Tuesday, September 07, 2010
Air show details finalized
Posted on Tuesday, September 7th, 2010 at 12:00 am.
By Michele Gerlach
Andalusia Star News
Organizers of the air show planned at South Alabama Regional Airport (SARA) during Andalusia’s Homecoming 2010 celebration say that vendors are still needed for the event.
Jed Blackwell, co-manager of the SARA, and a committee of local residents are working with David Schultz Airshows to stage the Veterans Day weekend event on Sat., Nov. 13.
Members of the USAF Silver Wings, based in Ft. Benning, will perform locally on Nov. 13.“Pepsi-Cola is a sponsor and they will be the official soft drink for the event,” Blackwell said. “I know we’ve got the corn vendor who was at the Rattlesnake Rodeo and a lemonade vendor. We could use some more.”
The local airshow, which is free to the public, will feature the U.S. Army Silver Wings Parachute Team and U.S. Air Force A-10AThunderbolt II demonstration, as well as a number of other attractions. Organizers say the quality of the show should draw people from throughout the Southeast.
The Silver Wings is comprised of soldiers from throughout the Ft. Benning airborne community. The average age of this group is 33, and the members’ average number of freefall jumps range between 200 and 2,500 per team member.
The USAF Thunderbolt demonstration team is dedicated to showing the extreme capabilities of the A-10 aircraft though exceptional aerial maneuvers. The team calls Davis Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona, home.
There also will be static displays, ranging from World War II era and Korean Conflict aircraft to that used by present day heroes currently serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. The static show includes an A-10A Thunderbolt II, and a Blackhawk.
Before the air show begins, there will be a 5K race on the runway, as well as a race from one end of the runway to the other.
“Air shows are starting to do these events pretty regularly,” Blackwell said.
Additional information is available at http://andalusia.schultzairshows.com.
Tuesday, September 07, 2010
Mayor plans speech tonight
Posted on Tuesday, September 7th, 2010 at 12:00 am.
By Michele Gerlach
Andalusia Star News
Mayor Earl Johnson said Monday he plans to deliver a speech during tonight’s Andalusia City Council meeting about the city’s recent purchase of Springdale Estate, the historic home on East Three Notch built in the 1930s.
The council meets at 6 p.m. in City Hall. The meeting is broadcast on Andy Cable’s access channel. The speech will be posted to our Web site, immediately following the council meeting.
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Elections for BOE today
Today is an election day for residents of three districts of Andalusia and one district of Opp, all of whom will elect members to their respective cities’ boards of education.
In Andalusia, there are seven candidates vying for three seats on the board.
In District 1, incumbent Joe Nix is challenged by Joe Armstrong.
In District 3, current board chairman David Bryant faces opposition from Bob Bush.
In District 5, David McCalman, Mark Dooley and Teresa Ward are seeking election to the seat currently held by LeeAnn Riley.
Voting will be at the Kiwanis Community Center.
In Opp, there are two candidates for the District 2 seat. Incumbent Jennifer Ferguson faces opposition from T.P. Morgan.
Earlier this month, the Opp City Council affirmed the election of Robert Young to the District 1 seat and William Hines to the District 4 seat. Neither had opposition.
District 2 residents will vote at the Opp Senior Center on Brantley Street.
Poll are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Work begins on new $5M cancer center
By Michele Gerlach
Andalusia Star News
Speaker of the House Seth Hammett summed up the groundbreaking ceremony for a new cancer center well.
“This is a red letter day,” he said. “No family I know of has not been touched by cancer.”
The new center is another important step in Andalusia Regional Hospital’s vision of being a regional health care provider. And with this step, he said, “the community has won.”
Indeed a good representation of the community braved extreme heat for the groundbreaking of the new, 10,000 square foot facility on the campus of ARH. The hospital is partnering with 21st Century Oncology in the development of the new comprehensive cancer center slated to open in Andalusia next summer.
