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Page 2 - Wednesday, December 22, 2021
The Millen News
themillennews .com
Caring for Poinsettias
Poinsettias are the most recognizable flowers of the Christmas
season. Poinsettias come in over 150 color variations and red
is still the most popular color. They travelled to America from
Mexico in the 1820’s where they are native plants and grow wild.
In the 1820’s, the Minister to Mexico, Joel R Poinsett discovered
the beautiful plant and sent some of them to US President James
Monroe as a Christmas present. The President liked the plants and
wanted them again in the White House the following year. So the
plant was named in honor of Joel Poinsett. And the rest is history.
Mexican legend tells of a girl who could only offer weeds as a gift
to Jesus on Christmas Eve. When she brought the weeds onto the
church, they blossomed into a beautiful red plant we now know as
the poinsettia.
The shape of the poinset
tia bloom and leaves are
thought to be a symbol of
the Star of Bethlehem, the
star that led the wise men
to Jesus. The red blooms
symbolize the blood
of Christ and the white
blooms represent the purity
of Christ.
Caring for poinsettias is relativity easy. Always remember
that the plants you buy are grown in a greenhouse and might be
shocked a little when you bring one home. Keep the soil moist,
but not wet. Poinsettias like a warm environment, no drafts.
Normally a little water once a week will be plenty for a poinsettia.
In the spring and summer, place your poinsettia in a partial sunny
area and let it enjoy the outdoors , just remember to bring it in
before frost. Please have a Very Merry Christmas and remember
the reason for the season. As always join your local garden club
for a wealth of information and fellowship.
Hospital expands
services
-Joe Brady
“Our goal is to expand and
improve patient care,” Antoine
Poythress, CEO of the Jenkins
County Medical Center says.
The medical center has installed
a new telemetry unit to monitor
cardiac patients. “With the in
stallation of the new equipment,
we can keep patients over night
for observation, heart attack pa
tients however will continue to
be transferred on an emergency
basis. We can even monitor Cov-
id patients,” Poythress explains.
The new equipment was made
possible through the Rural Hos-
pitilization Stabilization Grant,
the medical center was awarded
$600k. “We can now monitor
up to 8 patients at one time and
the doctors also have
remote access to the
system. In the past,
we would send the
patient home. How
ever, we all agree that
it’s better to keep the
patient in house. This
is our way of being
more agressive in pa
tient care,” she added.
In addition to telem
etry, the grant also al
lowed for the upgrade
of new x-ray equip
ment. “We have also
expanded the room call sys
tem and upgraded tv service,”
Angie Bruno, charge nurse
said, “we are excited about
the new equipment. State of
the art tools allows us to bet
ter monitor patients and ease
discomfort. We are instilling
confidence in our hospital.”
Mr. Poythress explains that
there are more improvements
in-store at JCMC. “We are cur
rently working on a Pulmo
nary Rehab program as well
as Cardiac Rehab and a Sleep
Studies program.” The hospi
tal is now accepting all major
insurance programs with the
exception of Wellcare. If you
have a question about insur
ance please contact the busi
ness office at 478-982-4221.
Angie Bruno, RN and Charge Nurse is pictured with
the new telemetry machine. “With covid patients, we
can adequately monitor oxygen saturations, thanks
to the new equipment.” (photo by Debbie Hearn)
Getting
ready for a
visit from
the big man
Jax Johnson, son of Pastor
Joshua Johnson and Lauren
Johnson is eagerly prepar
ing for Friday night’s visit by
Santa Claus. Jax is willing to
help Santa deliver toys as long
as he can wear his elf hat.
(photo by Lauren Johnson)
Pictured are: Wanda Shryock, Kejon Perry, Sandy Morris, Santa Claus, Addie Bennett, Carmen Bennett, Fr. Larry Jesion, Andy Andert, Jacob Shryock, Sandy Baulos,
and Tony Baulos. Picture by Pam Jesion.
Santa visits Heaping Hands
-Pam Jesion
“Over ten years ago, Gail Rockwell of St Michael’s Episcopal Church answered a calling to feed the hungry of Burke County,” ex
plains Father Larry Jesion of St. Michael’s Episcopal Church. Since then, she, her husband Rocky, and a dedicated group of volunteers
have served a hot breakfast at Heaping Hands every Saturday morning in the St Michael’s community hall.
During the Covid shutdown, Gail and the staff of St Michael’s quickly realized that this need was ongoing, even though it was no lon
ger possible to invite attendees to sit down inside for breakfast and fellowship.
“After a number of brainstorming sessions, a small core group of volunteers, masked and gloved, came together early on Saturday
mornings to prepare bags of hot eggs with bacon and cheese, potatoes, and other foodstuffs to hand out to anyone coming by the table
set up outside” Father Jesion continues. Covid wasn’t going to stop Heaping Hands! Even on cold and rainy mornings, volunteers were
outside with breakfast bags.
On Saturday, December 18, Heaping Hands celebrated the holidays with not only breakfast but a visit from Santa (who, by the way, is
a pretty good juggler as well as a willing participant in indoor snowball fights), complete with gifts for children and adults alike. Elves
Addie Bennett and Kejon Perry manned Santa’s Toy Shop, while Sandy Morris and Carmen Bennett helped with table loads of toys
contributed by the One-Stop Shop and Spring Creek Auction of Millen. “We would also like to express our heartfelt thanks to Marty
Orvin, the four points Santa.”
The smiles and excitement of not only children but adults was summed up as Santa, leaving the hall, was shyly approached by an older
gentleman who wanted to tell him that all he wanted was a toy dump truck and trailer for Christmas.
If you or your church would like to help St. Michael’s Episcopal Church with the Heaping Hands ministry please contact Father Larry
at 706-554-3465.
Living Word Ministry to hold toy give-a-way
The Living Word Ministry, Rubba Dub Dub Detailing and Men of Integrity Group will host the annual Annie P.
Chance Christmas Toy Give-A-Way just in time for Christmas! The distribution will be held on Friday, Decem
ber 24 from 1-4 p.m. at 907 Buckhead Road, Millen.
There will be free food and drinks available. The public is invited.