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PAGE 2 January 2024
Heart Health blood sugar and cholesterol and treating high blood pressure. And while this may sound like a lot to manage, in many cases, small adjustments can lead to measurable improvement in heart health.” Former US President
Lynn's Ledger Devotional Column By Denise Lynn Grow Through What You Go Through what to say” or “how do I handle this?” This list could go on for creep in and be blown and tossed by the wind. I would love to sit
It’s a leap year, and that means we all can look forward to an extra day in February – an extra day to enjoy life, be well, and pursue the things that make us happy. And, while an extra day is nice, what if you could add more years to your life? According to a press release from Gadsden Regional Medical Center, caring for your heart is one of the best ways to increase longevity. Heart disease is the number one cause of death in the United States, responsible for one in five adult deaths in the US each year. The CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) estimates one person dies every 36 seconds from cardiovascular disease. But there are actions you can take right now to reduce the risk of heart disease. This February, Gadsden Regional Medical Center is marking American Heart Month and the 2024 leap year with its Leap into Heart Health educational email series. People who sign up will receive short, fun-filled, fact-filled, potentially life- saving emails designed to help improve heart health. Topics include ways to “spring” into action, “skip” past stress, “hurdle” over harmful habits, “hop” into bed earlier for better rest and other “steps” anyone can take toward a stronger, healthier heart. Peter Scalise, III , M.D., a Gadsden Regional Medical Center affiliated cardiologist tells us, “Most people can reduce the risk of heart disease by adopting a healthy lifestyle, not smoking, exercising regularly, maintaining a healthy weight, controlling
Wisdom is so needed in all our daily decisions and interactions. I love the scripture in James 1:5-6 that reads: “If any of you lacks Wisdom, you should ask God. Who gives generously to all without finding fault. And it will be given to you. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt. Because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea blown and tossed by the wind." So before we begin, what does the lack of wisdom look or sound like? Have you heard yourself or others say things like: “I don’t have a clue what to do," or “I’m not sure about him or her”. How about “I’m not sure
of the fruits of the spirits in your life to a higher level. It’s there to help you "grow through what you go through” or to be a future testimony to serve the needs of people around you. Analyze your problems, and think of them as a situation to learn from. Ask for wisdom and then don’t doubt. You will have to put feet to the answer that comes from wisdom, and this is what turns things around. So don’t be lazy, don't become fearful and don’t let the growing pains stop you from taking steps towards the outcome you desire. Remember it's a beautiful partnership with Gods wisdom and your faith. Gods got you!
Lyndon Johnson declared the first American Heart Month in February 1964. Several years before that, Johnson was a 60-cigarette- per-day smoker and suffered a near-fatal heart attack. He was only 46 years old. Every U.S. President since has recognized February as American Heart Month and a time to educate Americans about ways to prevent heart disease. The Leap into Heart Health email series will be delivered to inboxes every other day in February with a short article and heart health tips you can try right away. The series also includes warnings about symptoms and conditions that may indicate you should see a doctor, especially high blood pressure, high cholesterol and genetic predisposition to heart disease. “At Gadsden Regional Medical Center, we are committed to helping people live healthier and, for most of us, that should start with taking better care of our hearts,” says Denten Park, CEO. “People who Leap into Heart Health with us this February will find the email content takes only a couple of minutes to read each day, but the advice is fun, sometimes surprising, always informative, and it can be life-saving. I hope everyone will sign up.” To “Leap into Heart Health,” sign up at GadsdenRegional.com/ Leap.
days because your problem or the situation is specific to you. Here’s the good part, the scripture in James tells us very clearly that there is no prerequisite, it says "Any" can ask for wisdom and if you lack - He will give - not stingy wisdom, but a generous level of wisdom. Also, there is no expectation to live a perfect life, it says "Without Fault." God is the source of everything and He gives it out as a free gift. There are two catches. We have to ask and then we have to believe it. You can be steady in the boat and then let doubt
down with a Bible scholar, because it sounds like to me that the wind - created by God - comes to force us back to the boat. I have always said there is an invisible Jesus filter in our life where things, situations and troubles pass through. If you are praying, seeking, and drawing near to God daily in a personal relationship then your situations are up for testing. If something in life passes through the invisible “Jesus filter” as I call it, and is not blocked by the one in charge of everything and lands in your lap, it’s there to teach you something. It’s there to develop one
Computer Science Programs Available for NACC Dual Enrollment Students
Northeast
Alabama College
provided both funding and curriculum guidance to help get this program underway. Additionally, this will help remove barriers to entry in the tech industry by providing new career pathways for local students. Google broke ground on its data center in Jackson County in 2018 and has been committed to expanding access to STEM education in the community. “I appreciate the hard work and effort that has gone into this collaboration,” said Jackson County Schools Superintendent Jason Davidson. “Dr. Campbell's leadership and willingness to partner with Jackson County Schools is the keystone in developing an opportunity for the students of Jackson County. I would also like to thank Google and their support of building a workforce that is enriched in IT, cyber/networking, and computer science data analysis. Throughout the development of the Kevin Dukes Innovation and Career Academy, the idea to bring opportunities such as this was always at the forefront of the team's design.”
