About The Islander. (St. Simons Island, Ga.) 1972-current | View Entire Issue (May 4, 2009)
JSLANDCR- Dave Barry - 8 Editorial Back Talk - 20 Surfin’ the News • Health -14 • Movie Review Sunshine Cleaning - 9 • Pew News -18 • Sports -11 Published by Permar Publications • P.O. Box 20539 • St. Simons Island, Ga. 31522 • 912-265-9654 • ssislander@bellsouth.net May 4, 2009 Established 1972 Vol 37 Issue 18 Nunnallys thanked for donation to SGHS During the ground breaking ceremony last Monday, April 27 for the Miriam and Hugh Nunnally Maternity Care Center at the Southeast Georgia Health System's (SGHS) Brunswick Campus, SGHS President-CEO Gary Colberg, FACHE (second from right) presents Hugh Nunnally with a crystal bud vase containing a Magnolia blossom in appreciation for the Nunnally's donation to the maternity center. Glynn-Brunswick Memorial Hospital Chair Michael D. Hodges (far right) prepares to give bud vases to the other members of the Nunnally family who attended the afternoon event: Tripp Nunnally (from left to right) Mary Hopkins Nunnally; Hugh Nunnally and Lee Nunnally. The magnolia blossom represented the two magnolia trees that had to be removed for the project. Colberg said, "They were two of the most beautiful magnolias in the area. We hated to remove them and we tried to save them by building around them, but it just wasn't possible." Islander Staff Photo Ground broken for Miriam & Hugh Nunnally Maternity Care Center expansion & renovation at SGHS Chief would like input on barrier design By Matthew J. Permar Glynn Comity Police Chief Matt Doering has seen the Georgia Dept, of Transporta tion’s (DOT) proposed plan to build a concrete barrier wall down the middle of the F.J. Torras Causeway and does not particularly like what he sees. While Doering stopped short of opposing the wall altogether, last week he told the Bruns wick Golden Isles Chamber of Commerce’s Board of Direc tors that he does have some concerns about the barrier and would like some input into the project design process. Doering said, “It’s not my place to oppose the barrier, my concern is traffic safety. There is no doubt in my mind that the wall will improve traffic safety by eliminating crossover acci dents. But accidents are still going to happen and I want the public to be fully aware of the Turn to Page 7 Causeway barrier Georgia in better shape than most, says Keen By Matthew J. Permar “Georgia’s revenue is cer tainly down, and we need the economy to improve, but com pared to other states we are better off than most.” This was the ‘it’s bad, but it could be worse’ news that Representative Jerry Keen (R- Dist. 179) gave the Brunswick Glynn County Chamber of Commerce’s Board of Directors during their monthly meeting last week. Giving an end of legislative session report to the Chamber, Keen said, “It was a tough session, but a good one. We have $55 million to $60 million in bonds and capital invest ment money coming to Glynn County in addition to what we normally get. This is all good news for Glynn.” At $18 billion, the state budget is down about $3 billion Turn to Page 6 State finances Infrastructure development on tap for Brunswick airport By Pamela Permar Shierling The Brunswick Golden Isles Airport is prepared for future growth. Right now Phase I of the West General Aviation Development plan is 'shovel ready' and Steve Brian, Exec utive Director of the Glynn Comity Airport Commission, is working on getting $2.5 mil lion in stimulus money. "If stimulus money is avail able, we can break ground within six months," Brian said. "If we apply to the Fed eral Aviation Administration (FAA) for the money, ground breaking could be as far away as 24 months." Another reason to apply for the stimulus money is that it doesn't require matching local dollars. The FAA funds 95% of a project; 2.5% would be Turn to Page 6 Brunswick Airport plans County implements cost cutting to offset shrinking revenues By Pamela Permar Shierling Duringthis economic crunch time Glynn County is working hard to control expenses and to keep expenses below budget. Several county departments are under budget through March 31, 2009: Public Works - 19%; General Government (administration) - 15%; Rec reation - 12%; Housing and Development - 20%. At the April 28,2009, Finance Committee meet ing Phyllis McNicoll, Finance Director, reported current year revenues are projected to be nearly $4 million less than budgeted. Budget reductions of $4 mil lion have been implemented to offset the revenue loss. Cost containment measures include suspension of all overtime and a hiring freeze and a 90 day Turn to Page 7 County cost cutting Southeast Georgia Health System held a ground breaking ceremony Monday, April 27, to mark the official beginning of the expansion and renovation of the Miriam & Hugh Nun nally Maternity Care Center on the Brunswick Campus. The new construction will add 6,550 feet of additional space to the existing center and will provide more upscale finishes to provide a more fam ily-centric setting. When complete the Cen ter will feature 24 redesigned labor, delivery, recovery, and postpartum rooms (LDRPs) with the latest technologies that will allow mothers and their babies to remain in the same hospital room through out their stay. Two enclosed courtyards also will be added, as well as new waiting areas and an enhanced security system. The honorees at last week's event were Hugh Nunnally and his children, Lee, Mary Hopkins, and Tripp. Mr. Nunnally and his late wife Miriam made a $1 million donation to the expansion and renovation of the Maternity Care Center and have been long-time supporters of the Health System. Participating in the ground breaking with the Nunnally family were Health System President and CEO Gary R. Col berg, FACHE; Glynn-Bruns wick Memorial Hospital Chair Michael D. Hodges; Brunswick Campus Chief, Department of Obstetrics/Gynecology Marga ret Hartnett Goodman, MD; and Brunswick Campus Chief, Department of Pediatrics M. Townsend Cooper, MD. For more information about the new Miriam & Hugh Nun nally Maternity Care Center and the Southeast Georgia Health System, visit www. sghs.org □
