Ground Broken for Hurley Clinic
Work Begins on 3,262 Square Foot Medical Facility

by Scotty Wampler
Staff Reporter
  Work began last week on a new $800,000 medical and dental facility that will serve 2,500 patients in the Hurley area.
  A groundbreaking ceremony to mark the start of that construction was held last Wednesday.
  When completed, the Hurley Medical Clinic will be 3,262 square feet in size and include exam rooms, physician office space, a laboratory and X-ray space. Additionally, the facility will house a complete dental office with dental examination areas, office space and a waiting area.
  "The start of construction on the Hurley Medical Clinic today marks a significant step forward in our goal of improving the access to affordable health care services for all Southwest Virginians," remarked Ninth District Congressman Rick Boucher, who was in attendance for the clinic's groundbreaking activities Wednesday. Several local leaders and residents were also on hand for the event, including Knox Supervisor Pat Justus and North Grundy Board of Supervisors Chairman Carroll Branham. 
  It was noted Hurley residents have been without convenient access to medical care for nearly five years following the destruction of the former Knox Creek Medical Association clinic during the 2002 flood that devastated the community.
  The new facility is being funded by a federal grant totaling nearly $650,000, as well as a $126,500 contribution from the board of supervisors. In addition, the land for the clinic was donated by Hurley residents David Brown and Beatrice Bailey.
  When in operation, the new clinic will house one physician, one nurse practitioner and support staff, as well as one dentist, two dental aides and a secretary.
  Stone Mountain Health Services, the same non-profit corporation currently operating clinics in Vansant, Davenport and Oakwood, will provide services at the new clinic on a sliding fee scale basis, enabling the uninsured and under-insured to have access to medical care.
  "The availability of medical services in the Hurley community will eliminate the lengthy drive to medical appointments many residents are currently experiencing," Boucher said. "This will be especially beneficial to the community's elderly and disabled residents."
  The clinic will be located adjacent to the Hurley Pharmacy near the intersection of Routes 643 and 650.

School Calendar Adjustments Approved by Board

by Cathy St. Clair
News Editor
  Adjustments were made to the Buchanan County Public School System's calendar Tuesday which will see two days scheduled for spring break and a planned Memorial Day holiday nixed in order to make up three of 13 missed school days.
  The action will still see the school year extended to June 8 and members of the Buchanan County School Board agreed unanimously to set Friday, June 8 as the new date for graduation.
  "My personal feeling is that we will be alight with this unless we miss more school," Superintendent Tommy P. Justus told members of the board at Tuesday's regular meeting.
  He added he could not say with certainty that the school system would not be impacted by weather closings in March or April, adding that had occurred in the past.
  "We don't want to go past June 15," he said of the need to make up missed days.
  Hurricane School Board Member Willie Sullivan and South Grundy School Board Member David Thornbury said the people they had spoken with in their districts were willing to give up spring break days as an alternative to Saturday school or extending the day in order to make up lost time.
  Sullivan noted that a group of students involved in 4-H are set now to leave for camp on June 11 and he said another group has a trip to Europe they are leaving for in the June 13 timeframe.
  North Grundy School Board Member Don Newberry said the 4-H group involves 100 plus students and indicated he had been contacted about that concern related to extensions in the school calendar, as well.
  Sullivan added he hated to see Memorial Day not given as a holiday, but said time should be set aside to honor veterans on that day as has been done in the past when schools operated on the holiday.
  Justus submitted two proposals to school board members for their consideration prior to the vote, including removing the spring break days.
  It was also suggested further absences -- if they occurred -- might be made-up on alternate Saturday half-days from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
  Another option presented would have seen 30 minutes added per day to the school day for 60 of the remaining 72 days and adjusting class schedules to reflect the added time.
  The motion to take away April 5 and April 9 as spring break holidays and to hold school on those days; and to remove May 28 (Memorial Day) as a holiday and hold school on that day was made by Thornbury and was seconded by Sullivan.
  The motion further included action to set June 8 as the date for county school graduation ceremonies.
  The vote was unanimous.