NSMC News

This Friday, Sept 23 & Saturday, Sept 24

Last year our friend Robyn Marlow wrote this about the Great Ruleville roast:

"There are a lot of things that make Ruleville special. We love the special feeling you get when you walk up to people you know downtown. We take pride in neighbor helping neighbor and rallying around friends in good times and bad. We love that feeling when the hot summer gives way to crisp, cooler fall.
 
All of these things make Ruleville special to us. But what makes Ruleville truly one of a kind is our annual fall festival – The Great Ruleville Roast. Just like our town, The Great Ruleville Roast that started in 2005 keeps growing every year."

The Great Ruleville Roast 2022

This year's Great Ruleville Roast 2022 will begin Friday, Sept 23 at 6 pm in downtown Rule Park with the MBN-sanctioned Barbecue Competition, followed at 6:30 pm by a free concert with Lovin' Ledbetter. The firework show starts at 9:45 pm.

The Festival will continue Saturday, Sept 24, in downtown Rule Park beginning at 9 am with Championship smokers, basters, tasters, and everyday eaters being serenaded by the live entertainment throughout the day, starting again this year with Boundless Love Gospel Group from 9 am – 10 am. Joe Garcia will perform at 10:00 am, followed by Blaze Elite Tumble and Cheer at 10:30 am. The Bayou Band plays at 11:00 am, and last but not least, Mississippi Marshall plays at 2 pm. Saturday will also feature MBN BBQ Competitions and the World Junior BBQ League Competition. We will have arts, crafts, food vendors, and more filling up the park for a family fun day. Come ready for a full day of entertainment.

The Great Ruleville Roast 2022 is the 2nd step for those entering the Delta BBQ Battle. MBN Championship and Patio Division BBQ awards will be handed out around 5 pm Saturday. We hope families from across the delta will join us to celebrate the town we proudly call home. We are "Ruleville & Proud".
For details, visit our Facebook page, "The Great Ruleville Roast" www.facebook.com/thegreatrulevilleroast, call (662) 719-6655 or email rulevillechamber@gmail.com.

Great Ruleville Roast 2022 Sponsors

Event Sponsors

Planters Bank & Trust Company – North Sunflower Medical Center – Two Brooks Farm -- RCI Delta -- Cleveland Trophy & Awards – Southern Bancorp – Whitfield Media -- Delta Radio Network

Platinum Sponsors

Cannon Ford Lincoln, LLC – Coopwood Communications – Enterprise Tocsin – Haire Drug Center – Mad Cow Cutlery – Mexico Grill Ruleville – Mosquito Mist Control – Scott Petroleum – The Pharm

Gold Sponsors

Advance Physical Therapy - Arant Acres – AsurePrint - Carver Brothers Partnership - City of Ruleville - Cleveland Rent All Outdoors - Delta Staffing – J&J Refrigeration - Katherine Carver - Mississippi Police Supply & Sales LLC - Sonny's, Inc. - Taylor's Air Conditioning & Heating, Inc

Silver Sponsors

Andrews Dental Clinic - Barfield, Salley & Associates, PLLC - Becky Tollison - Bill's Body Shop, Inc. - Bill's Tire & Alignment, LLC - Brandon Cummins/Ruleville Farm Bureau - Brooks Rizzo, FNP-BC - Chandler Planting - Cleveland Funeral Hime - Delta Thunder Motorsports Delta Sky - Denton's Dairy Products, Inc. - Fleming Lumber Co., Inc. - Garland Moody Painting - Henly & Sons Motors, LLC - Horizon Ag, LLC - Lamar Outdoor Advertising - Lampard's Wholesale Meats, Inc. - Lovett Auto & Tractor Parts - Mike Myers, Constable - Moody's Plumbing - Robinson Electric - Race Addict - Ray's Funeral Home - Ruleville Cash & Pay - Ruleville Manufacturing Co. Inc. - Sassy Jones Sauce & Spice Co. - Sullivan's Grocery - Sunflower County Board of Supervisors – Sunflower Med Spa - Sunflower Diagnostic Clinic - Superior Heat & Air - The Imagine Specialist - Total Lawn Services - Townsend, McWilliams & Holladay, LLP - Victoria's - Williams & Lord Funeral Home - Woodard Eubanks & Sons, LLP.

