Governor appoints six locals to new groups

ATLANTA - Governor Nathan Deal's office Friday announced appointments to two new groups, one dealing with rural hospital stabilization, the other with prisoner re-entry into society.

On the hospital front, Deal released the names of appointments to the 15-member Rural Hospital Stabilization Committee.

The committee includes four appointments from our area. They include; Jimmy Lewis, HomeTown Health in Cumming, Greg Hearn, Ty Cobb Regional Medical Center in Lavonia, Georgia house member Rep. Terry England of Auburn and David Sanders, Fannin Regional Hospital in Blue Ridge.

"I recognize the critical need for hospital infrastructure in rural Georgia and remain committed to ensuring citizens throughout the state have the ability to receive the care that they need. This committee will work to increase the flow of communication between hospitals and the state and improve our citizens' access to health care," Deal said.

Also Friday, Deal announced appointments to his 14-member
Governor's Interfaith Council. According to the governor's office, the council will work to identify areas where ministries, private organizations and the state can partner to address prisoner re-entry into society.

In our area, the appointments include Dr. Bill Coates, Jr., First Gainesville Baptist Church, Gainesville and Rev. Rodney A. Lackey, Antioch Baptist Church, Gainesville.

"Faith communities and religious leaders are critical to ensuring the success of our criminal justice reform initiatives," Deal said.

http://accesswdun.com/article/2014/4/274202