Newspaper Page Text
THE COMMERCE (GA) NEWS, WEDNESDAY. TULY 23, 2008 - PAGE 3A
— Hospital Responds To Suit
Cont. from Page 1A
or false.
Specifically though, the medi
cal center denied that it began
recruiting Ash in early 2003,
that Dr. Ash was the only gen
eral surgeon on staff, that he
continues to do surgery at BJC,
that the medical center was in a
financial deficit for several years
prior to Dr. Ash’s arrival, that he
was the reason the medical cen
ter’s financial condition turned
around, that the medical center
promotes him and his practice,
that he “at times will perform five
or more general anesthesia cases
per surgical day,’’ and that the
medical center and Dr. Ash were
in a “joint venture.’’
The suit suggests that Ash
removed Floyd’s gallbladder
unnecessarily and performed a
Nissen fundoplication surgery
for reflux during which she suf
fered a perforated stomach and
after which complications arose
for which she was transferred to
Emory University Hospital where
she was a patient for two weeks.
She seeks recovery of $282,804
in costs.
In a fundoplication, the upper
part of the stomach is wrapped
around the esophagus, preventing
the reflux of acid from the stom
ach and the sliding of the upper
part of the stomach through the
gap in the diaphragm.
The suit also alleges that Ash
recommended and performed the
Nissen fundoplication on Hunter,
after which she had difficulty swal
lowing and required further sur
gery to relieve the problem. Her
medical bills were put at $133,195.
Hawkes claimed his stomach
was perforated during the Nissen
fundoplication surgery, and he
ended up at the Medical College
of Georgia Hospital where he
had “multiple surgeries to repair
the damage to his GI tract and
attempt to rid him of infection.’’
His bills, including almost two
months in the hospital, were put
at $436,443.
Kraft’s complaint is that con
sented for an operation to repair
a ventral hernia, but after surgery
had the same hernia. The suit
alleges that Ash “did not operate
at the site’’ of her hernia, rather
that he performed surgery “imme
diately superior to Ms. Kraft’s
umbilicus,’’ which amounted to
surgery “at a site to which she had
not consented.’’ The complaint
did not list damages, saying they
“are not known at this time.’’ It
considers the operation to consti
tute “battery.’’
—Road Project Is Ahead Of Schedule
Cont. from Page 1A
for the job.
What ‘Closed’ Sign?
Meanwhile, said Clerici, as
many as a quarter of the driv
ers using Hwy. 15A continue to
ignore the “road closed’’ signs and
drive through the intersection.
'They drive right around the
‘road-closed’ sign,’’ he said. “You’d
be in the road and watch them,
and they’d come up to you and
say, 'Is the road closed?’ “You’d
say, 'You drove around the road
closed sign, didn’t you see it?’ and
they’d say, 'Yeah, I guess I did.”'
Clerici said he has witnessed a
couple of near-accidents in which
people driving across on the
closed intersection just ran right
through, almost striking other
vehicles.
“On average, that road gets 7,000
to 8,000 vehicles a day. We’re still
getting a fourth of that, believe it
or not,’’ he said.
Clerici said the finished intersec
tion will make for a much safer
crossing.
“It’s going to be a vast improve
ment,’’ he stated. “It’s a good
example of partnership and how
you make it work between local
government and the DOT. It will
be one of our bigger success sto
ries, I believe.’’
Maysville DDA Focusing
On Building City Web Page
By Justin Poole
The Maysville Downtown
Development Authority’s top pri
ority is a new city website that will
serve as the official web address
for the city.
Local web designer Pat Outcalt
will design the website.
According to DDA chairman
Melody Stancil, Outcalt has said
that making links to existing web
sites and linking to business in the
city should not be a problem. The
site will be hosted by Windstream
Communications and will provide
30 mailboxes for the city.
It is expected to be operational
in six weeks.
City Plans Retreat
The Maysville City Council will
have a retreat at Unicoi State Park
and Lodge Saturday, July 26, to
discuss the 2008-2009 budget and
future SPLOST projects.
The meeting will be held in the
boardroom at the Lodge from 10
a.m. to noon and from 2 p.m. to
4 p.m.
Community Calendar
To place events on the Community Calendar, call 706-387-5406 or e-mail mark@mainstreetnews.com
Thursday, July 24
Kiwanis Club meets: Noon,
Commerce Civic Center.
