Calhoun to Host 14th Annual 'Let's Pretend Hospital' this week

April 7, 2014

Calhoun to Host 14^th Annual 'Let's Pretend Hospital' this week

This week, the Nursing and Allied Health departments at Calhoun Community College, in partnership with Decatur General Hospital and Athens-Limestone Hospital, will host the 14th annual 'Let's Pretend Hospital' for area first graders.  The event is scheduled for April 8-11, 2014, from 9:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. each day.

According to Brett McGill, dean of the Health Sciences division at Calhoun, "'Let's Pretend' is a project that provides first graders with 'friendly' and age-appropriate information about what actually takes place when someone is admitted to the hospital." The 'hospital' is assembled in Calhoun's  state-of-the-art Health Sciences Center  on the Decatur campus by nursing and allied health program students and faculty, who spend months planning and preparing for the event. "All the information presented in this mock hospital setting is done on a non-threatening, first grade level," said McGill.

Dr. Lynn Hogan, Nursing department chair at Calhoun, says that close to 1300 students from 18 area public and private schools are expected to participate in this year's activity, the largest attendance in the history of the event.  The students will tour the various areas of a hospital, learn about germs and hand washing, when to call 911, and what to do should their clothes catch on fire. The 'mock' hospital will include an admissions office, ER, hospital patient room, operating room, x-ray, and discharge area. Students will also explore the College's ambulance and have a chance to test the siren.

"This annual project gives Calhoun's Nursing and Allied Health departments the opportunity to partner with two of our largest nursing employers, Decatur General and Athens-Limestone.  It also gives our students first-hand experience in developing creative methods of teaching and to observe normal growth and development of first graders," commented McGill. "Close to 200 of Calhoun's Nursing and Allied Health students will participate each day in the event," he added.

"This event not only represents a great opportunity for our students to provide a community service but also provides the first-graders with information and the opportunity to start thinking about careers in healthcare," said Hogan.

Calhoun currently offers health programs in Associate Degree Nursing (RN), Practical Nursing (LPN), Emergency Medical Services (EMT/EMS and Paramedic), Dental Assisting, Surgical Technology, Physical Therapist Assistant, Fire Science, and a Clinical Laboratory Technology.

For more information on Calhoun 'Let's Pretend Hospital' or any of Calhoun's health-related programs, contact the Division of Health at 256/306-2804 or 306-2794, or the Calhoun Public Relations Office at 256/306-2560.

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Guided Walking Tours of Athens Historic Districts Offered Each Saturday in April

Guided Walking Tours of Athens Historic Districts Offered Each Saturday in April

The Athens-Limestone County Tourism Association announces the return of free, guided walking tours each Saturday in the month of April. Residents and visitors are invited to take part in a casual stroll through the 'Beaty' and 'Houston' Historic District and learn about the architecture and history of these charming neighborhoods.

Scheduled for April 5, 12, 19, and 26, the one-hour walking tour begins at 10 a.m. at the meeting room of the Athens Visitor Center at Big Springs Memorial Park. Knowledgeable guides will escort participants through one of four tours each Saturday. Enjoy each tour by selecting a different tour every week. The tour areas are the Old Athens City Cemetery, the Historic Neighborhoods of the Beaty District or the Houston District or the Historic Downtown Square. The guides will share the history of the local businesses, the architectural styles of the homes of which some date back to the late 1800s, and acrimonious accounts of the Sacking of Athens by Col. Turchin during the Civil War. Reservations are not required and tours are free and held rain or shine. The tour features four routes, themes, and tour guides each Saturday.

Experience the culture and history of Athens by taking one of these walks each week.
Tour 1: The Historic Downtown Athens Square led by Tour Guide Buzz Estes
Tour 2: Beaty Historic District, Washington Street and Old Town Cemetery led by Tour Guide Bill Ward
Tour 3 – City Cemetery led by tour guide Jimmy Hill
Tour 4 – Houston Historic District led by tour guide Jerry Daniel
Richard Martin and William Pepper who are also experienced and knowledgeable tour guides will fill in for our regular guides when necessary.

The Athens’ guided walking tours are part of the “April Walking Tours” coordinated by the Alabama Tourism Department. Athens is one of 33 towns across the state participating in the annual event. Alabama is the only state in the nation to hold statewide, simultaneous walking tours. These walking tours are a great way to get out and enjoy the spring weather and find out the history of our state and communities. “We have held more than 1,800 walking tours since the beginning of the program and they keep increasing in popularity every year,” said Teresa Todd, President of the Athens-Limestone County Tourism Association. Walkers may choose one of 4 different walks each Saturday and groups are welcomed. The local residents serving as guides will also share personal remembrances and tall tales from the old days as well as the history of their respective walk.

As these walking tours end, Athens will celebrate 2014 as being the “Year of Alabama Parks.” This Alabama Tourism Department celebration will extend state wide throughout the 2014 year. It also serves as the kick-off for National Travel and Tourism Month, which gets underway May 1. Stop in the Ardmore Welcome Center as we will celebrate Tourism Day on Friday May 30^th with an all-day reception for south bound travelers on I-65.


Teresa A. Todd, President
Athens-Limestone County Tourism Association
100 N. Beaty Street
Athens, Alabama 35611
Teresa@VisitAthensAl.com
256-232-5411
www.VisitAthensAL.com
April 1^st 2014

Athens State University - Golf Classic

For Further Information

Guy McClure

Guy.McClure@athens.edu

For immediate release
April 1, 2014
www.athens.edu

Athens State Announces Annual Alumni Golf Classic Scholarship Fundraiser

ATHENS, Ala – The Annual Alumni Golf Classic is scheduled for Thursday, May 15 at Canebrake Club in Athens. Lunch starts at 11:30 am and the tournament will begin at 1:00 pm. All proceeds from the tournament fund scholarships for the following academic year. The 2013-2014 recipients who will be volunteering at the tournament include Nathan Rodriguez, Hannah Esch, Chelsea Calhoun, Kelton Riley, Daniel Cheatham, Ruby De La Pena, Erica Smith, John Malone, Bailey Gregory, Jasmin Malone and Halli Smith.

Individuals or businesses can sponsor a shared hole with sign for $100, a quarter hole with sign for $250, a half hole with sign for $250, or an entire hole with banner for $1000. Team fees are $500 for a 4-person team and include lunch, greens fees, golf cart, refreshments, hospitality gifts and prizes.

McClary Ford is sponsoring the Hole-In-One prize of a 2014 Ford Escape, and skill prizes will be awarded for Best Score, Longest Drive and Closest to the Pin. In addition, Huntsville International Airport has provided a $500 travel voucher and there will be a 50/50 cash pot (50% goes to alumni scholarships and 50% goes to the winner). Chances for travel voucher are $5 and chances for the 50/50 pot are $1. You do not have to be present to win either. Winners will be chosen after the tournament during the awards presentations.

Contact the Athens State Office of Alumni Affairs at alumni@athens.edu or 256-233-8185 to reserve your team or to sponsor a hole.

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Attached Picture: Left to Right: McClary Ford General Manager Mickey Smith, Athens State students and scholarship recipients Halli Smith, Chelsea Calhoun, John Malone, Ruby De La Pen, McClary Ford Owner Jim McClary, and , Jasmin Malone.