By KENDALL OWENS
T-H Staff Writer
Officials with Baptist Memorial Hospital in Forrest City today announced plans for a major expansion.
The $5 million project, which was outlined today, also will see Baptist seeking outright ownership of the land it occupies on Holiday Drive.
According to a press release from Baptist Memorial Health Care, officials will address the St. Francis County Quorum Court during a special meeting on Thursday, asking for ownership of Baptist Memorial Hospital-Forrest City.
St. Francis County Judge Carl Cisco said when the hospital was originally constructed in 1983, BMH-FC bought the original hospital from St. Francis County. A year later, Baptist built a new 118-bed hospital, which was given back to St. Francis County and leased by Baptist. Taking ownership of the hospital will allow Baptist to make needed improvements to the hospital and expand services.
"When the building was originally constructed, officials with Baptist wanted to get some financial relief through an Act 9 bond issue which we accepted. This helped them, while at the same time helping the county, and we were happy to do it. Now, for them to expand they need ownership of the property, and that's what they are seeking from the county. It was basically a technicality then that helped them save some money. Things have changed in the last 17 years, and now they have to have the title to the land to expand so they plan to petition the court," Cisco said.
According to the press release, immediate expansion plans for the hospital include the construction of a new physician's office building and upgrading the Women's Center.
If the Quorum Court grants ownership of the hospital to Baptist, there are plans to renovate the emergency department and add a permanent high-field magnetic resonance imaging system with an open-air design on all four sides. This open MRI is among the latest imaging technology, and will provide greater patient comfort during procedures, according to a hospital spokesperson.
"This is a win-win situation for all involved," said Paul Cade, administrator and CEO of BMH-FC. "Transferring ownership of the hospital will allow us to meet the growing needs of the community, as well as improve the facility and the healthcare services available to the community. Our joint efforts will enhance the value of the hospital to the community and contribute to economic development in the area."
All of the planned developments, which will cost about $5 million, will contribute to BMH-FC's efforts to recruit and retain quality physicians for the community. In addition to the money Baptist Memorial will invest to expand the hospital, the organization will also pay off St. Francis County's remaining debt on the hospital, according to Cade.
In 2001, Baptist Forrest City and the St. Francis County Indigent Care Board provided more than $350,000 in services to patients who couldn't afford the care. In 1986, BMH-FC opened its doors to St. Francis County and surrounding areas. The hospital's 18-bed geriatric behavioral unit fills a medical gap in eastern Arkansas. Other services at Baptist include home care and hospice, general surgery, internal medicine, pediatrics, obstetrics, gynecology, orthopedics, urology, radiology and cardiology, among others.
The second annual Cotton Pickin' Festival is set for this Friday and Saturday, Sept. 27 and 28, in Caldwell, at the new city park.
There will be gospel, blue grass and old time music from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday.
Friday will also feature barbecue. Friday and Saturday will also have hamburgers, hot dogs, funnel cakes, popcorn, French fries nachos, corn dogs and other refreshments.
Music will continue Saturday, beginning at 10 a.m. and continuing through 6 p.m. Local groups as well as some out of town musicians will perform. Of special interest will be The Thomas Family, the family of a former pastor of Caldwell Baptist Church. They will perform Friday at 7 p.m.
Plenty of other activities will be going on.
A Cotton Pickin' King and Queen contest will be held in two age divisions, 3-6 and 7-12, in both boys' and girls' categories. The pageant will be held Friday at 6:30 p.m.
Arts and crafts booths may be set up for a fee of $20.
A co-ed volleyball tournament will take place Saturday, beginning at 8 p.m. Teams will have a maximum of seven players, of which two must be female. The entry fee is $1 per person.
There will also be a pea-shelling contest at 1 p.m. on Saturday. The entry fee is $2, and he prize will go to the person who can shell the most peas in 30 minutes.
A Cotton Pickin' Festival wouldn't be complete without a cotton pickin' contest. That will take place Saturday at 11 a.m. Each contestant will get 30 minutes. The entry fee is $2.
A womanless beauty pageant will be held Saturday, Sept. 28,
at 6 p.m. Immediately following the pageant, "Elvis"
will appear live on stage.
By KENDALL OWENS
T-H Staff Writer
A recent networking trip by county officials to Washington D.C. may aid in the county's effort to receive support for a planned transportation mall.
A St. Francis County contingent joined members of the Memphis Area Chamber of Commerce in a trip last week to the nation's capitol in an effort to bring support of a regional basis to the area.
St. Francis County Judge Carl Cisco said the trip, which also included St. Francis County Clerk Elizabeth Smith and justices Donald Cagle and Sam Armstrong, was a success, putting officials in contact with congressmen, not only from Arkansas, but Tennessee and Mississippi as well.
"The trip was really successful, and some good things should come from it. We met with some of their representatives and met with our representatives and discussed a number of things, including the transportation mall project," Cisco said. According to Cisco, the trip allowed the group to present copies of a recent study done by Arkansas State University on the proposal.
"We delivered copies of the study to the Arkansas representatives and discussed the project with them, and they were very excited on the things we had to say. We also talked to them about things that they are doing, and what we can do to improve the area over all," Cisco said.
According to Cisco, the Memphis Area Chamber of Commerce is attempting to push a regional plan to improve the area surrounding Memphis and not just the immediate Memphis area.
"Their efforts are really going to pay off for all of the small towns surrounding Memphis and trips such as this one allow us to get in contact with business owners and industry leaders that we might not come into contact with otherwise. There are some places that shy away from this type of opportunity, but I can only see positives for the people of St. Francis County through a good relationship with them," said Cisco.
A new laundry is opening soon on East Broadway, and according to a representative of the business, it will feature a variety of comforts for customers.
Wash Land Coin Laundry will feature Wascomat brand commercial size washers and dryers, but it will also offer a drop-off service. The drop-off service will be charged at a per pound fee and includes the laundry being washed, dried and folded.
The grand opening for Wash Land is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 28. The business will be open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week. An attendant will be present from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Wash Land Coin Laundry is a locally-owned and operated business. It is located at 999 East Broadway, and the phone number is 633-2400. The owners are Geoff and Stephanie Gillo.