Cold Sassy Quilters: 6:00
p.m., Commerce Public Library.
Monday, July 28
City planning meeting: 7:00
p.m., Peach Room, Commerce
Civic Center. The Commerce
Planning Commission makes
recommendations to the city
council on zoning requests and
land use matters.
Tuesday, July 29
TOPS meeting: 6:00 p.m.,
BJC Medical Center cafeteria.
Take Off Pounds Sensibly is a
weight loss group. Weigh-in is
from 5:00 to 5:50.
Thursday, July 31
Kiwanis Club meets: Noon,
Commerce Civic Center.
Saturday, Aug. 2
Farmers' market: 7 a.m. to 11
a.m., South Elm Street, Com
merce (across from Spencer
Park). Locally grown fresh
produce will be offered. The
market is open the first and
third Saturday of each month.
Monday, Aug. 4
Commerce Council meets:
6:00 p.m., City Hall. This "work
session" prepares the city coun
cil for its regular meeting the
following Monday.
Nicholson Council meets:
7:00 p.m., City Hall.
Maysville Council meets:
7:00 p.m., City Hall.
Tuesday, Aug. 5
JCCO meets: 6:00 p.m., BJC
Hospital conference room.
Jackson County Community
Outreach is a grassroots com
munity organization.
TOPS meeting: 6:00 p.m.,
BJC Medical Center cafeteria.
Take Off Pounds Sensibly is a
weight loss group. Weigh-in is
from 5:00 to 5:50.
Wednesday, Aug. 6
Chamber breakfast: 7:30
a.m. Jefferson Civic Center.
Open to all members of the
Jackson County Area Chamber
of Commerce. Members $5,
guests $10. Lt. Gov. Casey
Cagle will speak.
Thursday, Aug. 7
Kiwanis Club meets: Noon,
Commerce Civic Center.
School board meets: 7:00
p.m., Commerce Elementary
School media center. The work
session prepares the Commerce
Board of Education for its
regular meeting the following
Monday.
Monday, Aug. 11
Commerce Council meets:
6:30 p.m., Commerce Room,
Commerce Civic Center.
School board meets: 7:00
p.m., Commerce High School
media center. The Commerce
Board of Education operates
the city's independent school
system.
Tuesday, Aug. 12
TOPS meeting: 6:00 p.m.,
BJC Medical Center cafeteria.
Take Off Pounds Sensibly is a
weight loss group. Weigh-in is
from 5:00 to 5:50.
Lions Club meets: 7:00 p.m.,
Ryan's Steakhouse, Banks
Crossing.
Thursday, Aug. 14
Kiwanis Club meets: Noon,
Commerce Civic Center.
Cold Sassy Quilters: 1:00
p.m., Commerce Public Library.
Saturday, Aug. 16
Farmers' market: 7 a.m.
to 11 a.m., South Elm Street,
Commerce (across from Spen
cer Park). Locally grown fresh
produce will be offered. The
market is open the first and
third Saturday of each month.
Monday, Aug. 18
Hospital authority meets:
1:30 p.m., conference room,
BJC Hospital. The BJC Medical
Center Authority manages BJC
Hospital and Nursing Home.
Library board meets: 5:00
p.m., Commerce Public Library.
The Commerce Library Board
oversees the city library.
Tuesday, Aug. 19
TOPS meeting: 6:00 p.m.,
BJC Medical Center cafeteria.
Take Off Pounds Sensibly is a
weight loss group. Weigh-in is
from 5:00 to 5:50.
Thursday, Aug. 21
Kiwanis Club meets: Noon,
Commerce Civic Center.
Pilot Club meets: 7:00 p.m.,
First United Methodist Church
of Commerce. The Pilot Club of
Commerce meets on the third
Thursday of each month.
Monday, Aug. 25
City planning meeting: 7:00
p.m., Peach Room, Commerce
Civic Center. The Commerce
Planning Commission makes
recommendations to the city
council on zoning requests and
land use matters.
Tuesday, Aug. 26
TOPS meeting: 6:00 p.m.,
BJC Medical Center cafeteria.
Take Off Pounds Sensibly is a
weight loss group. Weigh-in is
from 5:00 to 5:50.
