About The Madison County journal. (Hull, Ga.) 1989-current | View Entire Issue (April 16, 2025)
PAGE 2B - THE MADISON COUNTY (GA) JOURNAL, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 16, 2025 News Dr. Christopher Ward named St. Mary’s Chief Medical Officer Dr. Christopher Ward, MD, MBA, FACEP, CPE, has been named Chief Medical Officer (CMO) of St. Mary’s Health Care System, including its hos pitals in Athens, Lavonia and Greens boro, effective Monday, April 14. Dr. Ward brings more than 30 years of progressive clinical and leader ship experience to his new role with St. Mary’s. Most recently, he served as CMO for several hospitals in the Methodist Healthcare System in San Antonio, Texas, a unique joint venture between HCA and Methodist Health care Ministries, South Texas’ largest non-public funding source of commu nity health care. During his tenure with Method ist Healthcare System, he focused on building a foundation for improving clinical outcomes, enhancing medical staff collaboration, and empowering teams to uphold the highest standards of care. In addition, Dr. Ward has over 25 years of experience in emergency medicine and served as vice chair of emergency medicine for Steward Good Samaritan Hospital, the busiest hospi tal in the former Steward Health Care System. “I believe we can improve the health outcomes of our most vulnerable pop ulations through leadership that focus es on people first so that we can better serve those in need,” Dr. Ward said. “It is my ultimate goal as an executive-lev el leader to provide an exceptional ex perience for patients and their families by providing patient focused care while enhancing the quality of the care pro- Dr. Christopher Ward vided to our patients.” Dr. Ward received his bachelor’s de gree with honors from Florida State University, his doctor of medicine de gree from the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, and com pleted the Emergency Medicine Resi dency Training Program at Emory Uni versity in Atlanta. Dr. Ward is board-certified in emer gency medicine through the American Board of Emergency Medicine and holds an MBA from New York Univer sity Stern School of Business. He is a Certified Physician Executive (CPE) through the American Association for Physician Leadership and is fluent in English, Spanish and French. GA Farm Bureau accepting entries for farm dog contest Farm dogs play a special role on the farm. They can serve in a variety of roles such as herding livestock or guarding livestock and property. Farm dogs also provide companionship and joy to their families. Many dogs make every step their farmers do as they complete their daily chores. That’s why Georgia Farm Bureau (GFB) is on a mission to recognize a furry farm hero through its 2025 Georgia Farm Dog Contest. GFB is accepting entries for the contest until 10:59 p.m. on May 1 or until 200 en tries are received, whichever comes first. The contest is open to GFB members ages 18 and over. For complete con test rules and the criteria entered dogs will be judged by, visit https://gfb. ag/25farmdogeontest. Judging for the contest will take place in May. The winning dog and its human will be recognized in October at the 2025 Sunbelt Ag Expo. The grand prize win ner will receive a $500 gift card. Geor gia farm dogs have some pretty amaz ing stories to tell and GFB is looking forward to telling them. GFB is known for its love of dogs as Lucky, an Australian Shepherd, has served as the organization’s mascot since 2021. Photo courtesy of Georgia Farm Bureau Georgia Farm Bureau’s mascot, Lucky, en courages farm families to enter their furry friends in the 2025 Georgia Farm Dog Con test. The 2024 winner of GFB’s first Georgia Farm Dog Contest was Belue, a Shetland Sheepdog from Americus. Belue works sheep and cattle for his owner, Brinson Brock, and attends the middle school agricultural classes that Brock teaches to encourage students’ interest in veterinary science. Georgia Farm Bureau is a grassroots organization dedicated to supporting the future of Georgia’s family farms and our access to locally grown food and fiber. Membership is open to ev eryone. Church Church News— Week of April 16 Bethel Holiness Church, 107 King Street, Ila, is holding its Revival services April 15-18, at 7:30 p.m. each night. Curt Phillips is preaching the Tuesday and Wednesday night services, while Bill Preskitt will preach the Thursday and Friday night services. Providence Baptist Church, 210 Provi dence Church Rd., Dan ielsville, will hold a sun rise service on Sunday, April 20, at 7 a.m., with a breakfast to follow. Blacks Creek Baptist Church, 3754 Blacks Creek Church Rd., Com merce, will have a Good Friday Service and Glow in the Dark Egg Hunt on Friday, April 18, from 6 to 9:30 p.m. The event will feature a hot dog meal at 6 p.m., Good Friday Worship Service at 7 p.m. and Glow in the Dark Easter Egg Hunt at 8 p.m. Children ages PreK — 12 years old should bring their own basket for the egg hunt. For more informa tion, visit blackscreek- baptistchurch.com Oak Grove Baptist Church, 9585 Hwy. 172, Comer, will host a sunrise service and breakfast on Sunday, April 20, at 7:30 a.m., followed by a service at 11 a.m. The church will also host an “Old Fash ion Day” with a meal on April 27. The Little Country Church, 1151 Old Air port Rd., Commerce, will host a Sunrise Service on Saturday, April 20, at 7:30 a.m. at 1151 Old Airport Road in Commerce. Pastor Swayne Cochran will