PMC goes wireless: Wi-Fi access available to patients, visitors and vendors
PIKEVILLE — Pikeville Medical Center has officially gone wireless. Director of Information Technology Rusty Shanklin said this week the state-of-the-art technology is now “100 percent in place. ”“We are pleased to announce this technology,” Shanklin said. “This will allow us to offer to our patients, visitors and vendors free Wi-Fi. ”He said this (click here for more...)

Deskins credits PMC for living pain free: Local attorney recovered from hip replacement surgery
PIKEVILLE — Herbie Deskins Jr. couldn’t ask for more from any hospital, anywhere. That’s how the 64-year-old Pikeville attorney and former state legislator described his treatment at Pikeville Medical Center following a hip replacement surgery in October 2007. “I feel great… I feel as if I have a new lease on life,” (click here for more...)

Hospital to host stroke symposium
PIKEVILLE — Pikeville Medical Center is helping health care professionals get the latest medical views on stroke treatments and prevention. PMC is sponsoring a free symposium focusing on the advancements in stroke treatment and prevention on the second floor atrium of the May Tower on May 17. Physicians, nurses, Emergency Medical Technicians (click here for more...)

NATIONAL STROKE AWARENESS MONTH
Time is essential during a strokeMinutes and seconds wasted could lead to severe brain damagePIKEVILLE — Whitesburg resident Gary Adams, 59, was sitting on his couch watching television when his life changed. Without any warning, he had a stroke that nearly cost him his life. Adams spent about a month at (click here for more...)

Miners set to cash in: Alpha Natural Resources announces $13 million retention package
VARNEY, W. Va. — More than 3,600 Alpha Natural Resources, Inc. , employees, including those employed at the company’s White Flame Energy operation in Mingo County, were rewarded for their hard work and dedication to the mining industry. Vice President Vaughn Groves made the journey from the company’s home office based in Abingdon, (click here for more...)

Caught in the storm: Pikeville natives pick up pieces after tornado strikes home
SUFFOLK, Va. — A former Pikeville couple is picking up the pieces left behind by tornados that struck southern Virginia last month. Pikeville College School of Osteopathic Medicine graduate Lt. Cade C. Cinnamond and his wife, Jenny, had only lived in their new home — their first home — for two (click here for more...)

Mining statue planned
PIKEVILLE — Coal mining has been the heart and soul of Appalachia and eastern Kentucky since the first Pike County mine went into operation back in 1854. Pike County Judge-Executive Wayne T. Rutherford announced on May 1 that the county has plans to erect a miner’s statue outside the Pike County (click here for more...)

Identity Theft Local FBI agent speaks to Rotary Club
PIKEVILLE — FBI Special Agent Steve Spahn addressed the Pikeville Rotary Club last week about ways to prevent identity theft. “This is a serious problem in our country,” Spahn said. “More than 10 million people each year become the victims of identity theft and the numbers exceed $53 billion. ”Spahn, who works (click here for more...)

Mingo consolidation moving forward
CINDERELLA — The Mingo County School district is a step closer to consolidating four high schools and a vocational school. The School Building Authority approved $29 million for the construction of a new school that will consolidate Burch, Williamson, Matewan and Gilbert high schools and the Mingo Vo- Tech Central Vocational (click here for more...)

MCA offers faith-based education
MARTIN — Before she starts teaching every morning, Cindy Hall reads part of a novel to her sixth, seventh and eighth-grade students at Mountain Christian Academy. This year, they’ve read “To Kill a Mockingbird,” a book that is usually studied in high school classes. Her seventh-grade social studies class uses a (click here for more...)

National Day of Prayer
The Medical Leader / JOSHUA BALLA TIME OF PRAYER: Chris Fields, a member of the Pikeville United Methodist Church, performed during the National Day of Prayer on May 1 outside of the Eastern Kentucky Exposition Center. A group of participants join hands in prayer during the service. The event was (click here for more...)

Pike Co. Relay for Life • May 16 • Bob Amos Park
Pikeville Medical Center, which employs more than 1,600 health care professionals, will have a team once again this year. The hospital, which ranked as the No. 4 “Best Places to Work in Kentucky” last month by the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, will also sponsor a survivor’s dinner on Tuesday at (click here for more...)

Strokes: Recovery is life-long process
PIKEVILLE — Recovery from a stroke doesn’t end with the rehabilitation program, Harvard University reports. A stroke victim may have lingering disabilities that last for months after a stroke occurs. The transition from rehabilitation to living independently can be physically and emotionally trying. The support of relatives and friends can make (click here for more...)

