Hutcheson Medical Center asks input on need - and more Chattanooga region news

Tuesday, January 21, 2014

photo Hutcheson Medical Center in Fort Oglethorpe, Ga.

Hutcheson Medical Center asks input on needs

FORT OGLETHORPE - Hutcheson Medical Center is asking for public input for the hospital's Community Health Needs Assessment.

In compliance with the Affordable Care Act, nonprofit hospitals such as Hutcheson periodically must do assessments to identify the health needs of residents and develop strategies that best address medical priorities.

Hutcheson is asking residents of Walker, Catoosa and Dade counties to provide input through an online survey found at https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/HutchesonSurvey2014. The survey also will be handed out at Hutcheson's nine medical clinics. Responses will be anonymous.

The deadline to complete the survey is Feb. 14. The assessment will be published and made available to the public.

For more information, call Stacey Kaufmann at 706-858-2106.


Missing teacher evidence sought

SHELBYVILLE, Tenn. - Authorities say they may have new evidence in the case of a missing Bedford County teacher.

Shelley Mook, 24, disappeared nearly three years ago. The Shelbyville middle school teacher was last seen at the home of her ex-husband in Bedford County where she had taken their 6-year-old daughter. Her burned car was found by police later that day near Murfreesboro.

Mook's ex-husband is believed to be the last person to have seen her. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation searched his home but he was never arrested.

WKRN-TV reported TBI investigators have seized the van of the ex-husband's neighbor and they're processing it for possible evidence.


14 seized snakes euthanized

KNOXVILLE - The remaining 14 snakes that were seized from a Tennessee preacher who used them in his religious practices have been euthanized after officials concluded their condition was too poor to save them.

WBIR-TV said the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, which had ownership of the snakes, gave the order Monday to euthanize them.

TWRA confiscated more than 50 poisonous snakes from pastor Andrew Hamblin's Tabernacle Church of God in Campbell County in November. A grand jury exonerated Hamblin earlier this month. Hamblin appeared last fall on the National Geographic Channel reality show "Snake Salvation."

The snakes were taken to the Knoxville Zoo, where officials said 39 died of multiple parasites and pathogens and the rest were believed to be infected also.


Woman arrested in gravesite thefts

FLORENCE, Ala. - Police say a North Alabama woman has been linked to stealing from gravesites in Alabama, Tennessee and Mississippi and trying to sell the items online.

Florence police Detective Brad Holmes told AL.com that 39-year-old Brandie Grimes Emerson took photos of stolen items and posted them online. Authorities say Emerson's home contained floral arrangements, lanterns, wind chimes, collectibles and more.

Police say Emerson was linked to stealing items from the grave of a 21-year-old crash victim and was arrested Thursday. Investigators are sifting through 250 items Emerson listed online.