Archive for walterljohnsonii@yahoo.com

Four-Down Territory: The 2018 Debut

Posted on August 16, 2018 by

Editor’s Note: Welcome to the inaugural installment of “Four-Down Territory” on the Southwest Georgia Network at southwestgeorgianetwork.com. Each week, Four-Down Territory will provide brief previews of up to four high school football games in the Southwest Georgia Network coverage area. Now, on to this week’s games.

FIRST DOWN: Macon County at Pelham

The Hornets play host to the Bulldogs from Montezuma in a rematch of a second-round Class A Public playoff game, which the Hornets lost 41-28, to finish the 2017 season at 9-3 overall.

SECOND DOWN: Westover at Cook

Olten Downs makes his debut as the Patriots head coach against a Hornets team that finished second in GHSA Region 1-3A last season at 6-6 overall. Westover looks to advance to the playoffs for the first time since 2014.

THIRD DOWN: Jordan at Monroe

The Tornadoes take on the visiting Red Jackets from Columbus in the first of seven non-region games in 2018. While advancing to the Class 3A playoffs despite winning three games last season, Monroe’s last winning season came in 2015, finishing 6-4 overall. The Tornadoes are a combined 5-13 overall over the last two seasons (2016-2017).

FOURTH DOWN (GAME OF THE WEEK): Lee County vs. Dougherty (Hamp Smith Classic at Albany State University)

The Lee County Trojans begin the defense of their first-ever state championship against the Dougherty Trojans in the inaugural Hamp Smith Classic this week. However, the defending GHSA Class 6A champions must try to win back-to-back state championships after losing 41 seniors from last year’s squad, while also playing a tough non-region schedule that includes playing host to defending Florida Class 8A state champion Dr. Phillips from Orlando. Former Georgia standout Damien Gary makes his debut as Dougherty’s head coach after spending the last five years as an assistant coach at UNC-Charlotte. While managing to advance to postseason play despite winning four games combined over the last two years, Dougherty must navigate its way through a GHSA Region 1-4A that has eight other teams in order to make the playoffs for a third straight season.

Follow the Southwest Georgia Network on Twitter @swganetwork.

 

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High School Football Round-Up Podcast: The 2018 Debut

Posted on August 13, 2018 by

The 2018 Georgia high school football season is just around the corner. Here’s what you’ll hear in the debut episode of the High School Football Round-Up Podcast:

-Lee County looks to defend the GHSA Class 6A state championship

-Mid-cycle GHSA Realignment

-Dougherty moves up from 3A to 4A.

-Monroe stays in 3A.

-Westover joins Dougherty in 4A.

-The new playoff format explained

-Top 4 teams from Region 1-4A.

-Top 3 teams from Region 1-3A.

-The at-large playoff berth in 3A.

-New head coaches at Dougherty, Westover, Worth County, et. al.

-Opening Week Games

-Lee County vs. Dougherty (at Albany State University Coliseum)

-Jordan at Monroe

-Westover at Cook

Follow the Southwest Georgia Network on Twitter @swganetwork.

 

 

 

 

 

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Southwest Public Health District News: August is National Immunization Awareness Month

Posted on August 10, 2018 by
Press Release courtesy of the Southwest Georgia Public Health District
Protect your family by getting immunized
August is National Immunization Awareness Month
ALBANY-August is National Immunization Awareness Month, and Southwest Health District is reminding area residents that vaccines protect families as well as children, says Rebecca Snow, Southwest Health District’s Immunization Coordinator.
“Vaccines are our best defense against vaccine-preventable diseases,” she said. “This National Immunization Awareness Month, we urge parents to get themselves and their families up to date on their vaccinations.”
August serves as a reminder that people of all ages require timely vaccinations to protect their health, Snow said. “It is a perfect time to make vaccination a priority in our communities.”
She continued, “Vaccinations protect you and they protect others around you; especially infants and those individuals who are unable to be immunized or who have weakened immune systems.”
Vaccines protect families, teens and children by preventing disease. They help avoid expensive therapies and hospitalization needed to treat infectious diseases like influenza and pneumococcal disease. Vaccinations also reduce absences both at school and at work and decrease the spread of illness in the home, workplace and community.
The National Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend everyone 6 months old and older get vaccinated against seasonal influenza, Snow noted.
“The focus of vaccinations often lies on young children, but it’s just as important for teens, college students and adults to stay current on their vaccinations.” Snow said.
“This August, protect your family by getting vaccinated,” she said. “Southwest Health District reminds adults and parents to check with their county health department or other health care provider for their current vaccination recommendations.”
Safe and effective vaccines are available to protect adults and children alike against potentially life-threatening diseases such as tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis, meningococcal disease, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, shingles, measles, mumps, rubella, pneumococcal, polio and varicella (chickenpox). “Talk to your health care provider or visit your public health department and get immunized today,” Snow said.
More information about immunizations is available at http://dph.georgia.gov/immunization-section.
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Podcast: Phoebe Putney Health System approves new budget

