I’m biased too. I also keep thinking of the elderly, the disabled, the home health patients, the nursing home patients, and all who will really be hurt by this. I remember what the hospital used to be like, and it hurts to think of it being shut down.

I’m afraid this, along with all the other closings, is the beginning of the end of Scott County. But, at the end of the day, God knows what He is doing.

I’m biased because I’m a citizen of Scott County who cares about this community’s welfare; HMA would say that it’s just business. But I think HMA’s actions have been shameful. The blame for this hospital closing can be shared by everyone involved, but HMA bears the lion’s share of the blame. I had already sworn off “doing business” with St. Mary’s hospitals after the way they took advantage of Scott County two years ago by demanding the long-term, rent-free lease of the hospital, but HMA has put the knife in Scott County’s back even more than St. Mary’s did. Frankly, I would love to see Scott County residents boycott HMA facilities and stick to their guns on it. And, although it’s going to prove unrealistic, it would be nice if Scott County EMS, which is now going to have to truck 100% of the patients it picks up outside the county, would bypass HMA facilities on all of its runs and deliver patients to Oak Ridge or UT.

It is hard to believe that this county is facing the scary future it seems to be regarding the economy, lack of employment opportunities, etc..

We constantly hear from county leaders that we are too geographically isolated to get industry to locate here and that may be true. I am not in a position to really know how industrial companies view such things though it seems to me we have fairly good access to I75 across 15-20 miles of what I view as a good road in Hwy 63.

But if that is true then why not look a different direction to rescue the economy? What is expected to change in accessibility? Nothing that I know of. Are we willing to just sit by and let the county die on the vine (or die off the vine I suppose the more apt analogy would be)?

Ben has preached many times about the possibilities the county has in the area of recreation. He listed recently several attractions and possibilities that could be developed. People from all around know about Brimestone Recreation. We have the national park here. Why not put resources to work in seriously exploring the development of those opportunities? Has our county leaders done anything in this respect?

It is going to take someone with vision to lead if this county’s prospects are to improve. I appreciate all the hard efforts by county officials in trying to keep the hospital open. I’m sure they are doing all they can to make that happen. But we desperately need someone with vision enough to try something new for the long term, to turn our economic prospects around as a community.

It is a shame that the extension was not given. I contend that if/once Obama is defeated (as well as Obamacare ruled unconstitutional) that the tied up money will immediately begin circulating again, and business can resume normal operations.

I work for Alliance for the Cumberlands, and we have been working hard to promote the Cumberland Plateau region. Thanks for creating this blog. I really like it and I am adding it to our Popular Links page at http://EdgeTrekker.com/popular.

Check out the website and if you see lots of other points of interest that we need to add then let me know and we’ll make sure that they get on the site.

Thanks!