Families Speak out Against Funeral Home Dawn M
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WWW.YOURDAILYJOURNAL.COM Wednesday, July 3, 2013 Rockingham, NC 50 cents Families speak out against funeral home Dawn M. Kurry Peter M. Burke. Russell-Marks “To date, we have seven active Richmond County Daily Journal Funeral Home is located at 408 complaints which will be part of E. Franklin St., Rockingham, and the hearing on August 14,” said As the North Carolina Board is owned and operated by Larry Burke. “As complaints come in, of Funeral Service continues its Russell. they will be added to the hearing. investigation of Russell-Marks According to Burke, the licence (Complaints include) primarily Funeral Home & Services, Inc., was suspended “due to several items dealing with cremations, people who have had dissatisfy- complaints” and on June 21, “the pre-need funds and some fraud ing experiences with the funeral board recommended to suspend items or (incidences) that would home have come forward. his licence by a motion of the perhaps constitute fraud. As The North Carolina Board board.” complaints come in, we investi- of Funeral Service suspend- Calls continue to come in gate all of them individually.” ed the operating licence of to the N.C. Board of Funeral If anyone has had an unsatis- Russell-Marks Funeral Home Service concerning Russell- factory experience with Russell- Marks Funeral Home, they are Dawn M. Kurry | Daily Journal & Cremation Service, Inc. in Marks Funeral Home from fami- Russell-Marks Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Inc. continues Rockingham on June 24, accord- lies who weren’t satisfied with asked to come forward to allow to be under investigation as allegations of mishandled situations ing to Board Executive Director the services. See FUNERAL HOME | 3A and fraud continue to crop up. AAA Carolinas issues holiday travel warnings Staff Report 4 the deadliest day of the year. For the 2013 July 4 Last year, 45 percent holiday, AAA Carolinas of North Carolina’s traf- estimates that 988,500 fic fatalities over the North Carolinians will Independence Day holi- be on the road, traveling day involved a drunk to family events and/or driver (10 of 22 total). other Independence Day To combat this prob- festivities during the five- lem, the North Carolina day holiday travel period State Highway Patrol will from Wednesday, July 3, hold its “Booze It & Lose through Sunday, July 7. It: Operation Firecracker” Compared to last year’s campaign targeting estimate, this number is drunk drivers from June down 2 percent due to 28 through July 7. Dawn M. Kurry | Daily Journal the shorter holiday peri- “Motorists should Ledbetter Lake, drained for over a year, is now covered with grass, but the new owners of the dam hope to have the od and higher gas prices. make plans in advance dam repaired and the lake filled again within a year or so. With the increase in cel- to find a safe way home ebrations, many of which by getting a designated involving higher alcohol driver or calling a cab,” consumption leading to said David E. Parsons, alcohol-related driving president and CEO of incidents, a recent AAA AAA Carolinas. Optimistic outlook Foundation for Traffic “The decrease in travel Safety report called July See TRAVEL | 5A for Ledbetter Lake Dawn M. Kurry ordered the lake to be emptied. middle of an assessment on the Richmond County Daily Journal Frank Parker, who has a home upfits needed for the dam. on the lake, bought the dam. “They did some drilling and Although Ledbetter Lake is “I formed a corporation some surveying and now they’re beginning to look more like a called Ledbetter Lake Dam collaborating on the informa- grassy wetland, the new own- Management, Inc.,” said Parker. tion,” said Parker. “I should hear ers of Ledbetter Dam are having “We had to take ownership of something within a week or two. positive conversations about the the dam because the other own- The dam won’t be torn down. future. ers received an ultimatum from We’re beyond the leak. We’ve got The lake, in the Ledbetter the state. I took ownership in to bring it up to date now.” community of Rockingham, was the sense that the deed is in my Parker said his original esti- drained last July after someone name. The landowners have a mate for the repairs and upfits noticed a leak in the 133-year-old part in it and hopefully more will was $1.5 million, but that num- dam. When a state inspector got do their part by buying stock in to the dam, he found a second it.” ber could change depending on leak. He didn’t think it would Parker said an engineering what the engineers find. burst, but as a precaution, he firm has been hired and is in the See LAKE | 3A Contributed photo Rockingham Manor declared deficiency free for 2013 Special