Local News
New surgery center planned
Health care facility options for Johnson County residents are about to increase, thanks to a surgery center planned for Cleburne.
Meridian Surgical Partners — a group of health care professionals coupled with Arcapita, an Atlanta, Ga., investment group — will own and operate the new center.
According to company literature, Meridian is “a full-service development and management company focused on ambulatory surgery centers and surgical hospitals.” The company seeks to develop new ASCs and acquire existing ASCs and surgical hospitals. Arcapita committed $75 million to Meridian Surgical Partners, which gained a majority interest in surgery centers in Omaha, Neb., Coral Gables, Fla., and Arcadia, Calif.
Former Medifax-EDI president and chief executive officer David F. “Buddy” Bacon serves as Meridian’s CEO. Kenneth N. Hancock, a co-founder of Surgical Alliance Corp., serves as the company’s president and chief development officer. Another co-founder of Surgical Alliance, Catherine W. Lowalski, serves as Meridian’s executive vice president and chief operating officer.
“It’s outpatient surgery,” Hancock said Tuesday when asked what an ASC is. “It’s a free-standing center, which includes operating rooms, pre-op and recovery areas and waiting rooms. We think they offer more choice, easier access and are more cost effective.”
Hancock said the Cleburne center will also include a medical office building and house physician offices.
Hancock did not have information on the center’s location readily available. Groundbreaking for the center is expected in late June or early July, he said.
Harris Methodist Walls Regional Hospital CEO Brent Magers said area residents will continue using Walls no matter the competition.
“For the past 58 years, Cleburne and Johnson [County] residents have turned to [Walls] for quality health care services, and I absolutely feel this will continue to be the case regardless of who enters this market,” Magers said. “We will also remain focused on fulfilling our promises to our patients and living out our mission.”
Magers went on to stress that documented outcomes on quality standards set forth by the federal government and others place Walls in the top tier of American hospitals and that outpatient satisfaction forms consistently place the hospital’s service in the upper 90s on a scale of one to 100.
Magers said Walls will continue to provide the best service while working to improve the health of county residents.
“I realize the free market place is the very essence of the American way,” Magers said. “But in these times of rising health care costs, duplicating health-care services in a region such as ours is a concern for me and our board. But we welcome health care competition and realize it is a reality.”
Matt Smith can be reached at 817-645-2441, ext. 2339, or msmith@trcle.com.
- Cleburne
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Max Robertson, retiring director of Cleburne Parks and Recreation Department prepares to receive guests at a retirement reception at the Cleburne Conference Center on Wednesday. “I’m looking forward to it and dreading it,” he said of his impending retirement. “I’m looking forward to a change of pace and new adventure. It’s been a wonderful time here.” Robertson was director for eight years.
- Robertson retires from recreation
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Cleburne man faces assault charge
A 62-year-old Cleburne man was magistrated Thursday in the court of Justice of the Peace Pct. 1 Ronny McBroom for assault.
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Cleburne Conference Center recognized by building group
The Building of America Network selected the recently opened Cleburne Conference Center as one of its Building of America award winners.
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Cleburne grad killed in U.S. 67 wreck
Wet road conditions are thought to have been a factor in an accident early Thursday that killed a Cleburne woman whose car ran into a tractor trailer. -
Cleburne veteran awarded ATI scholarship
A Cleburne resident is among those who have received an ATI Larry Gilbert/Veterans of Foreign Wars Memorial Scholarship that supports U.S. veterans living in Texas.
- Johnson County
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Johnson County Sheriff’s Office detectives Brian Peterson, left, and David Blankenship with Donna Pogue. Pogue recently lost her husband, James Pogue, who worked for JCSO from 1990 to 2003.
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Law enforcement, community stand by widow
Johnson County Sheriff’s Office detective David Blankenship expressed gratitude and pride for the county employees, members of the community and law enforcement officers who pitched in to help and support the wife of a recently deceased deputy.
- Police arrest suspected cemetery vandals
- Robertson retires from recreation
- Officer files suit against city
- Cleburne man faces assault charge
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Law enforcement, community stand by widow
- Alvarado
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Police arrest suspected cemetery vandals
Alvarado police took into custody three juveniles who are suspected of damaging more than 100 gravestones in Alvarado’s Balch Cemetery, Police Chief Josh Vincent said Friday.
- Police officer benefit concert today
- Friday night sights
- Vandals desecrate cemetery
- Stage set for benefit honoring officer
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Police arrest suspected cemetery vandals
- Burleson
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Officer files suit against city
A former Burleson police sergeant has filed a lawsuit against the city, officials said this week.
- Friday night sights
- Crash claims life of Burleson drag racer
- Businessman says city’s first tattoo studio will be upscale
- United Way, community build a better Johnson County
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Officer files suit against city
- Godley
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Riggin Cleveland, front right of the edge of the banner, and Garrett Murdick, back left edge, with their teammates at the 2008 Walk To Defeat ALS and their inspiration for walking, Riggin’s grandmother, Barbara Turner, standing with a walking aid.
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Godley boys not leaving the side of those in ALS fight
Two teenage boys from Godley soon may be visiting a grocery store near you. They won’t necessarily be looking for groceries, but, rather, sponsors to help them participate in a fund drive to raise money for the ALS Association of North Texas.
- Friday night sights
- Believe and see
- Godley man arrested on suspicion of assault
- Explosion reported at munitions plant between Godley and Cresson
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Godley boys not leaving the side of those in ALS fight
- Grandview
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Police officer benefit concert today
A concert benefiting a Grandview police officer injured in the line of duty kicks off at 5 p.m. today in Alvarado.
- Friday night sights
- Stage set for benefit honoring officer
- Free concert to feature local bands
- Snow cone devotees turn out to help Grandview officer
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Police officer benefit concert today
- Joshua
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Friday night sights
Football was in the air this weekend as Johnson County teams hit the field for the first time in 2010.
- Duty earns Joshua student prestigious ROTC award
- Man found dead hit by car; driver interviewed
- Partners in fighting crime
- Joshua man scuffles with police
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Friday night sights
- Keene
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Friday night sights
Football was in the air this weekend as Johnson County teams hit the field for the first time in 2010.
- Assistance program on table
- Former Keene teacher pleads not guilty
- Garage sale a booster to prison Bible studies
- Keene teacher indicted
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Friday night sights
- Rio Vista
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Friday night sights
Football was in the air this weekend as Johnson County teams hit the field for the first time in 2010.
- Three hospitalized in Rio Vista wreck
- Fort Worth man killed in Rio Vista wreck
- Hobbs looking to rebuild Eagle football from the ground up
- Godley, Grandview and Rio Vista grab accolades
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Friday night sights
- Venus
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Rusty Redden, a former offender, leads the men and their family members in bible study during a No Turning Back support group meeting Tuesday at Venus United Methodist Church.
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No turning back
Jimmy Humphus had an idea. He had already ministered to prisoners for three years at the Sanders Estes unit, a small minimum security prison in Venus.
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No turning back
