Hutcheson ends month with profit - and more Chattanooga region news

Hutcheson Medical Center

Hutcheson ends month with profit

FORT OGLETHORPE - Hutcheson Medical Center performed half a million dollars better than expected in July.

The hospital capped off the month with a $779,906 operating profit, thanks to increased patient volume and a higher number of births, Hutcheson officials said at its board of directors meeting Monday.

Year to date, the hospital is $317,708 in the black - about $10 million ahead of where it was this time last year.

"Year to date is in the black, something Hutcheson hasn't accomplished in over seven years," hospital CEO Roger Forgey said.

Forgey cautioned that the hospital's debt still was hampering the facility.

"We still must resolve the inherited debt immediately in order to move forward," he said.

The next several months are foggy for Hutcheson, as it continues to look for a partner to lease its facilities and as it ends its management agreement with Erlanger Health System - a decision made this month.

Six arrested in drug searches

DeKALB COUNTY, Ala. - DeKalb County Sheriff Jimmy Harris has announced the arrest of four people on drug charges after a search of a home on Highway 75 in the Painter community turned up 25 pounds of marijuana.

A pistol and other drugs also were found, a news release said.

Ubaldo Vieyra Rojes, 39; Rogelo Durel, 26; Jennifer Dawn Smith, 33; and Heather Cherry Lopez, 29, all of Crossville, were charged with unlawful possession of controlled substance, unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia and trafficking in marijuana. Lopez also was held on an outstanding warrant from the Crossville Police Department.

The four were taken to the DeKalb County Detention Center, where they await bond.

Also Monday, two men were arrested after a search warrant was executed on Alabama Highway 68 on Lookout Mountain.

Ruben Alevedo Rodrigeus, 28, of Collinsville, and Preston Harold Evans Jr., 47, of Sand Rock, were charged with trafficking marijuana and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia. They also were taken to the DeKalb County Detention Center and await bond.

That case included the discovery of 5.1 pounds of marijuana, weapons and drug paraphernalia, a news release stated.

Floyd worker hit by tree limb

ROME, Ga. - Floyd County, Ga., officials say a public works employee is hospitalized after being hit on the head by a falling tree limb.

Assistant County Manager Noah Simon told the Rome News-Tribune that Robert Jarman was taken to the Floyd County Medical Center Friday after a tree limb that he was trying to remove near a damaged power line hit him.

Officials said the blow knocked Jarman unconscious, and Floyd Medical Center officials said he's still in critical condition.