This profile is the fifth in a series about the people helping make our community better by serving as members of the North Sunflower Medical Foundation Board of Directors.

Garrett Carver's commitment to North Sunflower Medical Foundation started with his mother, Katherine, a longtime board member and community leader.

We lost Katherine to cancer in 2019, but Garrett now serves on the board and thinks of his mom, who cared deeply about the hospital and its role, as the heart of the Delta.

Garrett recently talked to us about his mom, the positive things happening at North Sunflower Medical Center, and the impact of the pandemic.

This father of two spent his whole life in Ruleville, except for time studying at nearby Mississippi Delta Community College and then Mississippi State. And he's followed the hospital's growth.

"I have seen the transformation. What was once a small town, struggling little hospital has grown into a modern medical center," Garrett tells us. "I believe this wouldn't have happened without Billy Marlow and the leadership team. Somebody had to take the reins, and they did."
 
He said the COVID-19 pandemic showcased the hospital's importance to Delta residents – and the dedication of the staff.
 
"They were at the front in having testing and then the vaccinations. They were on top of the regulations and the best research," he says.
 
Garrett said his entire family got their vaccinations at North Sunflower Medical Center. He saw the compassion and dedication of the center staff.
 
"Everyone is invested and happy with what they do. They care about their jobs and this place," he says.

Garrett is a fourth-generation farmer growing corn and soybeans on the family farm that straddles Leflore and Sunflower counties.

When Stacy Davis asked him to join the board, he had several reasons to say yes. First, he says, he wanted to get involved in service and be part of something important to everyone.

"Everybody I know has been complimentary of North Sunflower Medical Center," he says. "When you live in a rural area, one of the poorest areas in the country, it's great to know you don't have to go to Jackson or Memphis to have critical care. It's right here in Ruleville, Mississippi. It's a jewel.

A second reason for Garrett to say yes is to maintain the critical resource that keeps people in the region and helps unify the community.

"When you go to North Sunflower Medical Center, there's a family-type atmosphere. They know you. That's very comforting," he said.

Garrett has a final, more sentimental reason to serve.

"My mother and I were very close. She served on the board early on for many years until she got sick with cancer. She enjoyed it. I wanted to experience what she was doing. I wanted to get involved in the community, to make a difference. My mother left some big shoes to fill," he says. "I think she'd be happy that I took up the mantle."

If you are interested in learning more about the North Sunflower Medical Foundation or making a contribution, contact Stacy Davis at stacy.davis@nsmedicalfoundation.org or call (662) 756-4129.

A certified pediatric nurse practitioner at the Sunflower Rural Health Clinic Pediatrics, Ms. Summers had a lot of patients in the run-up to school starting last week. "Lots of kids were getting wellness checks before school starts," she told us. "We had lots of 4-year-olds and seventh graders getting shots and vaccinations that are required here in Mississippi." 
 
Back to school is a good time to have young patients come in for their annual wellness checks. "It's important to schedule a wellness check once per year, either at back to school or around their birthday," Ms. Summers said. "That makes it easy for busy parents to remember. At least once a year, we like to see that they are developing and growing bigger and stronger as they should."

The steady rush of young patients has trailed off this week now that schools in the Delta are back in session after the summer break. But Ms. Summers expects those numbers to tick up again "once they get back spreading germs with all their friends." She said the last couple of years taught us the importance of washing hands and using hand sanitizers, especially before eating. "Taking Germ-X to school and washing up before eating will decrease their risk of spreading germs and getting sick," she pointed out.

And if our kids are feeling sick, they must stay home, especially if they have a fever of over 100.4 degrees. "A fever could be a sign of a number of things, from COVID to strep throat, but it is a clear indicator of general infection," Ms. Summers said. "They need to stay home or come see us until they feel better."

