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TOP STORIES FOR
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2002
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One Million Dollars Awarded for Performing Arts Center |
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On Monday this week, residents of the Town of Huntingdon
had even more reason than usual to celebrate at their
annual Christmas Open House, with Dixie Carter and Hal
Holbrook joining Governor Don Sundquist, Mayor Dale Kelley
and other dignitaries in announcing a $1 million grant for
the construction of the Dixie Carter Performing Arts and
Academic Enrichment Center.
Blue skies and mild temperatures allowed a comfortable
outdoor setting for guests to enjoy the awesome talent and
fine entertainment of the Huntingdon High School Chorus
who tirelessly performed a wealth of Christmas selections,
with many of the traditional verses like "Hallelujah" and
"Sing to God with Joy" taking on wider meaning as
residents and leaders counted the many blessings of living
in Huntingdon and Carroll County. Declared Mayor Kelley in
his opening remarks, "Today our annual Open House is a
special occasion in so many different ways."
Governor Sundquist stated unabashedly his pleasure in
hearing the high school chorus sing religious carols.
"It's important for us to know why we celebrate
Christmas," he said, "It's the birth of Christ, our Lord
and Savior."
"We couldn't have ordered a prettier day to announce this
exciting new grant," he said enthusiastically, praising a
community "where people still come together to celebrate."
"Communities like this one are the heart and soul of not
only Tennessee but this country," he said strongly.
The performing arts and education center will be
constructed on the town's historic court square within the
original framework of four existing buildings located
across from the east side of the courthouse. The center
will retain its historic façade and will include a
450-seat, state of the art theatre, the Dixie Carter
Museum, a historic lobby and reception area, a service
kitchen and an upstairs gallery and reception area.
Both Governor Sundquist and Dixie Carter were clear in
their sentiments that the center is for the children that
are the future of our community and country. "Children
need a chance to walk on trails," said the governor, whose
morning had been spent announcing the development of the
new 31-mile Jimmy Daniel Trail that will stretch from
Shiloh to Corinth, Mississippi, "and they need to know and
appreciate the finer things in life (that the performing
arts center will bring.)"
"We don't need a building to remind us of Dixie Carter but
it sure will be nice to recognize her," he smiled, "Who
will forget Julia Sugarbaker (Designing Women), Randi King
(Family Law) and the many roles she has performed on
Broadway?"
Martha Sundquist joined her husband in awarding the
Tennessee Commendation Award to both Dixie and her
husband, Hal Holbrook, who Carroll Countians have adopted
as their own with his full consent and appreciation. Only
20 of the distinguished awards have been presented during
the governor's eight-year tenure.
Dixie's surprise at the amount of the grant for the
project named in her honor brought tears of joy to her
eyes. Dixie, who had expressed great pleasure in the
expert performance of the high school chorus that she
referred to as "this beautiful group of children", brought
her great-niece Margaret Carter from among the group as
she dedicated the center to the future of the community.
"This is something I believe is so good for our children
and the whole community. Before television, we made our
own amusements," she said stridently of her growing up
years in McLemoresville and school years in Huntingdon.
"We played and sang because it was fun and in doing so
achieved the desire to achieve excellence," she continued,
referring to pageants, plays, poetry readings and other
entertaining pursuits that she says inspire discipline and
a desire for excellence that the performing arts center
will continue to promote in today's and tomorrow's
youngsters.
Hal agreed with "his beautiful wife", referring to
renovated theatres in small towns in which he has
portrayed his famous Mark Twain character, theatres he
says have brought the "life and soul" back to downtowns
across America. "I'm so proud of my wife and my life in
Tennessee," he said sincerely, "to be accepted here... I
got married here and I expect to be buried here."
Linking the generations - appreciating the great
accomplishments of past and present leaders and working
toward even greater gains for today's youth and those to
come - was the predominant sentiment of the day, as Mayor
Kelley and Dixie Carter recounted an enduring friendship
that began during their school days. Commissioner of
Personnel for the State of Tennessee and "local hometown
boy" Walter Butler joined past with present in recognizing
that Dixie's father Halbert Carter provided him with his
first public employment opportunity.
Butler extolled the accomplishments of Governor Sundquist,
during whose administration, he says, the State of
Tennessee experienced record economic growth, with 285,000
new jobs created alongside 40 billion dollars of business
investment while the state's own budget was reduced by
half. He touted the governor's programs for children in
providing adequate health care, increasing immunizations
and reducing teen pregnancy and infant mortality to record
lows.
Mayor Kelley stated that $18 million in grant monies have
been awarded to the Town of Huntingdon during Governor
Sundquist's two terms, not counting grant monies awarded
in other parts of the county.
