can begin.
Anyone asked to vacate
their home is required to
receive a minimum of 30
days notice, but housing
officials are trying to give
twice the required time.
The Robins housing office
will work with families on
a case by case basis, such
as those retiring, deployed
January. Trucks are on the
road more than they have
been.”
The chief said the addi
tional firefighters would
greatly enhance their
capability. “We will have
the personnel in place and
trained when the new sta-
Walker said there is lots of
good public and private part
nership, noting the city’s
first time homebuyers pro
gram, which earned a fed
eral best practices award.
The community develop
ment block grant will also
focus on the older areas of
the city.
The Neighborhood
Strategy Area is bordered by
Ga. 247, Russell Parkway,
Pleasant Hill Road, Johns
Road, Suzanne Drive, Keith
Drive and Bargain Road.
Besides the demolition,
the other programs and
activities proposed for the
end of the world, she said.
Her impression of
Antarctica: “It was beauti
ful and so much to learn. I
have a better understanding
of global warming, which
seemed to be words before.”
Especially in Paradise Bay,
she added, where there were
so many icebergs in the bay.
“The lecturers had shown
the group pictures of what it
looked like before,” she said,
“and there was a significant
change.”
It’s About Time... ffiyG 1
The “Golden Hour”
A trauma patient's chances of survival increase dramatically if they receive care
within the “golden hour” immediately following injury. Rapid response by
emergency medical technicians is critical. So is the distance to the nearest trauma
center a special hospital facility with the resources and medical specialists to
handle the most severe injuries.
Most hospital ERs are not trauma centers. In Macon, the Medical Center of
Central Georgia provides the highest-level of trauma care. But in Georgia, only 15
of 152 acute-care hospitals are trauma centers. We need at least 25-30.
i
It’s About Time...
to save 712 lives a year
Georgia's trauma death rate is much higher than the national average. If Georgia's
death rate improved to the national average, it would mean a difference of 712
more lives saved every year.
Georgia's trauma death rate is high because Georgia does not have an adequate
statewide trauma system. The keys are establishing an integrated trauma
infrastructure throughout the state, and easing the financial burden on those who j
provide trauma care, hut are not paid for their services.
* ' I
It’s About Time...
Georgia needs a trauma system now!
Sen. Cecil Staton of Macon and Rep. Larry O'Neal of Bonaire are leading an
effort to establish a trauma system. Their work as co-chairmen of the Joint
Comprehensive State Trauma Services Study Committee resulted in
recommendations this year to create a new Trauma System in Georgia which will
save the lives of hundreds of Georgians.
The Medical Center of Central Georgia thanks them for their leadership. And we
urge you to let therh and other Georgia lawmakers know that pu support their
work to save lives in Georgia.
# EMERGENCY
ai*i
WCniEK TRAUMA
AT THE MEDICAL CENTER OF CENTRAL GEORGIA
or undergoing a perma
nent change of station in
or around the time frame
or those with other special
needs or circumstances.
Demolition has already
begun on 22 unoccupied
houses in the Crestview and
Lakeview housing areas.
The demolition for those
homes began in December
2006 after a contract was
awarded in September
2006.
Demolition on the
remainder of the homes
can begin once a contract
tion opens.”
In November, the city had
90 days to accept the grant.
“It’s up in a week or two,”
Singletary told the city
council Monday.
“I appreciate Mr. Horton’s
position,” Mayor Donald
Walker said, “but the last
anticipated $669,000 for the
CDBG include $341,450 for
housing, $59,000 for public
services, $38,750 for code
enforcement and $131,800
for program administration.
The housing programs
include $256,450 for owner
occupied housing rehabili
tation for low to moderate
income elderly homeown
ers; $50,000 for Christmas
in April to offset the cost
of materials; $25,000 for
Habitat for Humanity down
payments; and SIO,OOO for
Military Organizing Repairs
for the Elderly to offset cost
of materials.
What about v/eather for
a young lady from Middle
Georgia?
“When we first arrived it
was about -5 to -15 below
zero,” she said. “It took
about three to four days for
us to adjust then we spent
a lot of time in shirtsleeves.
Mainly because any real
work like hiking often seem
to Increase the heat we felt
a lot.”
Students went to one
fulltime operations center,
SPONSORED BY:
World Class Care... right where you need it.
The Medical Center
of Central Georgia
777 Hemlock Street • Macon, Georgia 31201
mccg.org
HOUSTON DAILY JOURNAL
for demolition is awarded.
This contract is expected to
be awarded in March and
demolition is expected to
begin shortly after.
Families receiving notices
to move will be eligible for a
government-funded move.
For those hoping to stay
on base, there will be a
priority list generated by
the housing office based on
bedroom composition, date
of rank and grade of the
active-duty service member.
opportunity to accept the $1
million grant is tonight.”
The new firefighters as
well as a couple of others to
fill vacant positions will be
hired soon, Singletary said,
as a mandate class is about
to graduate.
The public services include
$25,000 for the Houston
County Joint Certified
Literate Community
Program; $20,000 for basic
skill enhancement training
program for city employ
ees; SIO,OOO for a commu
nity outreach service center
(homeless emergency shel
ter); and $4,000 for True
Light Transportation, which
provides rides for shopping
and doctor appointments for
seniors and low-moderate
income citizens.
run by members of a sci
ence team from the Czech
Republic, who had been sta
tioned there for nearly three
years. The future following
this experience now looks
different to this local.
“I have learned so much
about the world from this
trip,” she said. “I have come
home trying to save more
energy. I have also investi
gated possible jobs for the
future, in an Antarctica.”