Ms. Summers is originally from Birmingham, Alabama, and moved to the Delta to be closer to her husband’s family. Dr. Lisa Huddleston, a Sunflower Rural Health Clinic pediatrician, told us, “Katie is the sweetest.  She is very knowledgeable about pediatrics and really cares about her patients and their families.  She has worked at other children’s hospitals and has a lot of experience caring for children in our area.”

Ms. Summers also told us about the importance of getting kids back in their routines as soon as school resumes. “We stress the need to get at least eight hours of sleep to allow their brain to fully function,” she said. “This whole past week, we have been encouraging parents to set a good bedtime and get their kids back on track with their routines. Bedtime and breakfast are important, even if it's just a small thing to eat to get the day started.”

If a member of your family has been trading germs with friends or just needs their back-to-school wellness check, you can reach Sunflower Rural Health Clinic Pediatrics by calling the referral line at (662) 756-1788. 

May is always one of our favorite but busy months around North Sunflower Medical Center. The North Sunflower Medical Foundation is excited to be gearing up for our 14^th annual Birdies & Backhands. This May 26 event is a crowd-pleaser that allows the community to get together and celebrate this popular fundraiser for the North Sunflower Medical Foundation.

"We try to make it fun for everyone, not just golf and tennis players," says Stacy Davis, associate executive director of the Foundation. "The foundation's work is serious business, but this is an event where we like to get out and have a good time -- especially when it is for a great cause."

Cleveland Country Club will be the headquarters for golfers and tennis players showcasing their skills and supporting the Foundation.

"Having the event at the Cleveland Country Club allows us to bring together the surrounding communities. In addition, it allows us the opportunity to let others know about all the amazing things going on in Ruleville and at North Sunflower Medical Center.   The profits from this fundraiser allow NSMF to continue to support the many needs of our community and hospital," Davis says.

The combined day of golfing and tennis started in 2008 as the primary fundraising event for the Foundation. Birdies & Backhands continues to be one of the "must-play" tournaments for golf and tennis enthusiasts alike. It is a one-day event that benefits the North Sunflower Medical Foundation and its support of the North Sunflower Medical Center; however, it would not be possible without the generous support from our sponsors. Many local businesses and NSMC supporters join together to sponsor this important fundraiser.
 
Last year's event was a huge success. Davis says keeping up the event's previous successes is always a challenge. "Every year, it feels like this event gets bigger. And that keeps us motivated to make the event have the same special family and friends appeal that it had when we started almost 14 years ago."
 
The cost is $100 per player for the 18-hole scramble or $400 for a four-person team. Registration is at 11:30 on the day of the event; the shotgun start is at 1 p.m. Lunch, and snacks are provided.
 
The entry fee for the ladies’ day mixer tennis tournament is $40 per person. Registration is at 3:00 p.m. on May 26, and the first round is at 4 p.m.

Davis says this event would not happen if not for a dedicated group of volunteers. "So many people dedicate their time to allow our Foundation to do the incredible work we do. Without their help, this event would never have been all it has become. Volunteers make up our Foundation – men and women who believe in our community and are willing to spend the time to help make it a little better," she says.
   
"The mission of the Foundation is to help fund the innovative work our health care heroes do to make North Sunflower Medical Center thrive. Donating to the Foundation returns an investment to the North Sunflower Medical Center, but more important than that, it is a return of investment to you," Davis says. "Each new piece of equipment the Foundation can help provide, each new class the Foundation's work allows our employees to take, each new upgrade the Foundation's efforts allow – it all translates to advancement in the care North Sunflower Medical Center can provide."
 
For registration forms, go to North Sunflower Medical Foundation's Facebook page. For event information, contact Davis at (662) 719-4147.

This profile is the fourth in a series about the people helping make our community better by serving as members of the North Sunflower Medical Foundation Board of Directors.

Phil McNeer started his outdoor business by helping put in Mosquito systems and doing some light landscaping.  Over time, that grew into different building specialties, from sprinkler systems to building pools. 
 
"We live in a rural area, so it's hard to get someone to come out for a small job.  We knew if we built someone a pavilion, they would need someone to come out to do the gutters," Phil said.  "Before you knew it, we had built out a home gutter business rain systems for entire homes."
 
