COUNTY LIFE
Nocona General moves patients into renovated wing; phase two underway
By BARBARA GREEN
[email protected]
Two weeks ago, the first patients were rolled into the new private rooms constructed during phase one of the Nocona General Hospital building project, with phase two well underway and expected to be completed in January 2019.
The dirt has been flying since last September when the $3.5 million building project broke ground. Almost two weeks ago the final certifications were completed and patients were able to see the new facilities.
Lance Meekins, NGH administrator, is happy to show off the new rooms that usher in the next era of medical care at the hospital.
This is the first major facelift for the hospital since it opened in 1974. The wellness center was opened in 2006, the radiology wing was opened in 2003, while the emergency room was moved to the north side of the medical clinic when it was built in 1994.
Nocona General is licensed as a 38-bed prospective payment system hospital with a 24-hour emergency room level IV trauma center. It operates with about 102 employees of which about 85 are considered full-time and come from across Montague County.
Phase one centered on east patient wing where semi-private rooms were converted into private rooms with a larger bathroom and sitting area. Meekins said the new rooms provide more space for family and convenience for the patient. This phase created 11 private rooms, while phase two will bring that number up to 18 private rooms and four beds in a special care unit.
The 22nd annual July Jam returns on July 27 to the Bowie Community Center West Hall, 413 Pelham Street in Bowie.
There will be a “chickin’ pickin’ fiddling fun time” as guests will be entertained by amazing fiddling tunes and enjoying a chicken meal with delicious homemade jams because it wouldn’t be July Jam without it.
Tickets are just $15 with the event starting at 6 p.m. The funds raised help provide awards for the Championship Fiddler Competition during Chicken and Bread Days Heritage Festival on Oct. 5.
This attracts talented musicians from all over to visit downtown Bowie to test their fiddling skills on stage in the Bowie Fire Hall on Oct. 5.
Along with the live fiddling entertainment, come hungry and be ready to outbid your neighbors at the silent auction or just stop by for a great meal, fellowship and soak in the air conditioning.
Read the full story in the mid-week Bowie News.
The Nocona City Council met this past week making plans for budget and tax rate hearings.
Councilors received a brief update on the 2024-25 budget preparations. City Secretary Revell Hardison said the final proposal is almost complete and they now await the arrival of the no-new revenue tax rate that will be reviewed by the council after it is calculated by the tax collector.
The proposal includes a tax rate increase of about 3% similar to last year and there will be a small increase in water and sewer rates, but Hardison said the final crunch on those will come after the tax rate projections arrive.
Read the full story in the mid-week Bowie News.
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