to the Daily Journal SNF surveys are unan- found to be a deficiency Mannava,” said Donna nounced and may be con- free facility and demon- Clary RN, Director of Rockingham Manor is ducted on any day of the strated compliance with Nursing Services. a deficiency free facility, week with no exclusion North Carolina and fed- “Rockingham Manor according to state offi- to holidays. During a sur- eral guidelines. A copy of has been around for many cials. vey process, some of the the survey findings can years. In talking with the All skilled nursing topics that are focused on be found in the facility general public, people are facilities (SNF), includ- are falls, skin conditions, front lobby. always telling me that ing Rockingham Manor, treatments, infection con- “This is a first for good things are being said are mandated by the trol, catheter care, use of our facility,” said in the community about state and federal govern- antipsychotic medication, Administrator Van Rockingham Manor. As ment to participate in family concerns, contrac- Bergstrom. “Our staff’s Admissions Coordinator, an Annual State Survey ture management and hard work and dedication I invite everyone to come process. The annual mobility along with many has made this facility out and tour our facility. Medicare and Medicaid other topics. Contributed photo what it is today,” he said. We hope that our defi- survey reviews facilities Depending on survey- The administrative staff at Rockingham Manor. “This is a prime exam- ciency free survey will for compliance with state or’s findings, citations are ple of what team work show our community and federals guidelines issued ranging from mini- state for review. then, Rockingham Manor can accomplish. Being that our facility is on the for quality of care and mal deficiencies to defi- In past years, has averaged 2-4 cita- a deficiency free facility rise and not just an old improvement. These sur- cannot be performed by ciencies that are major, Rockingham Manor has tions per year. On May nursing home. We have veys are conducted by the including harm and can performed very well 23, 2013, Rockingham one department alone. the best staff around,” Nursing Home Licensure pose monetary penalties. with the survey process. Manor completed its It is an interdisciplinary said Lauren Warner, RN and Certification Section The SNF is then required In 2008, the Nursing annual recertification effort. We are also proud of the Division of Health to produce a plan of cor- Department was deemed with complaint surveys. to have such an atten- Director of Admissions. Service Regulation. rection submitted to the deficiency free. Since Rockingham Manor was tive Medical Director, Dr. See MANOR | 3A Opinion 4A INSIDE NEWS, 5A Vol. 82, No. 132 Index Puzzles 3B Deaths ON THE WEB: www.yourdailyjournal.com Calendar 2A Sports 1B There are no obituaries in today’s Ariz. Hotshots included E-MAIL: [email protected] Classified 4B TV Listings 3A Richmond County Daily Journal jokesters, fathers-to-be Comics 3B The Daily Journal is published with pride five days a week for the people of Richmond County, Material inside this edition is N.C. The Daily Journal is committed to editorial © Richmond County Daily Journal. integrity and excellence. Reproduction without expressed consent of the If you spot an error, please contact us at Richmond County Daily Journal is prohibited. (910) 997-3111, ext. 13. Page 2A Richmond County Daily Journal, Rockingham, N.C. Wednesday, July 3, 2013 www.yourdailyjournal.com COMMUNITY CALENDAR The deadline for all Community l farms derby store, 2205 picture and submit it to Calendar items is 4:30 p.m. the day JULY 6 Derby Road, on Saturday, the Museum by August 1. prior to publishing. To list your event, 2ND ANNUAL CAR July 6. The theme will be Each child’s picture will email Kelly Gaskins at kgaskins@ WASH FUNDRAISER “Pretty as a Peach.” There be entered into a prize civitasmedia.com or call 910-997-3111, for My Father’s Business will be an Inspirational drawing on August 2nd! ext. 16. will be held at Advance Patriotic Program with For kids up to 13 years Autoparts, Hamlet on John Webb, including an old. Call (910) 582-0603 Saturday, July 6. Washing American Legion Flag for further details. JULY 3 will be exterior cleaning Presentation beginning DIG INTO READING only. Costs for cars will 1:00 p.m. Veterans and JULY 9 PROGRAM will be held be $5 and $7 for trucks active military members RETIREE 10 a.m. Wednesday, June and SUV’s. Hotdog plates are encouraged to attend. BREAKFAST will be held 26 at the Hamlet Public with a drink will also be There will also be hot- for retired employees of Library. The theme will sold for $5. dogs, icecream, and fresh Burlington Industries be ‘Dig Into Something produce (freestone peach- 8:30 a.m.