It's not the only time something like this has happened to Phil McNeer.  In the early 2000s, Phil had agreed to go on the board of North Sunflower Medical Center. "I joined about the time Billy Marlow did, and I learned more about hospitals than I thought I ever wanted to know," Phil told us.

Helping NSMC Become One of the Best Rural Hospitals in America

"There were things the hospital needed to do to help them serve their patients but didn't have the time, money, or the flexibility."  When the North Sunflower Medical Foundation was created in 2007 as a philanthropic arm of NSMC to help provide that financial flexibility, Phil agreed to serve on the board. 
 
The Foundation has done really, really well," Phil said.  "We just help the hospitals with things they need but can't do on their own.  We have helped them get the money to buy equipment they need or improve the facilities from time to time.  We also give money for education for employees to further their education. They get training to further their careers and better serve their patients."
 
Seeing the hospital's improvements over the past 17 years is the most fulfilling part of the job. "It's the leadership.  Seeing them grow from a small hospital to a state-of-the-art medical center rated as one of the best rural hospitals in America," Phil said.  People come from Cleveland and a lot further than that.  That slogan, 'Take me to Ruleville.' It's everywhere, and it means something to people all over the Delta."

Phil's wife, Morgan, is also a North Sunflower Medical Center nurse. "She's had a calling since she was a child to be a nurse. She likes doing what she does. She wants to help people." It's a feeling that runs in the family.
 
"It's a good little rural hospital that is doing well, and we try to take care of patients. I'm proud to be a part of it".  We're proud Phil is an important part of the North Sunflower family too.

How to Help the North Sunflower Medical Center Foundation

If you are interested in learning more about the North Sunflower Medical Foundation or making a contribution, contact Stacy Davis at stacy.davis@nsmedicalfoundation.org or call (662) 756-4129.

With the ball dropping on New Year’s Eve, 2021 is officially in the books. And in years to come, we will remember these past 12 months for many things. It was a year where we went from hiding from each other to avoid the virus to finally having the tools to fight back against it.
 
Here at North Sunflower Medical Center, we look fondly back at how our community has come together to look after one another during difficult times. We also celebrated shared experiences that make Ruleville a unique part of who we are.

2021 Honors

Any look back on 2021 has to include the honor bestowed on our happy little medical center back in March by Mississippi Blood Services. NSMC was named one of the "Top 10 Best for 2020 - Outstanding Service during the COVID Pandemic.'' As we said at the time, we have always known Zaqua Danielle Ervin was the best dang lab director around. Were just glad the rest of the state is finding out about her team’s excellent work.

Our Sleep Center was proud to make our state-of-the-art sleep center the full-time home of pulmonologist Dr. Aman Munir. As the leader of NSMC's expanded pulmonary practice, he continues to bring much-needed quality care to our region. 
 
"Patients don't have to go far to get treatment now. We are here at their doorstep providing quality care," Dr. Munir says. That is what North Sunflower Medical Center has always been about.

National Home Care Month

November was National Home Care Month. That allowed us to celebrate the innovative work that Hope Clark at Hospice of North Sunflower and Rodger McClain at Sunflower Medical Equipment provide to our patients’ homes across the Delta. After decades of saying "Take me to Ruleville," the passion and compassion they bring to their jobs are a large part of how we are now able to bring Ruleville to you.
 
We were also able to celebrate North Sunflower Medical Foundation Board Members' contributions to our community. North Sunflower Medical Foundation is a large part of what makes this hospital one of the best in Mississippi.
 
And last but not least, 2021 provided us all with the opportunity to gather again and return to some of our favorite local events. That includes North Sunflower Medical Foundations’ fundraiser - Birdies and Backhands, and Ruleville Chamber of Commerce’s festival - The Great Ruleville Roast.

No one is quite sure what surprises 2022 has in store for us. We see a year ahead of promise and perspective. We hope it will give us more and more opportunities to be together as a community and make a brighter future for us all.
 
God bless us all, and have a happy New Year!