Newspaper Page Text
May 18, 2022
65^ ^Reporter
Dr. Patrice Walker makes Becker s Hospital Review list
Beckers Hospital Review has
named Atrium Health Navicent
Chief Medical Officer Dr. Patrice
Walker to the publications “75
Black Healthcare Leaders to
Know” in 2022 list. The national
list highlights the work black
leaders and executives are doing
in communities across the U.S.
Walker was appointed as
Atrium Health Navicent s first
black, female chief medical officer
in 2019.
“Dr. Walker is an integral
member of the Atrium Health
Navicent executive team. In ad
dition to ensuring the best care
for our pa
tients, she
is a strong
advocate
for diver
sity and
inclusion
amongst
our medical
staff and
administra
tion,” said
Atrium Health
Navicent Presi
dent and CEO Delvecchio Finley.
“Congratulations to Patrice
and thanks to Beckers Hospital
Review for this well-
earned recognition.”
A native of Mon
roe County, Walker
earned a degree in
applied biology from
the Georgia Institute
of Technology before
returning to central
Georgia to earn her
medical degree from
Mercer University. She
completed her residency
at Atrium Health Navi
cent, then known as the Medical
Center of Central Georgia.
A board-certified OB-GYN,
Walker had a passion for teach
ing, which led to her appoint
ment as an associate professor
of Obstetrics and Gynecology at
Mercer University. She is a three
time recipient of the National
Faculty Award presented by the
American College of Obstetri
cians and Gynecologists and the
Council on Resident Education
in Obstetrics and Gynecology
for promoting high standards of
residency education.
From January 2017 to October
2018, Walker served as Associ
ate Dean of Diversity, Equity and
Inclusion for Mercer University
School of Medicines Macon and
Columbus campuses. During her
tenure she increased the cultural
competency of students and fac
ulty while creating opportunities
for ongoing conversation and
initiatives about diversity, equity
and inclusion.
Becker's Hospital Review is a
source of news and information
for health care decision-makers.
In addition to a print magazine,
Beckers Hospital Review publish
es an e-newsletter with 1 million
subscribers and has 3.5 million
monthly visitors on their website.
Dr. Patrice Walker
Outdoor burning is banned
in Monroe Co. until Sept. 30
An outdoor burn ban is in effect in 54
Georgia counties, primarily in the north
ern half of the state. Monroe is one of the
counties under the ban. Georgia Forestry
Commission asks people not to burn yard
and land clearing debris, the smoke from
which can negatively impact the states air
quality during the hot summer months by
contributing to high ozone levels. These
conditions have been linked to lung and
heart disease in humans.
“These restrictions are required by the
state Environmental Protection Division
so less particulate matter is released into
the air,” said Georgia Forestry Commis
sion Protection Chief, Frank Sorrells. “The
risk of wildfire is also high at this time,
and the Georgia Forestry Commission will
be closely monitoring fire activity to keep
Georgians and their property safe.”
The burn ban will be in effect until Sept.
30. Residents in Georgia counties not
included in the annual burn ban will con
tinue to be required to follow specific fire
safety guidelines and any local ordinances
governing debris burning. The five safety
precautions now mandated by law include
set spacing between fires and woodlands
and structures, burn times from sunrise to
sunset, burner attendance at the fire, and
reasonable precautions such as weather
awareness and suppression tools. Full
details including video resources can be
found at www.GaTrees.org/burn-permits-
and-notifications/.
“Humans are the number one cause of
wildfires in Georgia,” said Georgia Forest
ry Commission Director Tim Lowrimore.
“As outdoor recreation season begins, we
need to lower the risk of wildfire by pay
ing close attention to weather conditions
and safety precautions. Everyone needs to
work together to ensure an enjoyable and
fire-free summer.”
For more information about annual
summer burn restrictions, burn permits,
and services of the Georgia Forestry Com
mission, visit www.GaTrees.org.
CALENDAR
Continued from Page 1 B
up for adoption for $20,
or 6 for $100. On race
day, adopted ducks will be
launched onto the river and
first duck to get across the
finish line wins $10,000.
Proceeds for the event will
go to Boys & Girls Clubs of
Central Georgia’s healthy
lifestyle initiatives. The Great
Ocmulgee River Duck Race
is a win for all involved.
June 6-30
Free Summer lunches
for children
Community Improvement
Coalition of Monroe County
(CICMC) will again serve
lunch meals to children 18
years and younger in Mon
roe County. The two sites
will be Union Hill Apart
ment and Forsyth Gardens
Apartments. Dates and times
are Monday-Thursday, June
6-30 from 12 noon-12:30
p.m. For more information,
contact CICMC at 478-
394-1089.