Education officials see great opportunities for employment in computer science. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 5% increase in the computer science and cyber security market over the next 10 years. Located just one county away, the Huntsville area has already experienced astronomical growth in this field. The program will include the opportunity for students to obtain a Google IT Support Professional Certificate, which teaches students the foundations of IT support, and provides job- ready skills for entry-level IT positions. To connect graduates directly to jobs, the program includes an employer consortium of over 150 companies— including Accenture, Dell, Deloitte, Lowe’s, T-Mobile, Verizon, Walmart, Wells Fargo, and Google—that hire in the certificate fields. Computer Science Instructor and Division Director Bryon Miller knows the importance of preparing students for the workforce.
“This initial program will help prepare students for tech support positions with median national salaries around $59,000, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Future cyber security courses will prepare students for careers with six-figure median salaries,” said Miller. Other certification programs are planned for the program, as well as academic transfer courses for students that want to obtain an associate, bachelor’s, and then graduate degrees in computer science fields. For more info about this program, contact NACC Dual Enrollment Coordinator Staci Miller at 256-638-4481 ext. 2225. More information can also be provided by Ashley Lee at the Kevin Dukes Career and Innovation Academy. Her email contact is leea@jacksonk12.org. Students looking to explore more options in computer science may contact Mr. Miller at millerb@nacc.edu for more information. For more info about NCAA about visit nacc.edu.
Community
(NACC) County
and
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Schools, with support from Google, have established a partnership to provide dual enrollment students with opportunities in computer science and cyber security courses and programs. According to a press release from NACC, this partnership is intended to give students an early start in the booming field of computer science. Under this partnership, NACC will provide a full-time instructor at Kevin Dukes Career and Innovation Academy in Hollywood, and qualifying students will have their tuition paid through Northeast by a state workforce grant. "We are very excited about this program,” stated NACC President Dr. David Campbell. “Our staff has worked closely with Superintendent Jason Davidson and his staff in working out the details and procedures of this program.” The team from Google’s Jackson County data center
Dooley Named CEO at Gadsden Regional
Gadsden Regional Medical Center has named Mark Dooley, FACHE, as Chief Executive Officer (CEO), effective January 29, 2024. Dooley has more than 30 years of healthcare experience, most recently serving as CEO of Dupont Hospital, a 131-bed facility, and as Network Executive overseeing physician recruitment and marketing and community relations for Lutheran Health Network in Fort Wayne, Indiana. In these roles and throughout his career, he has led initiatives to grow services, recruit physicians, support efforts to drive quality improvements and increase patient satisfaction and employee and physician engagement. Dooley has held senior executive positions in hospitals across the country, including Andalusia Regional Hospital in Andalusia, Alabama, earlier in his career. “Mark’s vast operational and leadership experience and his commitment to delivering high-quality care makes him the right choice to lead
Mark Dooley
Alabama State Troopers Report Decrease in Yearly Traffic Fatalities
our hospital,” said Wilbur “Bubba” Masters,C h a i r , Gadsden Regional Medical Center Board of Trustees. “We were particularly impressed by his success improving patient satisfaction and know he will be a tremendous asset to the hospital and our community.” Dooley earned a Bachelor of Science and a Masters of Business Administration from Indiana State University and is a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives. He has been an active member of several community and civic organizations and looks forward to becoming involved in the Gadsden community.
Over the course of 2023, the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) recorded a decrease in fatalities on Alabama’s roadways. Troopers assigned to ALEA’s Highway Patrol Division investigated crashes that resulted in 26 fewer lives lost in 2023 as compared to 2022, which is a positive trend spanning over the last two years as 2022 saw a decline of 19 fatalities as compared to 2021. “I would like to personally thank the public for sharing our safety messages and their assistance in making our roadways safer for everyone. However, while we are constantly striving to reduce the number of crashes and fatalities on our roadways, our work at the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency is never done. There are still families whose loved ones did not return home safely this holiday season and they are grieving for those who were lost in traffic crashes,” ALEA Secretary Hal Taylor said. “Tragically, our Troopers continue to investigate traffic crashes resulting in individuals failing to return home to their friends and loved ones.”
For the second year, the Agency used the festive season to promote traffic safety and presented a variety of relative topics during ALEA’s ‘12 Days of Safety’ which ran from Thursday, Dec. 21, through Monday, Jan. 1. Topics ranged from winterizing and preparing your vehicle before you hit the road, to seat belt safety and risky driving behaviors such as impaired and drowsy driving. Unfortunately, 19 lives were lost during the official nine-day travel period, two were motorcyclists and one was a pedestrian. Of the 16 who were traveling in vehicles equipped with seat belts, three were using seat belts, but 12 were not buckled in. (Troopers have not determined whether the 16th person was using a seat belt.) In 2023, ALEA Troopers investigated a total of 31,717 traffic crashes, which resulted in 11,070 injuries, and includes 560 fatal injuries. Crashes declined by 273, however injuries increased by 156 in 2023 compared to 2022 totals.
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