About The Sylvania times. (Sylvania, Ga.) 2022-current | View Entire Issue (July 27, 2022)
scss BUS ROUTES pages 6 & 7 VOL.i NO.29 July 27, 2022 LEGAL ORGAN OF SCREVEN COUNTY Sylvania, Georgia $1.25 Potter arrested for suspected child molestation Joe Brady Editor George Ezra Potter, Jr. was arrested last Monday, July 18 as The Times was going to press on a warrant for suspected child molestation. Potter was being held without bond at the Screven County jail pending a bond hearing in Superior Court. No information is available as this is an ongoing investigation, (photo contributed) George Ezra Potter, Jr. County in shock over Blanchard death Joe Brady Hospital unveils new Emergency Department State of the art facility opens in Sylvania Joe Brady Editor County residents were in shock last week over the suspected murder of 22 year old Dolan Blanchard. Dolan was discovered on Maria Sorrel Road, off Clito Road in Bulloch County just before 2 a.m. Sunday, July 17th. When law enforcement arrived on the scene, Blanchard was discovered with gunshot wounds. Before Air Evac could arrive, the young male died from his injuries. His body has been sent to the state crime lab to determine the cause and manner of death. Dolan was employed at the Savannah Pizza Company in Sylvania. He enjoyed collecting knives and guns as well as playing video games. A coworker said of him, “Dolan was a bright light % ■i € D •CREVEN Co in a gloomy world. We are all better for J — having known him.” Funeral details are still incomplete but Joiner Anderson, Screven Chapel are in charge of arrangements. No further details were made known. This is an ongoing investigation and anyone with information pertinent to the case should contact the Bulloch County Sheriff’s Office at 912- 764-8888. Editor Optim Medical Center- Screven opened their new state of the art Emergency Department last week with a ribbon cutting. The state of the art facility includes, “a dedicated airborne isolation room, the newest technology on medical vacuum and medical gas systems, a decontamination room, as well as expanded ambulance loading and off loading,” Lagina Evans, CEO of the local medical facility explained. The renovation has taken 24 months to complete. Optim purchased the hospital in June 2015. Chief Executive Officer David Perry said, “we saw at that time the future of the Screven Hospital was bright. This is just the first of many upgrades to Optim Medical Screven.” The facility has a swing bed program in the works as well as an upgrade to the laboratory. “Our goal is to give excellent service and provide a place that Screven County can be proud of,” says Perry. Lagina Evans further explains, “we witnessed from the trial of covid that it was more important than ever this emergency department be opened so we could provide even better care to the citizens of Screven County and surrounding areas.” The ED saw their first patient on Thursday, July 21st at 7 a.m., when the unit went live. Evans goes on to say, “we are proud to partner with Screven County EMS, they provide excellent ambulance service to the residents of Screven and surrounding areas.” (photo by Debbie Hearn). Hollingsworth bids farewell to Health Department Joe Brady (L to R) Meg Pace- Director of Marketing, Dr. Sid Morgan, Will Boyd- County Commissioner, Hunter McCall- Optim Healthcare Maintenance Director, Lagina Evans- CEO Optim Screven Hospital, David Perry- Chief Executive Officer for Optimhealthcare, Jon Burns-State Representative, Lora Duncan- Chief Nursing Officer Optim Healthcare , Maria Sowell- Marketing Liason Optim Healthcare and Christian Rekowski- IT Director for Optim Healthcare Meg Pace and CEO, Lagina Evans Overton Rebel Yell winner of Jake Gay Reporter The second night of the Rebel Yell was just as action packed as the first night. Ms. Brooke Collins performed the national anthem that was as soul stirring as the race itself. After the opening ceremonies, there wasn’t much time to sit around for anyone cause the action was under way! Fans got to see some hot laps by different classes but the main part of the night was the featured races for the classes. The first one we saw was the Street See REBEL page 12 Above: Brandon “Big Sexy” Overton took home the $10k purse from the 23rd Annual Rebel Yell race, (photo by Jake Gay). Editor On Friday, July 29th, Margaret Hollingsworth will bid a fond farewell to the Screven County Health Department after holding the reins for the past fourteen years, she has been there over 20 years. “I think it’s time to give someone else a chance to put their mark on the job. I need to spend time with my family,” Margaret explains in a recent interview. The family she refers to are her Margaret Hollingsworth will retire from two grandchildren, the Screven County Health Department 2 children, and on July 29, 2022, after 20 years on the job. her husband of “My patients are like my family,” she says 35 years, Rick. In in a recent interview. 1985, Margaret was a part of the traveling nurse program. “I came down here and never left!” says the New Jersey native. “I became a nurse to help people and I moved over to the public health side to help stop the health crisis before a person must go to the hospital. I get to help my friends and neighbors and participate in their preventative care,” Hollingsworth has been a nurse for forty-one years. As she trains her replacement. Tiffany Rollins, she wouldn’t have it any other way. “The best advice I can give Tiffany or anybody going into nursing is to be flexible. A nurse’s job is constantly changing, that’s why most of us go into this line of work.” Margaret admits that she also likes the connections she has made with her patients. Tiffany is a Screven County native; she and her husband Beejay have two children. Tiffany is the daughter of Mitchell Austin and Sheila Rountree, she has been a nurse for 12 years. “I look forward to carrying on the work that Mrs. Margaret has started, she has taught me so much as a nurse.” The public health department is much more than a place to get free shots. They offer a breast and cervical cancer prevention program that is one of the best in the state and in addition to immunizations, the department also offers wellness, preventative medicine, and other medical programs, “although we are funded by the state, we also accept private insurance,” Tiffany explains. As Margaret begins the next chapter in her life she leaves us with these words, “nursing must be in your heart. There was never anything else I wanted to do. Medicine is about more than diagnosing the patient. These are people and they are scared and apprehensive about the unknown. We as nurses should treat every patient as if they are part of our family. We can never lose sight of the fact that we are the caring side of medicine.” t school * 5 days until FIRST DAY of School $ Lifestyles ... 2 Mark your Calendar ... 2 Editorials ... 3 Church News ...4 Obituary ... 5 Classifieds ... 9 Legals ... 9 Booking Log ... 9 Sports... 11 Farm and Land ... 13 Possum Eddy ACE Hardware Store Hours: Monday - Friday 7:30 - 5:00 Saturday 7:30 - 3:00 dosed Sunday 136 Industrial Road Sylvania, Georgia, (912)564-2003 Last Chance to $AVE On These Items!!