June 10
Teen Safe
Driving Camp
Monroe County Sheriff’s
Office will offer the 14th
Annual Teen Safe Driving
Camp for drivers ages 15-
17 at the Georgia Public
Safety Training Center,
1000 Indian Springs Dr.,
Forsyth on Saturday, July 9
from 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Cost
is $20, which includes lunch
and T-shirt. Space is limited.
Application deadline is
June 10. For more informa
tion, contact MG. Sheriff's
Office.
June 13
Meeting on new food
service fee schedule
Monroe County Health
Department, 106 MLK Jr.
Drive, Forsyth will hold a
Public Comment Meeting
on Monday, June 1 3 at
6 p.m. The Department's
Environmental Health Pro
gram seeks public comment
regarding implementation
of a revised food service
fee schedule. Any change is
the meeting will be pub
lished on the North Central
Health District website at
NCHD52.org.
June 18
Citizens’ Firearm
Safety Training
Monroe County Sheriff’s
Office will hold a Citizens'
Firearms Safety Training
Course on Saturday, June
1 8 beginning at 8 a.m.
for those 21 years of age
and up. It will cover use,
proficiency and safety and
is limited to those who live
and/or work in Monroe
County. A background
check is required. The
course is free, but partici
pants must provide their own
egal handgun, belt, holster,
eye & ear safety equipment
and at least 100 rounds of
ammunition. There is a limit
of 30 participants. Deadline
to submit applications, which
are available at the Sheriff's
Office, is June 3. For more
information, contact Sgt.
Kevin Williams at 478-994-
7048.
July 18-22
Robotics Camp
The Mary Persons Robotics
Team will host a Robotics
Camp for 7-1 1-year-olds
on Monday-Friday, July
1 8-22 from 9 a.m.-1 2 noon
at the Mary Persons Main
Campus. The camp will be
based in Room 220 (back
entrance). “Bots for Tots” will
get the campers involved
with STEM and spark an
interest in technology.
Snacks, drinks and a t-shirt
will be provided. The fee for
the week is $100. Space
is limited. Contact Delaney
Olson at Delaney.olson®
mcschools.org to sign up.
June 21 8c 22
Georgia Council for the
Arts town hall meet
ings
Georgia Council for the
Arts is holding two virtual
town hall meetings to get
input from artists, arts orga
nizations, teachers, schoo
officials, tourism profession
als, business leaders, and
anyone interested in the
arts in Georgia . All input
from the meeting will be
used to put together GCA’s
next strategic plan. The first
will be Tuesday, June 21
from 10-1 1:30 a.m. and the
second will be Wednesday,
June 22 from 1-2:30 p.m.
Oct. 8
High Falls Triathlon
The High Falls Triathlon
sponsored by the Friends
of High Falls State Park will
return this year on Oct. 8.
It will be a three-mile run,
12-mille bike ride and a 1.5
mile kayak paddle to reach
the finish line. The event is
limited to 100 competitors
and benefits High Falls State
Park. The last High Falls
Triathlon was in May 2019.
Sign up at ultrasignup.com/
register.aspx?eid= 15162
On-Going
Forsyth Farmers
Market every Friday
Forsyth Farmers Market is
open for its 2022 season on
Fridays from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. It
will be at 9 North Jack-
son Street (the lot behind
Persons Banking Com
pany) each Friday through
October. Vendors offer
locally grown produce and
homemade goods. For more
information, call 478-994-
7747 or email mcordy@
cityofforsyth.com
Monroe County
Amateur Radio
Monroe County Amateur
Radio Society meets the sec
ond Monday of each month
at 6:30 p.m. at Monroe
County Fire Station 1,693
Juliette Road, Forsyth. .
Pavers available at
Monroe County Veter
ans Memorial
For those who have been
thinking about honoring a
family member or friend
who is a veteran by engrav
ing a paver at the Veterans
Memorial on the Monroe
County Square with his or
her name and information, it
is time to follow through with
that intention. It is necessary
to wait for engraving until
there are a sufficient number
or orders. Enough orders
have been received, but the
engraver is now waiting to
receive stencil materials. To
place an order contact Dr.
Priscilla Doster at 478-994-
9613 PDoster48®aol.com.
DAR recognizes Aniya Taylor
The Lt. James Monroe Daugh
ters of the American Revolu
tion (DAR) JROTC medal and
certificate is presented to a Mary
Persons cadet who has demon
strated leadership, discipline,
dependability and patriotism
along with special achieve
ments in the JROTC program.
Cadet Aniya Taylor achieved
the highest record score for Air
Rifle Marksmanship competi
tion for Mary Person JROTC
in 2022. She was recognized by
Lt. James Monroe DAR Record
ing Secretary, Amanda Garnett,
at the May 10 JROTC Honors
Program.
Remember when...
