A Mardi Gras-themed appreciation and awards banquet was held for custodial workers by Cumberland County Schools.
The evening recognized the work of custodians across the district, according to a news release.
This year’s Neil Brown Service Award winner was Darlene Jordan, the head custodian at Howard Hall Elementary School.
Bladen County Hospital now has helicopter service
A ribbon-cutting for the LifeLink Air Helicopter stationed at Bladen County Hospital was held Thursday in Elizabethtown.
Bladen County has about 30,000 residents, and its hospital is among the state’s 21 critical access facilities in rural, often underserved communities that provide limited outpatient and inpatient services to residents who otherwise would have to travel long distances for emergency care. Bladen County Hospital provides care for residents of Elizabethtown and neighboring communities including Bladenboro, Clarkton, Tar Heel and White Lake, a news release said.
The helicopter, officials say, will ensure Bladen County provides critical care to patients whose health conditions require transfer to larger hospitals. The new helicopter, an Airbus H-135, will be staffed by a nurse, a paramedic and a pilot 24 hours a day, the release said.
Through a partnership, Med-Trans provides the helicopter, mechanic, pilot and flight certificate, and Cape Fear Valley provides the clinical oversight, the crew, facilities and medical supplies, including a defibrillator, a ventilator, IV infusion pumps, medications and blood products, the release said.
Toby Carter, program director for LifeLink Air and Specialty Care, is a former Bladen County EMS employee. He said it means a lot to him to know the county’s EMS department will now be supported with a helicopter.
“We’ll be able to transport trauma patients to the trauma center, and I’m excited about adding the providers, the services and expanding the department,” Carter said.
City announces boards and commissions openings
The city of Fayetteville has an upcoming vacancy on the Public Works Commission and two vacancies on the Fayetteville Advisory Committee on Transit (FACT), according to city news releasees.
Qualified applications will be presented to the appointments committee of the City Council.
FACT was established to address public transportation needs by providing recommendations to the City Council, management, passengers and the public.
FACT meets at 5:30 p.m. every third Tuesday.
Applications for the PWC seat will be accepted through June 9, according to a news release. Residents may apply at www.FayettevilleNC.gov. Scroll over “Government” and choose “Boards and Commissions” under the “City Council” section, the release said.
Nonprofit Petco Love awards grant to Cumberland County Animal Services
Cumberland County Animal Services will receive a $25,000 grant from national nonprofit Petco Love in support of its work for animals in Cumberland County, according to a news release.
“We are very excited to receive this lifesaving investment from Petco Love, as it will enable us to continue our shelter dog heartworm treatment program and purchase pet microchips to be used at community events,” said Elaine Smith, director of animal services.
The agency takes in more than 7,000 animals a year and is the only open-admission animal shelter in Cumberland County, the release said.
Petco Love is a national nonprofit organization that has invested $350 million in adoption and other lifesaving efforts since its founding in 1999. Petco Love helps find loving homes for pets in partnership with Petco and more than 4,000 organizations across North America, with 6.7 million pets adopted and counting.