Lions Club meets: 7:00 p.m.,
Ryan's Steakhouse, Banks
Crossing.
Thursday, Aug. 28
Kiwanis Club meets: Noon,
Commerce Civic Center.
Cold Sassy Quilters: 6:00
p.m., Commerce Public Library.
Monday, Sept. 1
Labor Day holiday. All
overnment offices and some
usinesses closed.
Tuesday, Sept. 2
JCCO meets: 6:00 p.m., BJC
Hospital conference room.
Jackson County Community
Outreach is a grassroots com
munity organization.
TOPS meeting: 6:00 p.m.,
BJC Medical Center cafeteria.
Take Off Pounds Sensibly is a
weight loss group. Weigh-in is
from 5:00 to 5:50.
Wednesday, Sept. 3
Chamber breakfast: 7:30
a.m. Jefferson Civic Center.
Open to all members of the
Jackson County Area Chamber
of Commerce. Members $5,
guests $10. Dr. Michael Ad
ams, president of the University
of Georgia, will speak.
Thursday, Sept. 4
Kiwanis Club meets: Noon,
Commerce Civic Center.
School board meets: 7:00
p.m., Commerce Middle School
media center. The work session
prepares the Commerce Board
of Education for its regular
meeting the following Monday.
Monday, Sept. 8
Commerce Councif meets:
6:30 p.m., Commerce Room,
Commerce Civic Center.
School board meets: 7:00
p.m., Commerce High School
media center. The Commerce
Board of Education operates
the city's independent school
system.
Tuesday, Sept. 9
TOPS meeting: 6:00 p.m.,
BJC Medical Center cafeteria.
Take Off Pounds Sensibly is a
weight loss group. Weigh-in is
from 5:00 to 5:50.
Lions Club meets: 7:00 p.m.,
Ryan's Steakhouse, Banks
Crossing.
Thursday, Sept. 11
Kiwanis Club meets: Noon,
Commerce Civic Center.
Cold Sassy Quilters: 1:00
p.m., Commerce Public Library.
Monday, Sept. 15
Hospital authority meets:
1:30 p.m., conference room,
BJC Hospital. The BJC Medical
Center Authority manages BJC
Hospital and Nursing Home.
Library board meets: 5:00
p.m., Commerce Public Library.
The Commerce Library Board
oversees the city library.
Tuesday, Sept. 16
TOPS meeting: 6:00 p.m.,
BJC Medical Center cafeteria.
Take Off Pounds Sensibly is a
weight loss group. Weigh-in is
from 5:00 to 5:50.
Thursday, Sept. 18
Kiwanis Club meets: Noon,
Commerce Civic Center.
Pilot Club meets: 7:00 p.m.,
First United Methodist Church
of Commerce. The Pilot Club of
Commerce meets on the third
Thursday of each month.
Monday, Sept. 22
City planning meeting: 7:00
p.m., Peach Room, Commerce
Civic Center. The Commerce
Planning Commission makes
recommendations to the city
council on zoning requests and
land use matters.
Tuesday, Sept. 23
TOPS meeting: 6:00 p.m.,
BJC Medical Center cafeteria.
Take Off Pounds Sensibly is a
weight loss group. Weigh-in is
from 5:00 to 5:50.
Lions Club meets: 7:00 p.m.,
Ryan's Steakhouse, Banks
Crossing.
Thursday, Sept. 25
Cold Sassy Quilters: 6:00
p.m., Commerce Public Library.
—Advance Voting Begins Monday For Aug. 5 Primary Runoffs
Cont. from Page 1A
Tony Beatty ran third with 1,602
votes. Because Bicknell received
less than 50 percent of the total,
he faces Johnson in the runoff.
Sikes ran second in each of
the three counties, but when the
votes were tallied, she had 5,129
votes, or 35 percent of the total.
Smith had 4,820, or 33 percent of
the vote, while incumbent Rick
Bridgman ran third with 4,666.
There are no local candi
dates involved in runoffs in the
Democratic primary. However,
there is a runoff between
Democrats Vernon Jones and Jim
Martin for the U.S. Senate. The
winner will challenge incumbent
Saxby Chambliss in November.
The Republican primary runoff
is open to all registered voters
except those who cast ballots in
the Democratic primary July 15.
The Democratic primary runoff
is open to all registered voters
except those who voted in the
Republican primary.
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