Tag: Spencer

Oncology Unit Opens At Roane General Hospital In W.Va.

A West Virginia hospital has opened a new oncology and infusion center.

The unit opened Thursday at Roane General Hospital in Spencer in partnership with the West Virginia University Cancer Institute and WVU Medicine Camden-Clark Medical Center in Parkersburg.

The unit at the recently renovated hospital has six private treatment rooms along with support space for patient care and is staffed by a full oncology team.

The hospital said in a statement that patients no longer will need to drive long distances over rural roads to receive similar care. Roane General can provide transportation with a van for patients who need it.

“This addition of services may have more effect on patients from Roane and surrounding counties than any other service our hospital has started over the last 20 years,” said Doug Bentz, Roane General’s chief executive officer. “This type of relationship is important for our hospital to remain independent while better serving our mission of providing patients care close to home.”

W.Va. Firefighter Killed In Crash While Responding To Fire

A West Virginia firefighter was killed when a volunteer fire department’s truck crashed while responding to an emergency call, authorities said.

Mark Horwich died Saturday when the fire truck went off a narrow road en route to a structure fire in Roane County, the city of Spencer said on Facebook.

The accident happened near the community of Newton. WSAZ-TV reported the force of the crash crushed the cab of the fire truck.

Horwich was a member of the Clover Volunteer Fire Department. Gov. Jim Justice said on Twitter.

It wasn’t known whether other firefighters were on the truck or if anyone else was injured.

“Our volunteer firefighters are some of the most incredible (West Virginians) we have, because they run toward danger to protect us — out of the goodness of their hearts,” Justice said.

Justice said he and his wife, Cathy, “send our deepest condolences to his family and the entire community.”

Horwich also was the co-owner of a business that developed recordkeeping software for fire departments.

On the Facebook page of Fire Station Software LLC, Horwich’s wife, Sarah Ferrell Horwich, said her husband died at the scene of the accident.

“Our family, his children, and his fire family and friends request your prayers at this time,” she said. “Mark Horwich was a dedicated man who loved his family dearly, loved the fire service, and he loved this business which he started from scratch and grew to what it is today. Many of our clients have become friends.”

The Roane County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the accident, which closed the road for several hours.

“His family, his fire department, and our community is devastated by this sudden tragedy,” said the statement from the city of Spencer. “We are so grateful for our service personnel of all departments and are deeply moved by the loss of fireman Horwich in the line of duty. We acknowledge the danger you put yourselves in when the call for help goes out and appreciate your sacrifice. Again, our sincere condolences and sympathies.”

December 19, 1907: Colonel Ruby Bradley Born

Ruby Bradley was born near Spencer on December 19, 1907. As a member of the Army Nurse Corps, she would become one of the most decorated women in U.S. military history.

Bradley’s ordeal also is one of the most incredible stories of World War II. Just hours after attacking Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, Japan bombed American defenses in the Philippines, where Bradley was stationed as an Army nurse.

About three weeks later, she was captured and imprisoned in an internment camp in Manila. Conditions in the camp were brutal and kept deteriorating as the war dragged on.

But Bradley and her fellow nurses cared for the sick and taught good hygiene to the prisoners. She also helped with 230 surgeries and delivered 13 babies. When the camp was liberated in February 1945, Bradley’s weight had dropped to only 86 pounds.

She went on to serve as chief nurse of the Eighth Army during the Korean War and retired as a full colonel in 1963. During her career, she received 34 medals and citations of bravery, including two Legion of Merit medals and two Bronze Stars.

City of Spencer to Forgive Tickets in Exchange for School Supplies

The city of Spencer is offering to forgive unpaid parking tickets in exchange for school supplies.

Spencer, located in Roane County, announced the deal Tuesday on Facebook, according to the Associated Press.

The city will clear parking tickets for anyone who brings in items from a list of supplies, which includes crayons, pencils, pens, loose-leaf paper and cleaning wipes.

Supplies can be dropped off at the Spencer municipal building. Spencer city leaders are accepting one item per ticket.

Tickets issued through Friday are eligible for the program.

Spencer is no pioneer when it comes to this kind of trade — last month, Wheeling launched a Pencils (and More) for Parking program that will last until August 14, according to the Wheeling Intelligencer.

July 18, 1893: Spencer State Hospital Opens

Spencer State Hospital opened in Roane County on July 18, 1893. It was intended to relieve the overcrowding at Weston State Hospital in caring for people with mental illnesses. At times, its mission was expanded to treat diseases such as typhoid fever, tuberculosis, and pneumonia.

Spencer State Hospital’s connected brick buildings extended a quarter-mile in length, and some have suggested it was once the longest continuous brick building in America. The hospital’s farms included dairy cattle, hogs, chickens, and vegetable gardens, all of which provided food for patients and staff. The hospital also had its own water and power supplies.

The institution maintained an open-door policy—with patients free to come and go—but a fence was erected around the hospital to separate patients from the town of Spencer. Between 1973 and ‘76, the administrative building was torn down and replaced. Spencer State Hospital closed for good in 1989. Four years later, the city auctioned off most of the equipment left behind. A local employer, Monarch Rubber (later Armacell), took over the hospital’s familiar-sounding whistle so residents of Spencer could continue hearing its blasts morning, noon, and night.

Opportunities for Public to Suggest Improvements to PEIA

A subcommittee designed to listen to public concerns and ideas about the Public Employees Insurance Agency will have four more meetings over the next few days, according to Governor Jim Justice.

 

The public outreach subcommittee for the PEIA Task Force will hold meetings in Wheeling, Weirton, Flatwoods, and Spencer.

 

Meetings are planned at West Virginia Northern Community College in Wheeling and at the Thomas E. Millsop Community Center in Weirton — both Saturday at 11:00 a.m.

 

On Tuesday, the task force will stop at both Braxton County High School and Spencer Middle School at 6:30 p.m.

 

The Task Force was formed by the governor during West Virginia’s teacher walkouts earlier this year to come up with solutions to fix rising costs and premiums in the state’s public health insurance.

 

These are four of 21 planned public outreach meetings throughout the state. The goal is to allow West Virginians to voice their experiences with PEIA and suggest ways to improve it.

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