US 421 Rest Area Closure Likely Done Deal
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Father-son duo Calling communities Clement father, son bond through sport, Local cell company urging communities to Inside help schools earn funds, Page A5 Today Page A3 THE SAMPSON INDEPENDENT www.clintonnc.com 50 cents F Vol. LXXXVII; Issue 176 Tuesday, September 6, 2011 Clinton, North Carolina F 12 pages U.S. 421 rest Clinton man’s area closure condition likely done deal upgraded By CHRIS BERENDT after Staff Writer When the state expressed its intention to close the U.S. 421 scooter rest area in southern Sampson County, the announcement was fol- lowed by such adamant opposition that state officials pushed back the closure from Labor Day to the start of October for comments accident from the community to be heard. It may have just been delaying By DOUG CLARK the inevitable. Assistant Editor A letter from the state’s transportation secretary, sent fol- PHOTO BY DOUG CLARK lowing a special-called session by the Sampson County Board of Commissioners will discuss the latest letter from DOT offi- A 66-year-old Clinton Commissioners that included public comments and an adopted cials regarding the likely closure of the U.S. 421 rest area man involved in an acci- board resolution against the closure, seems to point to the shut- tonight. dent on Friday while rid- down of the rest area as a foregone conclusion. He called the deci- 3 to allow commissioners time to meet and address the issue, he ing his motor scooter on sion the “fiscally responsible move.” states. College Street has been In his letter to county board chairman Jefferson Strickland, He then echoes the primary reasons for the decision to close given a small health dated Aug. 25, N.C. Department of Transportation Eugene Conti the rest area near Six Runs Creek, ones local officials have already upgrade over the week- Jr. said Gov. Beverly Perdue asked him to respond to the local heard in detail. end. resolution and letter sent by the Board of Commissioners. The James Best of Clinton, original date of closure was Sept. 6, but was postponed until Oct. See REST, Page A2 was listed in critical but stable condition at Pitt Memorial Hospital Monday, according to Sgt. Donald Edwards Pilot program will help patients, doctors of the Clinton Police Department. Edwards said Best was Coastal Connect will save time, money for patients airlifted around 10:35 a.m Friday after the incident By DOUG CLARK ing in a Health Information Exchange (HIE) rest of the state. pilot program called Coastal Connect. “The project has reached a phase now that took place on College Assistant Editor The project is funded through a three- where participating hospitals in the pilot Street at the Burger King If you have ever had an emergency and year, $1.46 million grant from Duke are transmitting data across the exchange,” entrance. were forced to see another medical provid- Endowment that will ensure the private said David Masterson, Chief Executive Although the incident er out of town, you may know some of the and secure sharing of patient-centric data to Officer for the hospital. “SRMC was the is still considered under frustrations that come with the situation, encourage provider collaboration, improv- first hospital in the pilot project to transfer investigation, Edwards including taking — and paying for — addition- ing efficiencies in healthcare and enhanc- information across the exchange and we are noted that it is believed al tests or -Xrays that you may have already ing consumer satisfaction in eastern North pretty proud of that.” that Best ran into the been through weeks or months before at Carolina. SRMC is the first of the five The sharing of patient data across the passenger side door of a you regular physician’s office. hospitals (Dosher Memorial Hospital, New HIE is private and secure. 2003 Ford Escape driven A new pilot program currently being Hanover Regional Medical Center, Pender Masterson said hospital officials were by Jasmine Boykin, 19, used locally hopes to resolve that dilemma. Memorial Hospital and Southeastern excited to be chosen the first of the five of Clinton, who was exit- It’s a move that will not only help the Regional Medical Center) in the program hospitals on the pilot project, because, he ing the Burger King onto patient but the healthcare provider, as well. to actually transfer information across the feels, the project will benefit both patient College Street. Sampson Regional Medical Center is one of exchange, and Coastal Connect is being and caregiver. Best remained in five hospitals in the state that are participat- looked at as a demonstration project for the critical condition for the See PROJECT, Page A2 