“We are fortunate to have a partner in 21st Century Oncology who believes in this project and what it will mean to our community as much as we do,” ARH CEO Mark Dooley said. “Upon completion, the Comprehensive Cancer Center of Andalusia will occupy more than 10,000 square feet with the potential to expand by over 2,000 square feet with the addition of a second linear accelerator as the patient base grows.”
He estimated that the project will represent a $5 million investment in the community.
“You will notice the name of the center is Comprehensive Cancer Center of Andalusia,” he said. “The word comprehensive is intentionally used to indicate that most if not all cancer treatment services that one may need will be located right here in Andalusia. The new center itself will house a linear accelerator to provide radiation therapy and the Sacred Heart Medical Oncology Group from Pensacola will come to Andalusia to provide chemotherapy and other infusion services.”
Dr. Hejal Patel of 21st Century Oncology said he hopes to expand the services offered locally to include enrollment in research protocols. Regardless, he said, patients will be treated like family when they walk through the doors. Patel said staff members will celebrate successes with patients and their families, “and provide broad shoulders to cry on when the news is not so good.”
The hospital also is negotiating with vendors to provide PET scanning here, Dooley said. PET scanning is an imaging technology that is used to detect cancer, determine whether cancer has spread, and assess the effectiveness of cancer treatment.
“I hope to be able to announce more about that service in the near future,” Dooley said.
Others on hand for the ceremony included members of the hospital board of trustees Terry Powell, Joe Bratton, Sammy Glover, Wem Mellown, Dr. Angelo Agro, and Dr. Charles Eldridge; medical staff president Dr. Gabrielle Baldwin; staff from 21st Century Oncology’s centers in Dothan and Opp; and Dr. Mark Boatwright and staff from the Sacred Heart Medical Oncology group.
Representatives of ARH, 21st Century Oncology and Sacred Heart Medical Oncology were on hand Monday. | Michele Gerlach/Star-News
Saturday, August 21, 2010
Groundbreaking for new cancer center Monday
Andalusia Star News
Andalusia Regional Hospital and 21st Century Oncology will hold a groundbreaking ceremony at 1 p.m. Mon., Aug. 23, for the new cancer center annou-nced earlier this year.
The two entities in May annou-nced a partnership and plans to build a 7,420 square foot cancer treatment facility on the campus of ARH.
This is an architect's rendering of the new cancer center planned for the campus of Andalusia Regional Hospital.
Dooley explained that the hospital is leasing property in front of ARH to 21st Century Oncology for the construction of the facility. Construction of the facility is expected to be completed in nine to 12 months, and the facility is expected to open in the summer of 2011.
“This is an exciting addition to our hospital’s campus and will provide cancer treatment services that will rival any in south Alabama,” Dooley said.
Dooley said the combination of the oncology treatment center and the oncology group practicing here allows the hospital to fill a missing niche.
“My goal for our hospital is to be seen by neighboring smaller hospitals in or area as a regional referral site,” he said. “This is a specialty we needed to have here to do that.”
The facility will include 1,200 square feet to house a new linear accelerator, which is the equipment used for radiation therapy. Dooley estimated that that equipment alone puts the project in the $2 million range.
Sacred Heart Medical Oncology Group plans to move its services currently offered in Opp to Andalusia. Dooley said the group will occupy a new medical office planned across South Three Notch Street from the hospital and being built by local investors.
Dr. Hejal Patel, the radiation oncologist currently serving patients at 21st Century Oncology’s Opp office, will work out of the new facility when it opens.
Dooley said 21st Century Oncology designed the new building to blend with the hospital campus. The hospital will still be visible from South Three Notch even with the single-story cancer facility located in front of it.
21st Century Oncology, Inc. is a developer and operator of radiation therapy centers. These centers, which are freestanding and hospital-based, provide a full spectrum of radiation therapy services to cancer patients. The national company currently offers treatment in this area Opp, Dothan, Crestview, Destin and Ft. Walton Beach.
Sacred Heart Medical Oncology Group is based in Pensacola and provides services in Pensacola, Milton, Destin, Crestview and Opp. Dr. Mark S. Boatright, who currently sees patients in Opp, will be part of the Andalusia office.