lead the service. The community is invited to attend. Pleasant Grove Bap tist Church, 2227 Di amond Hill Neese Rd., Hull, will hold its Re vival services on April 24-26, at 6:30 p.m. each night. Rev. Rudy Camp will be the guest speak er. Everyone is invited to attend. Friendship Baptist Church, 275 Friend ship Church road, Dan ielsville, will host its Vacation Bible School on June 2-6, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. The theme will be “Magnified! Dis covering The Bigness of GOD in the smallest of Things!” The VBS will have games, food, crafts and music. Fri ¬ day night will be Fami ly Night with food, fun and fellowship, accord ing to church leaders. Online registration is available at www.friend- shipbaptistchurch.org/ vbs. Those who register by May 18 will receive a t-shirt for their child. Registration will still be available after May 18, but a t-shirt will not be guaranteed. The VBS is for children in pre-K through Sth grade. For more information, call 706-795-3043 or 706- 207-9378. Comer Baptist Church, 2054 Main Street, Comer, invites families to “Yee-haw” Vacation Bible School. The summer fami ly event, called “Yee- Haw,” will be hosted at Comer Baptist Church from June 8-11. “Kids in pre-k through 5th grade will kick up their heels at Yee-Haw VBS as they stampede through the wild frontier and celebrate the greatest truth of all—God is good,” church leaders said. “They’ll round up a whole herd of friends and discover that Jesus is God’s greatest gift. Each day concludes at Closing Corral—a time of upbeat worship that gets everyone in volved.” “Yee-Haw” VBS will run from 6:15 to 8:30 p.m. each day. For more information and registration visit https://www.comerbap- tistchurch.com/ ONGOING EVENTS Moons Grove Baptist Church, 1985 Moon’s Grove Church Road, Colbert, has announced the dates for its free food distribution. Upcoming distribution dates in clude 4/23, 5/28, 6/25, 7/23 and 8/27. Hours are from 10 a.m. to noon. The clothes closet will also be open during the food distribution. Peo ple can call the church to set up an appointment for the clothes closet as well. For more informa tion, call the church at 706-795-2063. Gordon’s Chapel Methodist Church, Hull, will have its clothes closet opening every third Friday of each month from 9 to 10 a.m. The clothes clos et is located next door to the Sanford Community Center (6469 Nowhere Road) in the green build ing. Its food pantry will also be opening every third Thursday of each month from 6 to 7 p.m. The food pantry is locat ed at the Sanford Com munity Center (6469 Nowhere Road). TOPS Ga. 0421 Ila (Take off pounds sensi bly) meets every Mon day at 6 p.m. at Liberty Church. The church is located at 5725 Hwy. 106 N, Danielsville. For more information, con tact Mary Bonds at 706- 202- 4751. Everyone is welcome. Legacy Baptist Church, 1850 Helican Springs Road, Hull, holds its weekly wor ship services on Sunday mornings at 10:30 a.m. Want more informa tion? Contact the church at legacybaptisthull@ gmail.com or visit the website at www.legacy- baptist.net. “We would love to have you join us,” church leaders said. Oak Grove Baptist Church, 9585 Hwy. 172, Comer, invites everyone to come out and visit at an old fashion hymnal book church. The church has breakfast on Sunday mornings at 9:30 a.m. in the fellowship hall, followed by Sunday School at 10 a.m. and a service at 11 a.m. A singer performs at the service on the fifth Sun day of the month. The church also has a Bible study every Wednesday night at 6:30 p.m. and a women’s Bible study on the first Sunday of each month at 4 p.m. Broth erhood meets the fourth Sunday at 6:30 p.m. Cedar Grove Bap tist Church, 495 Cedar Grove Church Road, Comer, has a food dis tribution on the sec ond Wednesday eve ning of every month from 6-6:45 p.m. at the church. Contact the church at cgbc1885@ gmail.com or visit the website at www.cedar- grovebaptist.net. _ Call 245-2695 24 Hour Obituary News Compliments of Gruitt Suneral Some, Inc. “Locally Owned and Operated Since 1905” 47 Franklin Springs St. Royston, GA 30662 (706) 245-7234 Worship regularly at the church of your choice! For more information on becoming a church page sponsor, please call 706-367-5233. 12403 Medicine Danielsville, GA For all your printing needs contact Ginger Mitchell at 706-654-8499 ZEB’S "In the country... but worth the trip!" 5742 Hwy. 29 N. • Danielsville, GA 706-795-2701 12.92 CARSON PLUMBING, INC. PHCC 259 Wynburn Ave. O • Athens, GA 30601 PLUNBING-HEATING-COOLING' CONTRACTORS ASSOCIATION JOSH CARSON (Licensed and Insured) Marketplace Mount Hermon 12650 Presbyterian Church Hwy. 98 • Ila 706-789-3296 "Let There Be Light" Visit i mthermonpreschurch.org//The Acorn. Adult Sunday School at 10:00 A.M. Sunday Morning Worship at 11:00 A.M. www.mthermonpreschurch.org Organized in 1898 706-548-3397 FAX: 706-548-3881 E-Mail: carsplum@gmail.com 12570 ‘ OPEN * SEVEN DAYS A WEEK 8 A.M.- 9 P.M. 291 Sam Groves St. ► Danielsville, GA 30633’ NO BEER OR WINE • 706-795-3007 ‘ SOLD! 12703 Gordon's Chapel Methodist Church 6625 Nowhere Road • Hull, GA • 548-6616 Rev. Dr. Andy Hargrove, Pastor Sunday School - 9 a.m. Worship - 10 a.m. www.gordonschapeI.com www.facebook.com/gordonschapelmc 12601 ARMOUR RAPID- PLUMBING | ROOTER awnugane mrazr-avi-se. 543-9850 U 543-1234 V® Plumbing & Septic Service Gary H. Armour & Staff Ila Restaurant Mon.-Fri. • 5:30 - 2:00 Closed Saturday Closed Sunday Hwy. 106 • Ila, GA 706-789-2356