majority of the weekend, Edwards said, and then his condition was upgrad- ed Sunday. Gala fundraising tickets go on sale today “They (hospital doc- tors) wanted to make sure of his head trauma and SRMC to expand Skilled Nursing, move Peds unit with Gala funds watch him very closely By BILLY TODD which will make room for for new ways to use our space, over the first 24 hours,” Staff Writer the expansion of the Skilled we’re able to address quality Edwards said Monday Nursing Unit into all private improvement and patient satis- afternoon. “Of course, it What is the hottest ticket rooms on second floor. Moving faction, as well as create more will take time to recover, in town today, Tuesday, Sept. Pediatrics to third floor south efficient work space for our but I think they felt pret- 6? The answer: The Partners will provide a secure separate employees.” ty confident about it and for Life Gala sponsored by the wing, adjacent to the Medical The relocation of the placed him at critical but Sampson Regional Medical Surgical floor and with a con- Pediatric Unit is one of these stable condition.” Center Foundation. Tickets are nection to the OB/GYN wing. projects. Officer Matt Davis han- on sale today. In addition, a private family “By relocating the Pediatric dled the preliminary inves- For the first time, the Gala is room will be available for family Unit, we’ll be able to expand tigation, and Edwards and to be held on New Year’s Eve, time away from the pediatric our Skilled Nursing Unit into Sgt. Robbie King are han- Saturday, Dec. 31. You will want room. What a fitting choice of all private rooms for residents. dling the reconstruction to purchase your ticket early as funds as we bring in the ‘New Pending the approval of the of the accident scene. there is a limit of only 400, and Year’s Baby’ for 2012!” added Board of Trustees, the pediatric Edwards also added there is a reduced rate for early the Foundation director. unit, which is currently on the that since the investi- bird purchases. The pediatric move is one second floor, will be moved to gation was ongoing it “The SRMC Foundation of several on in the hospital’s the third floor,” shared Cava. wouldn’t be appropriate COURTESY PHOTO Board selected our soon-to- sights. The new, four-bed Pediatric to comment, and he said The entrance to last year’s be new Pediatric Unit as the “The hospital is currently Unit, which will have an oppor- it was too early to specu- SRMC Foundation Gala was project to receive proceeds planning many projects as part tunity for overflow, will be posi- late on any charges that reminiscent of the glory from this year’s gala.,” shared of its strategic goal to improve tioned closer to the nursery, may come as a result of days of Hollywood and the Foundation executive director space utilization,” asserted and it will be dedicated solely magical red carpet that car- the incident. Brenda Warren. Amber Cava, SRMC director to children. “It will also offer To reach Doug Clark ried you back to a grand cel- “This project is part of our ebration. This year’s Gala, of marketing and community appropriate security and fam- call 910-592-8137 ext. master facility plan. Pediatrics relations.”By evaluating our cur- on New Year’s Eve should See NEW, Page A2 123 or email to sisports@ set the tone for 2012. will be relocated to third floor, rent facility layout and looking myclintonnc.com. Index Web Poll Q. Do you think Alive n Local, Page A3, 6, 11 After 5 was a success? Support Your Local Economy n National, Page A12 When you have surgical eye care performed at your local hospital n Opinion, Page A4 n Deaths, Page A3 Check out the results you are doing your part to support our great community. Surgery in n Kids Page, Page A7 every day on Page A4. the morning and home by lunch. Call today to find out about the n Sports, Page A5 convenience of having your eye care conducted close to home. n TV, Page A8 Today’s Independent n Comics, Page A9 n Classifieds, Page A10-11 printed for R. Thomas Barowsky, M.D. Jordan Shopping Center Beatrice Holland Board Certified Ophthalmologist 346A Northeast Blvd. Clinton, NC (910) 592-5379 A2 THE SAMPSON INDEPENDENT Tuesday, September 6, 2011 SIdigest Rest area likely won’t be open after Oct. Continued from Page A1 and rest, as well as the pos- sible loss of revenue that passes “Through most of the 1970s through the county on that par- and 1980s, the rest area just ticular thoroughfare. south of Clinton was a busy “This 40-year-old facility has and up-to-date facility, however been a sound structure and a when I-40 opened in the area small piece of history not only in the early 1990s, much of the to those who live in the area,” Tomorrow’s Weather traffic shifted,” Conti stated.