About The Georgia post. (Knoxville, Crawford County, Ga.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (July 4, 2013)
New Hospital Has 1 Peachy’ Auxiliary By Victoria Simmons The Byron Buzz P ink ladies and candy stripers are familiar names for volunteers at hospitals but if you are in the middle of peach country, you choose the name Peach Ladies. When the call went out for volunteers for the Medi cal Center of Peach County Auxiliary, there was over whelming response. Not only are there ladies but there are also peach guys. Membership in the Aux iliary is open to everyone age 18 or older, who is interested in the hospital but prospective members must first submit an application. Members are asked to volun teer a minimum of 20 hours of work during each three month period, in four hour intervals. There are mandatory requirements from the JCAH and the hospital which must be met. These include a physical/note from personal physician, TB test and back ground check. The hospital covers any costs associated with the requirements. Each individual member is responsible for purchasing their own uniform, however, which must be worn while on duty. Lunch is provided in the hospital dining room when an auxiliary member is on duty and wearing the uniform. Since the new hospital is officially opening July 16th, the first few months the aux iliary’s biggest job will be helping patients and visitors find their way around the fa cility. They will be stationed in waiting rooms assisting wherever they are needed. There have been several community events at the new location and the auxil iary members have not only attended but served as tour guides too. They have elected officers who are: President Brenda Alden; Vice President - Para Vinson; Treasurer - Jackie Barnes; and Secretary - Joyce Barrett. Vice president Para Vin son is always volunteering around Byron and Peach County. ”1 live to volunteer and helping folks completes me,” she said. ’’Besides I am a way better giver than a receiver.” Vinson has always thought it would be ’’Cool” to be a pink lady so she signed up to be part of the auxiliary. ”To be asked to be a part of the new hospital and be a peach lady was a great honor and then to be nominated and elected vice president of the auxiliary, pushed it over the top,” Vinson said. ”To be able to give back to the Peach County hospital is important to me,” she said. ’’When I was in first grade, I lived in Marshallville, at tended Beechwood Elemen tary School and woke up in the middle of the night run ning a fever. I was taken to the hospital in Peach County where I was diagnosed with double pneumonia. That hos pital saved my life. They told my mom if she had waited minutes longer, that I would have died.” Other auxiliary volunteers, just want to give back to the community. Para, who also does an ICU ministry which provides comfort/ convenience bags to family members with patients in ICUs at various hospitals, says she hopes she can make a difference at the hospital. Another Auxiliary mem ber, Jackie Barnes, is a former nurse and has the honor of having the nurses’ station named for her at the new hospital. Something her children did for her. Volun teering is also nothing new for Barnes and being a part of the new hospital, seems natural for her. Byron Mayor Larry Collins’ wife, Charlotte, who also worked at Peach Regional Medical Center, is on the list of auxiliary mem bers as is her friend, Brenda Gilstrap. Virginia Green, wife of Tom Green, chair man of the Medical Center of Peach County board is one of the peach ladies. In fact, the member list reads like a community volunteer sign-up sheet as you will recognize most of the names as volunteers. Names like Connie Short of Byron and Ann Lanter of Fort Valley. Helen Rhea Stumbo chair of the capital campaign, noted at the ribbon cutting in June that they looked liked a beautiful basket of peaches in their uniforms.CEO Nan cy Peed stated that same day she was pleased that so many volunteers had wanted to be a part of the new auxiliary. Once past the initial tour guide responsibilities, the Auxiliary will perform other non-medical volunteer duties at the hospital. The old hospital, PRMC, previously had an auxiliary which was not very active. So, not only does the hospi tal have a brand new loca tion, it has also revived the auxiliary. For questions or more information about the MCPC Auxiliary contact Ellen Terrell, Director of Community Engagement at 478-654-2240. And when you visit the hospital, say hello to a peach lady or gentleman. You will know who they are by their uniforms, but also by their friendly smiles. Peach Ladies and Guys include: Brenda Alden, Ann Ballard, Jackie Barnes, Joyce Barrett, Betty Bentley, Gayle Borah, Beverly Chappell, Karla Chidester, Melanie Clearman, Betty Cleveland, Charlotte Collins, Barbara Dunbar, Rose Garza, Brenda Gilstrap, Virginia Green, Doreen Harrison, Joyce Hart, Sue Humphreys, Connie Jones, Joyce Jones, Ann Lanter, Corky Lewis, Jerredean McDaniel, Cynthia Moore, Maggie Newberry, Katie Odum, Joan Pate, Rose Mary Payne, Trish Perry, Dot Rigsby, Carolyn Sampson, Fran Sanders, Frankie Sanders, Jane Shell, Connie Short, Steven Smith, Debbie Spearman, Katrina Stokes, Ruth Thompson, Para Vinson, Bonnie Waldrep, Jane Walker and Judi Waller. They are wearing their ’’peachy” colored uniforms. GSP Expects Busy July 4th Travel Period TJLIIY