Coal is King: Demand worldwide has prices skyrocketing
WILLIAMSON, W. Va. – With coal prices spiking – and the demand for coal surging in overseas markets – local coal companies are experiencing tremendous growth. And coal — taken from the mountains of eastern Kentucky and southern West Virginia — is fueling economies worldwide. The National Mining Association says the value of (click here for more...)

Obituaries
Dr. Robert Bevins1922 – 2008Dr. Robert H. Bevins, 86, of Pikeville, died Tuesday, April 29, 2008, at his home. He was born, Jan. 17, 1922, the son of the late George Condor Bevins and Lena May Stepp Bevins. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by one sister, Ruth (click here for more...)

Tug Valley Relay increases goal to $75,000 this year
WILLIAMSON, W. Va. — The Tug Valley Relay for Life event raised a record $64,000 for cancer research and services last year and organizers of this year’s event hope to break that record by raising at least $75,000. Organizers of the annual event, which is set to take place Friday, July 25 (click here for more...)

JWT offers full slate of entertainment
BY MARTIN CHILDERS For the Medical LeaderPRESTONSBURG — The 2008 season at Jenny Wiley Theatre is one that we predict will carry you away. Whether it’s by cyclone, nostalgia or TV talk show mayhem, it’s a summer-full of moving entertainment. From June 13 through August 16, four outstanding musicals will run (click here for more...)

American Heroes: Group will be stationed in Afghanistan
DEPLOYMENT: 201st Combat Engineer BattalionPRESTONSBURG — Long hugs. Extra kisses. Tears. The Charlie Company 201st Combat Engineer Battalion from Prestonsburg’s Army National Guard said goodbye to family and friends last Wednesday, in preparation of a deployment to Afghanistan. Western Kentucky businessman Bill Baird, the owner of Saturn Machine and Welding in Union (click here for more...)

With invite, it’s Elisha’s time to shine
If you want recognition, especially in eastern Kentucky, you have to leave the hills for the lights of the big city (at least for the summer). And that’s exactly what Shelby Valley’s Elisha Justice is doing. The sophomore point guard will join University of Kentucky signee Dakotah Euton at the University of (click here for more...)

Matewan, Williamson set to meet: Gilbert Lions eliminated from Sectional Tourney
MATEWAN, W. Va. — Sectional power Matewan pushed across six runs in the bottom of the first inning Monday afternoon and the Tigers were off and running to another sectional title, beating Burch, 16-3 and 12-0. Hurler Colton Copley capped off the twinbill sweep of the Bulldogs by tossing a no-hitter in (click here for more...)

Bucs extend win streak to 5 games
GOODY — Belfry coach Michael Hagy knows how important it is for any team to play well down the stretch. His Pirates are doing just that at the right time. Belfry ran its winning streak to five straight games Tuesday evening as the Pirates outslugged rival Pikeville, 17-14, in the regularly-scheduled game (click here for more...)

Former MU coach to address graduates: Pruett to serve as keynote speaker for SWVCTC commencement
LOGAN, W. Va. — Former Marshall University head football coach Bob Pruett will be the keynote speaker at Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College’s commencement ceremony on May 10 at the Coalfield Jamboree. Pruett, who spent nine seasons leading the Thundering Herd football program, was recently hired as defensive coordinator at (click here for more...)

PHS scalps Warriors
Watson Ritchie and Scott McDonald both tripled, Justin Priode added two singles, and Josh Staggs doubled, singled and delivered a sacrifice fly to add two RBIs. “I can’t say enough about how well we’re hitting the ball,” Priode added. “We’ve hit for an average of over . 350 all season. ”Colby Brinker was (click here for more...)

Relay for Life testimonial for cancer survivors
Pikeville Medical Center employees will join others throughout the community May 16-17 to participate in the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life at Bob Amos Park. It is a time for many to reflect on their personal loss, but at the same time, a celebration of cancer survivors. There are many stories (click here for more...)

Jesus feeds
The Bible says in Genesis 2:15-17, “And the Lord God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it. And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat. But to the tree (click here for more...)

Mom, this is your day
I’m a mamma’s boy, so this column will be one of many gifts my mother, Gerri, receives this Mother’s Day. Over the years, people have come and gone in my life, but my mom has always been there for me. About two years ago, I decided to take a job in (click here for more...)