Senate leader learns of kidney diseases

The president pro tem of the Georgia Senate, Sen. Eric Johnson (D-Savannah), attended a reception the Hinesville Dialysis clinic on June 30.

State trying to unbuckle tobacco belt

At the end of June, the Coastal Health District began a pilot nicotine therapy replacement program to help local residents quit smoking.

EMTs honor state lawmaker

Rep. Ron Stephens, who represents part of Liberty County, recently was honored by the Georgia Association of Emergency Medical Services, a statewide association representing more than 14,000 EMS professionals in Georgia.

Sorority fighting childhood obesity

As part of the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority's "Health Resource Management and Economics" national program, the local Nu Rho Omega chapter sponsored two childhood obesity workshops in March.

Grow your own food for safety, economy

SAVANNAH -- With sharp fuel prices biting into the grocery checkout line, Patti Moreno, garden expert with Farmers' Almanac, the original sustainable living guide, suggests consumers can save money, eat healthier and help protect the environment by growing their food at home.

Red Cross puts out plea for blood donations

ATLANTA - For most people, the summer means weeks of fun and travel. For the American Red Cross and thousands of hospital patients, however, this is a time of high anxiety. The summer traditionally means decreased blood donations, which result in a shortage of the blood types hospitals urgently need to treat trauma victims and other patients.

Oral surgeon opens Hinesville office

Hinesville Mayor Jim Thomas and the Chamber of Commerce board of directors joined Dr. Roger Myers and his staff in a ribbon-cutting ceremony July 10 for the opening of the city's newest oral surgery dental office.

Area health officials eye flu pandemic threat

Thursday morning, county and Coastal Health district officials gathered at the Fraser Center in Hinesville to discuss the proper course of action if the district were to be affected by a flu or avian flu pandemic. The tabletop exercise, which is being held in every county in the state, was hosted by the Coastal Health District and had an "excellent turnout," according to Annette Neu, who led the group's discussion.

Chamber lunch provides insight into local health care

The Liberty County Chamber of Commerce held their Progress Through People Luncheon last Thursday, which provided an eye-opening look at the state of health care within our community. Russ Toal spoke about the three Ring Healthcare Consortium and its mission.

Coastal Electric helps to save lives

The employees of Coastal Electric Cooperative off Highway 17 in Midway were more than happy to roll up their sleeves Thursday as the company sponsored an American Red Cross Blood Drive from 2-7 p.m.

Hospital starts new ER admission program

The nation's emergency departments are in crisis due to overcrowding, which threatens access to emergency services for those who need them most. In its ongoing effort to better serve emergent patients, lower wait times and provide better customer service, Liberty Regional Medical Center will be implementing a new program called Early Medical Screening for Low Acuity Patients (EMLA).

Kids learn about with fun quiz

Bullying is way too common

Several of my friends and I have been absolutely amazed at the stories on the news and Web sites of extreme bullying among youth.

LRMC honors lab professionals

Liberty Regional Medical Center is celebrating National Medical Laboratory Professionals Week through Saturday.

Three-county group forms to exam area's healthcare

Health workers and other leaders from three counties toiled all day at Coastal EMC to improve the chances that Liberty, Long and McIntosh counties will share in $9.2 million in health care funding expected in the next two years.

Health insurance deadline is March 31

There still is time to avoid paying a penalty by signing up for health insurance on the Health Insurance Marketplace. The last day to enroll in coverage is March 31.

Liberty YMCA launches scholarship fund drive

The Liberty County YMCA, a branch of the YMCA of Coastal Georgia, launched its annual campaign this month to ensure that everyone in Liberty County has access to community programs and resources that support youth development, healthy living and social responsibility.

Traffic stops check for safety violations

Hinesville residents can expect to see an increased presence of public safety personnel on the roads this year as the city encourages safety among its citizens. To kick off those efforts, the Hinesville Police and Fire departments joined forces Feb. 18 to conduct a road safety check on vehicles. It was the first of a series of checks taking place this year.

Family, friends walk for wounded warrior

A journey of many miles begins with a single step. On Monday, a group of 12 people took their first steps on a 222-mile trek to show their love and support for a wounded warrior while raising money to help his family.

Health, wellness program motivates employees

Liberty County School System staff is trying to set a great example for students when it comes to living a healthy life by competing in L.I.V.E. Well, Liberty County's employee health-and-wellness program, to lose weight and adopt healthier habits.

SouthCoast Medical opens campus

Dr. Douglas Perry and others marked the grand opening feb. 6 of the new SouthCoast Medical Group Campus at 89 Interchange Drive in Richmond Hill.

Discipline, not help, is often what's needed

Q: My 5-year-old is the youngest of my three children. Her older siblings, boy/girl twins, clearly outshine her athletically. They're already very skilled at wakeboarding and snow skiing, for example. I think my youngest has decided that because she doesn't measure up to her siblings, she will simply give up. All she wants to do is hang out with me. (I'm not athletic either, but everyone in the family except this one child is physically active.) Furthermore, she is disrespectful to anyone who tries to interest her in trying something new. She ignores the person, acting ...

West Rehab opens new Pooler office

SAVANNAH - West Rehab & Sports Medicine, a physical-therapy clinic with facilities in Hinesville, Richmond Hill, Pembroke, Berwick, Rincon, Savannah and Skidaway and Whitmarsh islands, recently hosted a ribbon cutting and open-house celebration at the company's new office in Pooler, 122 Pipemakers Circle, suite 209.

Keep chili on hand for chilly days

The recent chilly weather has given me a perfect excuse to break out all my soup, stew and chili recipes. For the record, I am a soup fanatic. I can eat soup with every meal all year round - I love it that much. However, my husband and children don't always feel the same way, and I believe that they'd like winter to end as soon as possible.