Posted on August 8, 2018 by

(File Photo: Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital Logo and Tower-by Walter L. Johnson II)

In this latest installment of the Southwest Georgia Network, Phoebe Putney Health System Chief Financial Officer Brian Church explains the new budget for the fiscal year 2019, as well as the importance of managing increasing costs, while also trying to recruit and retain new and current employees.

Follow the Southwest Georgia Network on Twitter @swganetwork.

Hear the news as it’s happening at southwestgeorgianetwork.com, Southwest Georgia’s only true radio news report, offline or online.

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EDUCATION MONTH: 2018-2019 Back-To-School Dates

Posted on August 2, 2018 by

(Photo by Walter L. Johnson II)

By Walter L. Johnson II

A new school year for the Dougherty County School System starts later today (Thursday).

But other districts and schools in the Southwest Georgia Network coverage area will have already either started or will soon start their academic years by the time this article is posted.

In fact, the Terrell County School System started its school year last Thursday (July 26), while classes in Lee County won’t begin until Tuesday, August 7. Deerfield-Windsor School will follow three days later, on Friday, August 10.

Other private schools in the Albany area will have various start dates as well, with Byne Christian School beginning its academic year Friday, Sherwood Christian Academy on August 10, and St. Teresa’s Catholic School on Monday, August 13.

Here are the starting dates for other schools and districts in the Southwest Georgia Network coverage area as follows, in alphabetical order:

Baconton Community Charter School (Baconton): Thursday, August 9

Calhoun County: Monday, August 6

Mitchell County: Tuesday, August 7

Pataula Charter Academy (Edison): Wednesday, August 8

Pelham City Schools (Pelham): Friday, August 3

Terrell Academy (Dawson): Thursday, August 9

Worth County:  Monday, August 13

Follow the Southwest Georgia Network on Twitter @swganetwork.

COMING SOON: Hear the news as it’s happening at southwestgeorgianetwork.com, Southwest Georgia’s only true radio news report, offline or online.

 

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EDUCATION MONTH: The Debut

Posted on August 2, 2018 by

(Photo by Walter L. Johnson II)

By Walter L. Johnson II

August is here, and so is a new school year here in Southwest Georgia.

With that in mind, effective immediately with this post, the Southwest Georgia Network has declared August “Education Month”.

During “Education Month”, we’ll talk to educational leaders and administrators throughout Albany, Dougherty County, and surrounding communities in Southwest Georgia, discussing their plans and aspirations for the 2018-2019 academic year. This includes, but is not limited to, interviews at public, private, and charter schools in our area, as well as officials at Albany State University, Albany Technical College, and other institutions within the region.

As always, remember to follow the Southwest Georgia Network on Twitter @swganetwork. And if there’s an educational leader that you want to be profiled during “Education Month”, please send a message to southwestgeorgianetwork@gmail.com.

Follow the Southwest Georgia Network on Twitter @swganetwork.

COMING SOON: Hear the news as it’s happening at southwestgeorgianetwork.com, Southwest Georgia’s only true radio news report, offline or online.

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Podcast (ICYMI): A Brief Election Recap

Posted on July 25, 2018 by

Listen below for a brief recap of Tuesday’s runoff election, including the outcome of the race for the District 2 seat on the Dougherty County Commission.

Follow the Southwest Georgia Network on Twitter @swganetwork.

COMING SOON: Hear the news as it’s happening at southwestgeorgianetwork.com, Southwest Georgia’s only true radio news report, offline or online.

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Podcast: Military Appreciation Rise N’ Shine Breakfast Recap

Posted on July 18, 2018 by

(Photo by Walter L. Johnson II)

 

Listen as new Marine Corps Logistics Base (MCLB) Albany Commanding Officer Alphonso Trimble, and Albany Area Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Barbara Rivera Holmes discuss the Military Appreciation Rise N’ Shine Breakfast that was held at the Merry Acres Inn and Event Center in Albany on Wednesday morning.

Follow the Southwest Georgia Network on Twitter @swganetwork.