McKenzie Mayor Walter Winchester demonstrated a new spirit
of cooperation between the traditionally competitive
neighboring towns in celebrating with the Town of
Huntingdon their success in attaining the grant, which
will benefit all of Carroll County in offering cultural
enrichment and entertainment as well as attracting
positive growth in the county. |
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Holland Annexation Delayed as Attorneys Consult |
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The annexation and zoning of the Holland Farm and an
adjacent area along Highway 22 which could have passed
on second and final reading during the December 12
meeting of the McKenzie City Council was postponed until
the regularly scheduled January 9 meeting pending
consultation between Holland attorney Chuck Cagle and
attorney for the City of McKenzie, Kent Jones. Any
action taken at the January 9 meeting will be
retroactive to December 12, by agreement of counsel.
Vice-mayor Gene Hale was re-elected by his peers to
continue in the position of vice-mayor. Said nominating
council member James Knolton, "Gene has been vice-mayor
for some time now and he has done an outstanding job."
In other business the Council:
- Passed on second reading the re-zoning of the Webb
property on South Main Street from R-2 (medium density
residential) to B-2 (highway commercial).
- Approved a Christmas bonus for city employees in the
amount of $100.00 for full-time employees and $50 for
part-time workers.
- Heard Councilmember Knolton report that cold damp
weather has contributed to new defects in the recently
repaired tennis courts and will be repaired at no cost
to the city in the spring;
- Heard Councilmember Knolton express gratitude to
Republic Builders for four new steel doors donated to
the Park and Recreation Department (three used at
Mulberry Park's restrooms and one on the rear shop door
at the Como Street Recreation Park) and to Phillip
McKinney of McKinney Hardware for the donation of paint
for use at the parks;
- Heard Councilmember Dara Adkins report the McKenzie
Fire and Rescue Department have responded to a total of
167 calls this year during which no injuries were
sustained by Department personnel;
- Heard Mayor Walter Winchester announce the first grant
received during the new administration was realized with
a $13,213 grant for the purchase of 18 128-channel
handheld portable radios and a new mobile radar car
unit. The city's share in the expense for the equipment
is $1,468.20.
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Promises Made, Promises Kept - Community Health Systems
V.P. Promises Growth of McKenzie Hospital |
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By Joel Washburn
washburn@mckenziebanner.com |
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The dawning of a new calendar year will also mark the
beginning of a new era for McKenzie's major medical
provider. Community Health Systems, Inc. is scheduled to
take ownership of Methodist Healthcare-McKenzie Hospital
on January 1. CHS is purchasing seven West Tennessee
hospitals from Methodist Healthcare. Those facilities
include McKenzie, Martin, Jackson, Brownsville,
Dyersburg, Lexington, and Selmer.
Along with the transition comes a new name for the local
hospital. McKenzie Regional Hospital will reflect the
intended scope of the new owners. William S. Hussey,
Assistant V.P. of Community Health Systems, Inc. - a
public corporation based in Brentwood - said, "This is a
fabulous opportunity for us." Hussey outlined CHS's
initiatives to a group of civic and governmental leaders
last week in McKenzie.
CHS'S PROMISES MADE: (1) to not sell or close any
of the hospitals for a minimum of 10 years; (2) all
current employees and administrators will continue in
their positions and salary level for a minimum of six
months. (3) all current contracts with health care
providers and insurance companies will be honored. (4)
all medical services -such as emergency medical services
will continue; (5) the Physician Assistant training
program with Bethel College and the new Licensed
Practical Nurse (LPN) program with the Tennessee
Technology Center at McKenzie will both continue at the
hospital; (6) CHS will recruit doctors and other medical
professionals to McKenzie; (7) CHS will do an emergency
remodeling of the local emergency room to make it more
'patient friendly'; (8) CHS will purchase a new
state-of-the-art mammography unit for McKenzie. (9) CHS
will not micromanage the local hospital. Day-to-day
decisions will be made by the local administration and
its local board of directors. (10) The hospital will be
involved in the community and will conduct community
surveys to determine the desired health resources. "If
we just maintain the status quo, then we haven't brought
value to the hospital," said Hussey.
CHS'S PROMISES KEPT: CHS has never closed a
hospital it has purchased. The corporation presently
owns 62 hospitals in 22 states and has revenues in
excess of $2 billion annually. The main focus of the
corporation is the operation of "non-urban" medical
facilities. "We are a public corporation and we have
lots of public disclosure," said Hussey. He suggested
persons check the corporation's web page www.chs.net or
any financial site, searching under the stock ticker CYH.
Hussey recommended phoning the community leaders where
CHS has recently acquired the hospital to find out if
CHS lives up to its promises.
CHS doesn't spend "hundreds of millions" and not support
the hospitals," said Hussey.
"We're excited about this," said Robert "Scooter" Miller
of the new ownership. Many of the local hospital staff
will ring in the new year at the hospital during the
transition. Staffers will be wearing T-shirts that read
"McKenzie Regional Hospital. January 1, 2003...A New
Beginning." |
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Phone (731) 352-3323 or Fax (731)
352-3322
washburn@mckenziebanner.com
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