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WEDNESDAY I OCTOBER 19, 2022 DaWSOflNeWS ^COITI DAWSONVILLE, GEORGIA $1.00
More nursing coverage coming to county jail
By Julia Fechter
jfechter@dawsonnews.com
When the new year
begins, Dawson County’s
jail plans to have nursing
staff there around the
clock, sheriff’s office
Maj. Greg Rowan told the
Board of Commissioners
on Oct. 6.
After Rowan’s work
session presentation, the
board unanimously
approved a bid not to
exceed $894,329 for con
tracted jail medical ser
vices with CorrectHealth
Dawson, LLC,
This is the same con
tractor the Dawson
County Detention Center
has had since 2014. The
contract’s term will begin
on Jan. 1, 2023.
“We currently do not
have and have never had
that,’’ Rowan said of 24/7
nursing staff, “but quite
honestly, we should’ve
had that all along.”
With the Dawson
County Sheriff’s Office
intaking inmates at all
hours of the day, Rowan
elaborated, a person
could be brought in at any
time in need of “immedi
ate evaluation” for mat
ters such as alcohol or
drug intoxication or over
dose scenarios.
DCSO released a
request for proposal this
past February to get an
updated price for all-
inclusive health services
to include the 24/7 nurs
ing. The current contract
nearing its end, price
increases and concerns
over available staffing
due to the general nursing
crisis also drove the agen
cy’s search for updated
pricing, Rowan said.
In addition to the
increased nursing pres
ence, which Rowan
deemed the biggest
change, there will also be
a little more hours sched
uled for a general doctor
and mental health profes
sional. Overall, health
care at the jail will
include inmate appraisals
and consultations upon
intake, dental, mental and
hospital care-in other
words, “all the facets of
healthcare,” Rowan said.
CorrectHealth
Dawson’s projected annu
al price initially came out
to $719,953.
“The difference
between the $719,000
and the $894,000 is that
unknown factor of the
nursing cost. Because you
have nurses that may
See Jail 14A
‘A lot of hard work 5
Rio White Dawson County News
A member of the Dawson Mixed A team traverses the rope bridge event. That team finished third in that event
and sixth overall.
Hundreds participate in Dawson JROTC Raider event
By Rio White
riowhite@dawsonnews.com
A total of 24 schools from
across the state of Georgia
brought their JROTC cadets
to Dawson County on
Saturday, Oct. 15, for a
Raider meet that would test
each group’s cohesion, disci
pline and physical strength.
The sounds of marching,
chants and teamwork filled
the air as hundreds of cadets
displayed their skills.
“It takes a lot of hard work
and coordination to pull off
such a big event,” DCHS
JROTC instructor SFC (R)
Steve Pamplin said. “Thank
you to the Army National
Guard, U.S. Army and the
UNG Corps of Cadets for
sending volunteers to serve
as graders and scorers for the
Competition. Also, thank
See Raider 14A
DCN’s Baggs
reflects on career
as he steps away
from daily duties
By Jeff Gill
DCN Regional Staff
With bylines older than many, if not most,
of his employees, Norman Baggs is entering
a new phase of a lengthy career that’s been
devoted to making sure local residents get
the news they need.
On Friday, Oct. 14, Dawson County
News’ general manager stepped away from
day-to-day newspaper operations for the first
time in nearly a half-century of work and
moving to what he calls a “reduced role,”
working on corporate special projects and as
See Baggs|3A
Scott Rogers DCN Regional Staff
Dawson County News General Manager
Norman Baggs, center, attends a luncheon
in his honor with members of his family
Wednesday, Oct. 12, at the Chattahoochee
Country Club. From left to right are family
members Kasey Jackson, Brennice Baggs,
Norman Baggs, Stephanie Baggs and
Lawton Baggs.
Dawson County’s first responders say goodbye to Chief Dooley
Fire Marshal
Jeff Bailey,
right, presents
outgoing
Division Chief
Jason Dooley
with a com
memorative
plaque for his
time with
DCFES.
Julia Fechter
Dawson County News
By Julia Fechter
jfechter@dawsonnews.com
“Thanks for all the county has
done for me over the years. Out
of service, off duty,” said outgo
ing Division Chief of Operations
and Training Jason Dooley.
And with that final sign off,
Dooley concluded a 15-plus-year
tenure with Dawson County Fire
and Emergency Services.
Colleagues, family and friends
gathered in the fire headquarters’
engine bay Oct. 14 to bid him
farewell during his last day with
the department.
Dooley is leaving for a full
time fire captain position with
the Roswell Fire Department.
He started with DCFES as a
firefighter and worked his way
up to the division chief position.
Earlier this year, he served as the
interim EMS and emergency
management director.
“Chief Dooley is one of the
best chief officers I have had the
privilege to work with. He has
proudly served the citizens of
Dawson County for over 15
years,” former DCFES Chief
Danny Thompson said in a state
ment to DCN. “His countless
positive contributions and quick
wit will remain years after his
departure from DCFES. I look
forward to working with Chief
Dooley in any of his future
endeavors.”
See Dooley 14A
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Volume 4, Number 36
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Dawsonville, Georgia
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