The LaRue County Herald News, Hodgenville, Ky. 3AWednesday, January 17, 2018

Lota Housley, 93Lota Irene Tosh Housley, 93, of

Buff alo passed away Sunday, January 14, 2018 at Green Hill Rehab and Care Center in Greensburg, KY.

Lota was a Pentecostal by faith at New Zion Pentecostal Church.

Lota was a loving mother and grand-mother. She was born July 29, 1924 in McMinnville, TN to the late William and Jessie Lynn Tosh. She was one of seven children.

Lota was preceded in death by her parents, her hus-band, Frank H. Housley and a devoted son-in-law Jimmy Reese.

Lota is survived by three daughters, Evelyn L. Reese of Buff alo, Vicki Hudson of New Mexico and Brenda Scha-fer of Chesterfi eld Township, Michigan; a son, Franklin Housley of New Brumfi eld, Texas; eleven grandchildren, thirteen great-grandchildren and three great-great-grand-children. She is also survived by several nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Funeral services will be held on Wednesday January 17, 2018 at the William R. Rust Funeral Home Hodgenville Chapel with Chaplin Carlton Puryear offi ciating. Burial will follow in Campbellsville Memorial Gardens. Visi-tation will be Wednesday, January 17 from 10 a.m. until time of service at 11 a.m. at the funeral home.

Michael “Arch” Stillwell, 58Michael Anthony “Arch” Stillwell, 58, of Mt. Sherman,

passed away, Tuesday, January 9, 2018, at his residence.He was an Army veteran.He was preceded in death by his father, Bruce Stillwell.Survivors include his wife, Wanda K. Stillwell and his

mother, Hazel Johnson of Hodgenville.Graveside services were held Saturday, January 13,

2018, at Corinth Baptist Church Cemetery.Bennett-Bertram Funeral Home was in charge of

arrangements.

OBITUARIES

With the fi ling deadline on January 30, and only two weeks away, only 18 people have fi led so far for the 2018 May Primary election.

Th e most contested race is for LaRue County Jailer. Democrat incumbent Johnny Cottrill will face Democrat Anthony Bailey in the primary election. Republican jailer candidate Jamie Underwood has no opposition in the primary and will face the Democrat candidate that wins the pri-mary election.

District #3 Magistrate Ronald Dale Nunn will face opposition from Democrat Earl T. Riggs who fi led on January 9, 2018.

Th e last contested race at this point is the race for District #3 consta-ble between Democrats Michael John Eldridge and Joseph Sallee.

Democrat incumbents who face no opposition at this time are LaRue County

Judge Executive Tommy Turner,  LaRue County Clerk Linda Carter, LaRue County Sheriff Russell McCoy, LaRue County Attorney Kyle Williamson, LaRue County PA Scott Lee, LaRue County Coroner Todd Skaggs, District #1 Magistrate Tony Stewart, District #1 Constable Ira Bloyd Jr. And District #4 Constable Paul Massie.

No one has fi led to run for LaRue County Circuit Court Clerk.

Th ere is no primary elec-tion for the non-partisan races. Candidates for mayor and council seats have until August 14, 2018 to fi le to run in the November 2018 General Election.Voters information

For voters, Carter said all new voters that have not registered to vote in any election have to register 30 days before the Primary Election. Th e deadline for registered voters to switch political parties was December 31, 2017.

For more informa-tion about election deadlines, call the LaRue County Clerk’s Offi ce at 270-358-3544.

Primary election taking shape

Only three races being contestedBy DOUG PONDEREditor

Hardin Memorial Health (HMH) celebrated with staff , former patients, hospital leadership and community lead-ers, the completion of a 14,000-square-foot expan-sion of its Emergency Department (ED) at a ribbon cutting today. HMH undertook the $15 million expansion and redesign to better serve the more than 70,000 patients who annu-ally visit the HMH ED, Kentucky’s fourth busiest.