QiLess^cA.memealik ’’(ATLANTA)—Georgia State Troopers are gearing up for a busy July Fourth holiday travel period. The holiday period is 102 hours long, beginning at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, July 3 and end ing at midnight on Sunday, July 7. “During this period, troopers will be conducting concentrated patrols and roadchecks throughout the state,” said Colonel Mark W. McDonough, Commissioner of the Georgia Department of Public Safety. “Addition ally troopers along with other law enforcement offi cials will be in highly visible locations, including areas on secondary roads. Past experiences have shown that By Victoria Simmons The Byron Buzz Taylor Howell, son of Wayne and Karen Howell, of Byron, was one of four firefighters from Warner Robins to receive a Valor Award this week for actions in saving the life of James Gindele during a home fire. The other men were Lt. Wayne Nelson, Engineer Randy Willis and Lt. Larry Warren. Howell is a rookie fire fighter and was at Warner Robins Station 3 when the Arrowhead Trail fire call came in on May 27th. Though there were no cars in the driveway and no one a high visibility of law en forcement officers, increases safe driving habits and that ’’translates to lives saved,” he added.” ’’Last year, the holiday period was 30 hours long and there were a total of two fatal crashes reported statewide. The Georgia State Patrol investigated 151 traf fic crashes that resulted in 120 injuries, and one fatality. Additionally, troopers issued 3,765 citations, 6,591 warn ings, and made 127 DUI arrests.” ’’The highest number of July Fourth holiday fatalities was in 1972 when 34 people were” ’’killed. The low est was two killed in 1962, had answered the door when a passer-by knocked, Gin- dele was inside. Once the firemen opened the door, Nelson said there was a victim in the house. Howell then went inside and Willis helped him carry the 56-year old who was un conscious, from the blazing house. According to reports, Gindele was not breathing very well but after a few minutes of being assisted by Warren, he woke up. An oxygen mask was placed on him then. Once paramedics arrived the man was turned over to them. Had a few more minutes passed, there is a chance Gindele might 1984, and again last year. “Although last year tied the record for lowest number of deaths during the July Fourth holiday, motorists should still use extra care while traveling this holiday pe riod,” Colonel McDonough said. The Georgia State Pa trol encourages everyone to celebrate the Independence Day holiday responsibly. Plan festivities carefully and keep safety as a prior ity. Buckle up, be courteous to other drivers, and use a designated driver if consum ing alcohol is in your plans. “Troopers will be looking for speeders, seat belt and child restraint violators, and driv ers operating motor vehicles not have survived. Of course, Howell and the other firefighters say they were just doing the job which they are trained to do. The man they rescued, Gindele, said he remembers very little from the fire and has not seen the firefight ers since. However, he does appreciate what they did for him. The Valor Awards were presented at the Warner Robins City Council meet ing this past Monday night. The Valor Award is awarded to firefighters who perform heroic, lifesav ing action. It is up to the fire chief to decide which firefighters receive the award and Fire Chief Robert Sin gletary told Warner Robins Mayor Chuck Shaheen about the four firefighters and they decided to present them with Valor Awards. The four fire men are also nominated for a statewide award from the Georgia State Firefighters Association. Howell is honored to receive the award but notes that he did not do anything while impaired. Speed, a lack of occupant protection use, and an impaired driver make a deadly combination on ours roads,” Colonel Mc Donough emphasized.” ’’From July 4-7, the Geor gia State Patrol will also be participating in the nation wide traffic” safety initia tive, Operation C.A.R.E, or Combined Accident Reduc tion Effort. State troopers will join other state highway patrols and state police agen cies from the United States and Canada in conducting high visibility patrols and providing safety education to the motoring public in an ef fort to reduce the number of traffic deaths on our roads.” Firefighter Taylor Howell that any other firefighter would not have done. ’’Hav ing something like this tells you what you’re in it for, and it reminds you why you go to work,” Howell, who is only 21, said. His mom, Karen said, ”As bad as I hate to imagine my baby son walking into a burning house fire, I am so proud of him and his brother firefighters. I am glad he works with such a great group of people who have each others backs every day. Congratulations guys. Job well done and recognition well earned.” All Better Hometowns in Georgia are going through a name change. Byron Better Hometown will now be called BYRON MAIN STREET. Upcoming events for Byron Main Street include the first ever Love of Junk Trunk Sale at Peach Shops parking lot Saturday, July 27,9 am. -1 pm Free admission and snow cones along with a live band and food vendor. Fill your trunk with junk -- buy, sell or trade. The Farmers’ Market will also be at Peach Shops that day. To reserve your free junk spot call Tiffany at 478-956-2409. Howell Receives One Of Four Valor Awards