1992
Officials break ground for
renovation and expansion
of Monroe County Health
Department. The $378,830
project will expand the facil
ity by nearly 3,000 square
feet.
More than 100 Monroe
Countians attend the Na
tional Day of Prayer, which
is moved from the square to
Forsyth UMC Fellowship Hall
because of unseasonal cold
weather.
Joblessness in Monroe
County falls to 6.6 percent.
Monroe County volunteers
for Ross Perot are collecting
signatures to have the Texan
placed on the November
presidential ballot as an inde
pendent.
Forsyth will waive sewerage
tap-on fees for Betsy Lynn
Estates residents who hook
up within 90 days after the
system goes on line.
Monroe County hosts the
State Special Olympics
Biking Invitational with 40
participants at the Georgia
Pubic Safety Training Center.
Video King on the square
at 8 Main Street has over
6,000 video selections and
sells baseball cards.
Jeremy Goodwin is declared
Accelerated Reading Cham
pion for this school term at
Monroe County Middle
School. His dream is to be a
professional soccer player.
2002
Hilltop Nursing Home is trans
formed into a formal “Night
of Stars’ and Louis King
and Frances Phinazee are
crowned King and Oueen.
Monroe County Middle
School student Lauren Pope
is the district winner in
the Georgia Farm Bureau
Federation’s Annual Essay
Contest.
For the Keep Forsyth Beauti
ful clean-up, Mary Persons
senior class plants a Bradford
flowering pear tree near the
tennis courts.
There are thunder clouds,
a brief downpour and a
good time for all at Monroe
County Relay for Life. The
Relay raises over $62,000.
Mary Persons Touchdown
Club holds Open House at
the new field house. President
is Steve Coleman, VP is Keith
Edge.
Georgia Public Safety
Training Center will hold
a Peace Officer Memorial
Day ceremony at the Public
Safety Memorial Wall to pay
tribute to officers killed in the
line of duty.
Winners in the City of Forsyth
art and essay contests are
Amanda Lee, Keith Lewis
and Teea Chambliss; each
receives a $50 savings bond.
Monroe County Board
of Commissioners vote to
borrow $5 million to cover
operating expenses at 2.49
percent interest.
Commissioners approve a
water sale and purchase
contract with Butts County to
serve residents in High Falls
as an emergency source of
water.
Winners of the Cabaniss
Chapter No. 415 historica
essay contest are Kathryn
Devore, 5th grade; Andrew
Calhoun, 8th grade; Justin
Owenby, 9th grade.
The Town & Country Garden
Club meets at the home of
Mili Haynes.
Mary Persons principal Eric
Porter earns his Doctor of
Education degree.
2012
Mary Persons Boys Track
& Field team wins its 2nd
Region AAA title in a row
with 138 points, 31 points
ahead of 2nd place Rutland.
The Lady Bulldogs place 3rd
at Region.
Thomas Yancey, 13, bags his
first turkey while hunting with
his aunt, Teri Bunn. It weighs
1 8 pounds and has a 1 Cl
inch beard.
Woody Grainger of All Sea
sons Guide Service catches
a 35.6 lb. striper on Lake
Juliette.
A corrections officer at Al
Burruss is charged with help
ing an inmate escape from a
work detail at Kynette Park.
The Mary Persons baseball
team makes its annual trip
to the Miracle League in
Macon to help handicapped
kids enjoy baseball.
Monroe County Arts Alli
ance hosts its annual Art a
la Carte at Gallery 51 with
music, silent and live auctions,
heavy hors d'oeuvres and
drinks.
Claude & Virgie Leonard
celebrate their 50th wedding
anniversary.
Ben & Maggie Cook cel
ebrate their 60th wedding
anniversary.
Monroe County Hospita
has its strongest month in a
long time, posting a $74,000
profit.
Trippe Moore, 10, of Forsyth
pitches a no hitter at the
Monroe County Rec Depart
ment, striking out 16 of 18
batters.
Singer/personality Jonathan
Phillips performs at K.B. Sut
ton .
Mary Persons FFA completes
a beautification project for
the Public Safety Memorial
at the Georgia Public Safety
Training Center.
Laura Ellis is Monroe
County’s 201 2 Mother of
the Year.
One of the biggest crowds
ever comes to National Day
of Prayer on the Monroe
County square.
Monroe County's jobless rate
falls to 7.6 percent, its lowest
level in three years.
The family of a suspected
burglar who died after a
high-speed chase is suing
Monroe County Sheriff's
Office and the driver of the
vehicle he was in.
Katie Sanders of Forsyth gets
to meet her favorite singer,
Christian artist TobyMac,
after finding his wallet before
a concert at Rock Ranch.
Remember When
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Memorial Chapel
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Harley Ray "Spanky" Beck
86 West Main Street • Forsyth
478-994-4266