Hometown?/Daring to Offend?

First, a photo from a reader:

It initially appeared that this Mississippi healthcare provider might be connected to Huntsville Hospital, but after some very casual research, we think it's simply a case of five locations, with one being in the city of Madison. 
 
Nevertheless, the tentacles of HH are spread wide, so never fail to ask...

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The current ruckus over the removal of statues, monuments, and other 'offending' objects has reached a fever pitch of ridiculousness. To quote the President, "Where does it stop?"

Contrary to what liberals would have us believe, no one has a 'right' to 'not be offended'. I'm sorry if that hurts any of you snowflakes (not really).

The American flag itself has flown over some rather tumultuous periods in history (slavery, Trail of Tears, internment camps, etc.).  So.  Is America prepared to sacrifice Old Glory to satisfy the demon that the Left has created?

 

 

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Some weeks ago, we mentioned that a longtime Shoals business may have folded its tents. Sadly, it seems to be true:

No'Ala

 

Your Opinions?

As regular readers know, we publish almost all opinions here whether we agree or not. Many times we publish opinion blogs on issues of which we have no knowledge. We always welcome rebuttals. This blog is an outlet for your political voice.

Many do not seem to understand that. Recently we published a blog by an anonymous writer on Missy Homan Hibbett, Lauderdale County Circuit Court Clerk. We don't know what problems may or may not be present in that office. Rebuttals to that particular blog are welcome. No, we do not know the author's real name, nor would we divulge it if we did.

We will say that we know one Lauderdale judge frequently blames Ms. Hibbett for his troubled court. We doubt there is simply one problem that causes all the delays in cases and other snafu's that haunt our local court system.

Comments and blogs are always welcome.

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An update/correction on the Huntsville Hospital lease with Keller. This is entirely the responsibility of the Keller board of directors. The members appointed by the Colbert County Commission are completely autonomous after their appointment. There is currently only one board member who was appointed by the county commission. Our apologies for some misleading information.

How can the average Colbert Countian make his/her voice heard with the current Keller board? Send us your ideas and past experiences.

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In closing, Lynn Greer... Just where is that bill to abolish the state certificate of need program? You were certainly able to introduce bills which would restrict our voting rights and establish a non-lottery raffle, so where is the bill you promised on the CON? We're waiting.

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We regularly receive comments and blogs via third parties. This is acceptable, but you can always reach us via our personal e-mail at Shoalanda.Speaks@gmail.com



Shoalanda

Florence Country Club Sale?

A reader asked if there was any new info on the proposed sale of the Florence Country Club back to the city. As far as we know, there isn't. Another reader had suggested some real estate agent would receive a huge fee from the sale. We're not sure if one needs to be involved, but a real estate attorney would be in on the sale in all probability. Your tax dollars at work

What would this mean for the not-so-booming College of Integrative Quackery founded by Zing Zang Zung? If new UNA prexy Kenneth Kitts wants to take on a real challenge, he'll try to sort through that little debacle.

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There has certainly been an up-cropping of green double aiches recently. You know the ones...the italicized capital letters in bold which now precede the name of any Keller facility in Colbert County.

We hope Colbert Countians think of their commission whenever they see the Huntsville Hospital logo connected to that of Keller. Huntsville holds the purse strings; the voters hold the key to the next commission.

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On the subject of the Colbert County Commission, we hear that budget woes abound for that august body. Mounting debts are forcing cuts that are not going to make anyone happy. In fact, these reductions will very likely lead to a reduction in key services.

As always, we welcome your comments...



Shoalanda

Huntsville Hospital: Closer Than You Think

There's nothing like truth in advertising, Helen Keller Hospital demonstrates that old adage very well. Take a look at the hospital's new logo:

Yep, that "HH" is not for Howard Hughes. Never has Huntsville Hospital been so close...and it would like to be a whole lot closer to Lauderdale County than it already is. Remember that.

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Any certified welders out there? FreightCar America Needs 150 Welders

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Candlelight Vigil for  Victims of Domestic Violence

October 1, 2013

at 7:00 pm

This event is to not only honor those who have survived, remembering those whose lives were so tragically taken. Hope to see everyone there. The crosses are out front of the courthouse for the entire month.

Shoalanda

Huntsville Hospital: Public or Private?