COMING SOON: Hear the news as it’s happening at southwestgeorgianetwork.com, Southwest Georgia’s only true radio news report, offline or online.

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Phoebe Family Medicine Residency program focuses on recruiting new residents

Posted on July 11, 2018 by

Left Photo: Phoebe Putney Health System Family Medicine Residency Program Director George Fredrick, M.D (left).

Right Photo: Tarah Henderson, D.O. (left)

(Photos by Walter L. Johnson II)

At its monthly board of directors meeting at Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital in Albany Wednesday, Family Medicine Residency Program Director George Fredrick addressed members regarding the state of the program. He says that he and his team have made significant strides towards recruiting new physicians to Southwest Georgia.

“It shows progress, it shows that we’re growing, and how important developing medical education is to developing good healthcare in an area such as Southwest Georgia, which is a difficult area to recruit physicians into,” Fredrick said. “By getting them here to train, and by increasing our numbers, I think that it shows that there is growth, and I think it shows that there is interest in the younger physicians, in coming to (rural) areas instead of just staying in municipal areas or big cities.”

As a member of the largest class to be enrolled in the 25-year history of the program, Tarah Henderson agreed with Fredrick on the progress the program has made in recruiting new residents during that span.

“It was great just to see the ins and outs of the hospital, and seeing of Phoebe Putney,” Henderson said, adding that being a part of eight member Class of 2021 has been a tremendous learning experience thus far.

“It’s been really great, everyone has been helpful,” she said. “The attendees have really been attentive, and they’re really trying to teach you.”

Many factors and strategies go into the selection of residents to the Family Medicine Residency program, including ties to Georgia, whether it comes via family or non-family, Fredrick explained.

“Probably the most effective (strategy to recruit potential residents) is students who have done their training in Georgia,” he said, “because they have some connection with Georgia. We then look at people that have some connection to Georgia, it may that they were born here, it may be that they be that spent some time in Georgia, it may be that they have a spouse or significant other that will be moving to Georgia and getting a job. So we look for those factors through the application process, to try to concentrate on those individuals.”

But sometimes there are students with little or no ties to Georgia who find their way into the residency program, dependent upon what’s found in their background information, as well as expressing a strong interest in practicing medicine in rural areas like Southwest Georgia, Fredrick added.

“Then, you look at people who may have no connection with Georgia, and you look at their personal statement,” Fredrick explained, “and I’ll see that perhaps they have a high interest in rural medicine, or serving different demographics of the population. I think those are the kind of people (that) we want to key on.”

“People that have had that kind of activity will find an interest in (rural medicine) and stay.”

Follow the Southwest Georgia Network on Twitter @swganetwork.

COMING SOON: Hear the news as it’s happening at southwestgeorgianetwork.com, Southwest Georgia’s only true radio news report, offline or online.

 

 

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Podcast: Phoebe Putney Family Medicine Residency Welcome Ceremony (ICYMI)

Posted on July 6, 2018 by

Left Photo: State Senator Renee Unterman

Right Photo (L-R): Jeffrey Nasworthy, M.D., Christopher Thaver, M.D., Amanda An, M.D., Nguyet Nguyen-To, M.D., Tarah Henderson, M.D., Keylon Glawson, M.D., Kyle Libbey, M.D., Travisha Vaughns, M.D.

(Photos courtesy of Phoebe Putney Health System)

Listen to the full audio recap of the Phoebe Putney Health System Family Medicine Residency Welcome Ceremony, which was held at Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital in Albany on Wednesday, June 27, 2018. State Senator Renee Unterman was the keynote speaker for this year’s ceremony.

The Family Medicine Residency program welcomed its largest class of residents in its 25-year history, with eight doctors earning their white doctor’s coats, as well as their pagers. The eight residents admitted into the Class of 2021, in alphabetical order, were as follows:

  • Amanda An, M.D., Ross University School of Medicine
  • Keylon Glawson, M.D., Meharry Medical College
  • Tarah Henderson, D.O., Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine
  • Kyle Libbey, M.D., Mercer University School of Medicine
  • Jeffrey Nasworthy, M.D., Mercer University School of Medicine
  • Nguyet Nguyen-To, M.D., Ross University School of Medicine
  • Christopher Thaver, M.D., Morehouse School of Medicine
  • Travisha Vaughns, M.D., Florida State University College of Medicine

Follow the Southwest Georgia Network on Twitter @swganetwork.

COMING SOON: Hear the news as it’s happening at southwestgeorgianetwork.com, Southwest Georgia’s only true radio news report, offline or online.

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