Newspaper Page Text
44 Pages 3 Sections, Plus Preprints A Publication of MainStreet Newspapers, Inc. Winder, Barrow County Georgia 50c Copy Wednesday, October 5, 2016
Barrow Regional purchased
by NE Georgia Health System
By Scott Thompson
News-Journal Reporter
In a move officials said would increase
its “coordination of care” for Barrow
County residents, Gainesville-based
Northeast Georgia Health System has pur
chased Barrow Regional Medical Center
in Winder, both organizations announced
Monday.
Merged operations of the two agencies
are expected to begin in January, accord
ing to a news release.
While no immediate staffing changes
are anticipated, transitional teams will be
working over the next few months to align
the agencies' operations.
“We have much work to do over the
coming months and many decisions
to make about how to bring our teams
together, including how to best align oper
ations in the future to reflect functioning
as a system,” Anthony Williamson, presi
dent of Northeast Georgia Medical Center
Braselton. said in the release.
Williamson added that changes are
already occurring as cardiologists with
the Heart Center of NGMC are plan
ning to relocate their Barrow practices to
BRMC's medical office building in order
to provide “more seamless access to inpa
tient and outpatient cardiology services.”
The purchase represents a further expan
sion into Barrow County by Northeast
Georgia Health System, which currently
offers primary care, orthopedic and sports
medicine services through the Northeast
Georgia Physicians Group and cardiolo
gy services through the Heart Center in
the county. The system opened NGMC
Braselton in 2015 and that hospital has
experienced a rapid increase in patient
volume, particularly in its emergency
department, Williamson said.
“Additional capacity in Barrow County,
one of the fastest-growing areas of our
state, will be a great benefit for our sys
tem,” he said.
BRMC CEO Chad Hatfield said the sale
will benefit the 56-bed Barrow hospital's
operations and financial stability.
The hospital was one of 38 nationwide
and four in Georgia that were spun off
by Community Health Systems (CHS)
into Quorum Health Corporation, a new
publicly-traded company, in August 2015.
See Hospital on Page 2A
Barrow
Briefs
Prayer to be held
at Jug Tavern park
Awake America Prayer meet
ings will be held every second
Thursday of each month at Jug
Tavern Park. Winder.
“Please join elected officials,
pastors, community leaders
and concerned citizens as they
meet to pray for our nation,
its leaders and revival for
America.” organizers said.
Jug Tavern Park is located at
113 East Athens Street.
For more information, con
tact Lynn Adams, Awake
America Prayer Meetings
facilitator, at website: www.
awakeamerica.info or email:
Lynn Adams at awakeambar-
rowcty @ outlook.com.
Pup & Cat Co. to
host 5K run-walk
Pup & Cat Co.’s second
annual 5K Run/Walk/Hike will
be held Sunday, Oct. 9, at 10
a.m. at Fort Yargo State Park,
Winder.
Registration begins at 9:15
a.m. The rain date is Oct. 16.
The fee, including a T-shirt,
is $25 per person. All chil
dren under eight years of age
are free and do not register -
shirts not available. The fee is
non-refundable.
If plans change, T-shirts can
be picked up up to two weeks
after the event.
Water and snacks will be
provided. Dogs are welcome.
The park has a $5 parking fee
per vehicle.
Adults are welcome to par
ticipate without a dog, but all
dogs and kids must have an
adult companion. All pets must
be on a leash — non-retract-
able — and be under control.
For a good caose...
NOT SO SURE ABOUT THIS
It’s difficult to tell whether it’s the goat or Winder-Barrow High School prin
cipal Al Darby as to who has more reservations about what’s about to take
place (above). As part of a Tailgate Barrow event, Darby ended up kissing
the goat. The FFA chapters at Winder-Barrow High School and Apalachee
High School both raised money for the American Cancer Society with
Darby “winning” the honor of kissing the goat (below). See more coverage
of Tailgate Barrow in today’s Community section.
Photos by Jessica Brown
Man stabbed
after inviting
assailant to
his house
The Barrow County Sheriff's Office
responded to a report of a possible
stabbing and structure fire at 605
Warren Way last Friday.
Upon arrival, deputies found the
victim, Dennis Walker, 46, of Winder,
lying adjacent to the roadway with a
wound on his neck. Deputies began
first aid on the victim while Barrow
County Fire and Emergency Services
battled the fire at the residence.
Walker said he had invited the
suspect, Brandon Adams, 32, of
Braselton, over to his house and after
Adams went to the bathroom, he
returned with a gun and robbed the
victim. The suspect then stabbed the
victim five times in the neck and set
fire to items in the house. The victim
received treatment at a local hospital
for his injuries. The suspect is in
custody in another jurisdiction and
warrants have been obtained for him
in reference to the incident on Warren
Way.
This incident is still under inves
tigation and more information will
be released when it is available, law
enforcement officials said.
Star Festival
set Saturday
The 11th annual Bethlehem Star
Festival will be held from 8 a.m. to
4 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 8, in the
Bethlehem town square.
Town officials encourage people to
visit the family-friendly event which
will include arts, crafts, food and
music. The town and the Nativity
Lutheran Church sponsor a free kids’
zone that includes games, arts and
crafts, inflatables and more.
Mailing
Label Below
In Valdosta
WBHS graduate dies
after police altercation
A 2007 Winder-Barrow High School grad
uate was involved in a domestic dispute
which ultimately led to his being shot and
killed by law enforcement officials.
Johnathan Lozano-Murrillo was shot by
Valdosta police on Tuesday, Sept. 27, and
later died from those injuries, reports indi
cated.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation says
Valdosta officer Alyssa Shirey was called to
a child custody dispute involving Lozano-
Murillo at approximately 6 p.m, on Fresno
Street, in the south Georgia city.
Investigators say the woman involved in
the dispute with Lozano-Murillo arrived at
the scene, and he attacked her. Officer Shirey
stepped in, trying to protect the woman
from Lozano-Murillo, who was striking the
woman, reports said.
See Altercation on Page 2A
IN FIRE TRUCK
Drayk Turner, 4, sat inside a Winder fire truck during the fire prevention
event hosted by the Winder Fire Department on Saturday. See more cov
erage on page 7A in today’s edition. Photo by Wesleigh Sagon