Have you ever visited Huntsville Hospital? Yes? Then you know approximately how large the campus is. No? Then you should...if only to ride the tram; it's fun and it's free. Not much else is free at Huntsville Hospital. It's a real money-maker, but isn't it a public hospital? That depends on which way the wind blows.

Left in Alabama may not always be objective, but at times the liberal blog can really nail it. Here's one that packs quite a punch:

Huntsville Hospital Hides...

Here is what we all should take away from reading this because it affects everyone who is a patient at a Huntsville Hospital controlled facility.

"In short, Huntsville Hospital is able to function as a private entity when it comes to business competition or public scrutiny. But Huntsville Hospital functions as a public entity when not paying property taxes and when limiting liability to $100,000."

In other words, Huntsville Hospital's limit of liability for any malpractice suit is $100,000 regardless of the situation or outcome. So, finding an attorney to take a major case would be difficult since it would require expert witnesses and many hours to prosecute.

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The trial for Kimberly Bynum-George has been rescheduled for April 1st in Franklin County. Appropriate date? It's certainly possible. If the trial had been scheduled one month later, it would be held on the two year anniversary of her arrest.

We're somewhat surprised that Judge Terry Dempsey has allowed the defense so many delays. Their purpose? Perhaps since the one-time Vina math teacher has married her victim she's hoping to become pregnant before her day in court. Will that alter the sentence if she should be found guilty? We would hope not.

Shoalanda

Bill Anderson's Severance Package

Helen Keller Hospital is the property of Colbert County and is administered by the Colbert County Commission. The commission has seen fit to pass control of day-to-day activities of the hospital to that facility's board of directors, and the board has seen fit to partner the hospital with Huntsville Hospital in Madison County.

For whatever reason, Keller CEO Bill Anderson is leaving...and taking a severance package with him. Is the amount of this golden parachute an item that should be included in public records--meaning should the TimesDaily have access to the terms of this package and publish them for any and all to read?

The answer is apparently not as clear cut as the TD would like us to believe. Perhaps the main issue now should be the employment terms of his successor. Whoever replaces Anderson will sign a contract that should ideally spell out every aspect of his/her financial compensation and also be public knowledge.

It would seem logical that the citizens of Colbert County should be more concerned about the reason for Bill Anderson's departure than the amount of money he took with him. If the TD wants to provide accurate information on the local hospital situation, it should be looking into the role Huntsville Hospital played in Anderson's resignation and the role it will play in the search for his replacement.

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Obviously the world of medicine is changing. How well do you know your primary medical provider? If you live in the St. Florian area, you should check out the new St. Florian Clinic. CRNP Gina Brewer is no stranger to the Shoals, and we can promise you'll receive excellent care from her and her staff. For more info, you can give them a call at 256.740.6674.



Shoalanda

New Hospital Still Planned for Lauderdale

A department head with ECM Hospital has contacted us concerning the confusion over the location of the new RegionalCare hospital. Despite the suggestion of Drs. William Heaton and Hisham Ba'albaki that the new facility could possibly be built on TVA land south of the river, the plans remain in place for the hospital to be constructed in Lauderdale County.

While we feel a merger of RegionalCare and Helen Keller Hospital is in the interest of all Shoals citizens, it should be pointed out that ECM cardiologists stand to gain if the merger comes to fruition. Currently, Keller is sending patients requiring stents and similar procedures to Huntsville--these same procedures are done, and done well, at ECM.

Again let us stress, if citizens of Colbert County feel the partnership with Huntsville Hospital is the wrong path for their health care, they need to contact their county commissioners...and contact them now. For too long both the citizens and commissioners of Colbert County have let the Keller Board blindly lead them. They deserve better.

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If any readers have family that are currently or have in the past been incarcerated in the Lauderdale County Work Release program, please contact us concerning problems they may have encountered.

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Speaking of inmates, we today read that Alabama is third in the nation. In what, you may ask. Unfortunately not in any desirable area. It seems that Alabama falls behind only Florida and Delaware in the percentage of populace who have permanently lost their right to vote.

While Attorney General, Troy King added numerous crimes to the standard list of offenses of moral turpitude. We hope once he becomes acclimated to his new office, Luther Strange will remedy many of the excesses of TK the AG.

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We've heard from our blogging sister Mary Carton. Despite her new role as blogger for Grit magazine, she assures us she will continue with Rosedale Gardens. The Shoals area is truly blessed with numerous great bloggers. Thanks, Mary, for your wonderful tales of flowerbeds and hooligans.



Shoalanda