Th e ceremony took place in the newly designed ED lobby. Patients will begin using the new entrance and lobby on Wednesday, January 17, 2018.  Th e ED staff will maintain continu-ous operations during this fi nal transition just as they have during the entire con-struction project that began September 2015.

HMH President and CEO Dennis Johnson praised the ED team and the community for their support and patience during the construction.

“We know it has not been easy and we appre-ciate everyone’s support,” said Johnson. “We are thrilled that our patients and this team now have the state-of-the-art facility they deserve.”

Johnson said the former space had been designed to serve 40,000 patients annu-ally, a number HMH had long outgrown.

Th e expanded ED boasts 65 exam rooms compared to 27 in the former space. Th e rooms are designed to serve multiple populations including trauma and bar-iatric patients, individuals with behavioral health needs and victims of sexual assault.

HMH operates one of only four Kentucky emer-gency departments with certifi ed Sexual Assault Nursing Examiners (SANE). Rooms designed especially for these caregiv-ers and their patients add much needed privacy.

Th e newly constructed covered ambulance bay has capacity for six ambulances, up from two.

Th e new ED also con-tains its own CT scanner and digital X-ray tech-nology. Th is improves diagnosis speed, especially critical in emergency sit-uations such as stroke. Previously, patients had to be transported to another hospital area for CT scans.

 Th e dedicated entrance

and ribbon-shaped design of the space aids in patient safety and security and optimizes work fl ow. Nature-themed art, proven to aid healing, is incor-porated throughout the design.

“Th e team who cares for patients in this space every day designed the layout and special features,” said HMH Chief Nursing Offi cer Sharon Wright.

Wright, who previously directly managed the ED and now oversees it in her senior leadership role, said the completion of the project fulfi lls a long-time professional dream.

“I cannot say enough about the HMH ED team’s commitment to patients and about their skill and expertise” said Wright. “Emergency medicine is one of the most stressful types of care we provide and to serve hundreds of patients a day in the midst of construction is a testament to the team’s dedication.”

Wright noted many members of the ED team have worked in major trauma centers and all HMH ED physicians are board certifi ed.

“We’ve grown the team to support our expanding region and now we have a facility that will better support many patient pop-ulations and help the HMH team deliver expert emer-gency care,” Wright said.

To honor Wright’s com-mitment to the project, HMH surprised her with a rendering of a quote

that will be mounted in the lobby of the new ED. Th e words quote Wright: “Above all, we are God’s servants and we are here to care for each other.”

Johnson called the piece a fi tting tribute to Wright and her passion for patient-centered care.

Some former patients attended the ribbon cut-ting, including HMH Trustee and Hardin County Magistrate E.G. Th omp-son. Th ompson, who was treated at the HMH ED aft er suff ering a heart attack, was one of fi ve people who took part in the tree-watering ceremony that marked the beginning of construction in Septem-ber 2015.

Th ompson said the end result of the expansion is amazing to see.

“I am alive today because of God’s grace and the team at HMH,” said Th ompson. “I am so glad we made this investment for the people

of Central Kentucky.” Hardin County

Judge-Executive Harry Berry echoed this thought when he said, “Th is is just one of the many capital investments our health-care system needs to make to keep pace with the demands of our growing population.”

Berry also praised the city of Elizabethtown for its support of the expansion project, including the per-manent closure of part of Woodland Drive to allow for the new ambulance bay.

“We could not have made these improvements and expanded the space without partnership and support,” Berry said.

GBBN Architects designed the space. Th e fi rm, with offi ces in Louisville, Cincinnati, Pittsburgh and China, has designed and overseen dozens of hospital projects, specifi cally emergency departments.

GBBN worked with JRA, which serves as HMH’s master facility plan architect and has a great understanding of HMH’s needs. Whittenberg Construction was the con-struction contractor for the project.

HMH Completes $15 Million ED ExpansionSPECIAL TO THE LARUE COUNTY HERALD NEWS