NSMC News

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!

This is the third in a series of profiles about the people who are helping make our community better by serving as members of the North Sunflower Medical Foundation’s Board of Directors.

During the holidays, Elise Jenkins is thankful that Ruleville has a small-town hospital with big-city amenities.

"It’s important for people to know what an amazing resource they have here. For such a small rural area, North Sunflower Medical Center has a wide berth of services," Elise says. "We have things you’d find in a large metropolitan area. And we have it right here without having to travel for miles."

She is celebrating the success of the North Sunflower Medical Center by finding ways for the North Sunflower Medical Foundation to give back to hospital staff, like holiday gift cards and events.

Elise is a bit of an expert on this. She’s a founding member of the North Sunflower Medical Foundation, which helps the nonprofit hospital raise money for equipment, educational grants, and programs.

"Billy Marlow came to me. He was looking for something to ensure the long-term success of North Sunflower Medical Center. He had me at go." Elise says. "Billy had a vision that had not been seen here - in putting together people and resources. He was pivotal in seeing that we turned it into the amazing place it is. Our hospital had been through some trying times. We didn’t ever want to see that happen again," she says.

And the foundation is fortunate to have Elise’s leadership. She retired after a 28-year teaching career at Delta State University. The skills that she used in higher education are now used as she leads the foundation’s main yearly fundraiser, the Birdies and Backhands golf and tennis tournament, and other events.

"I’m deeply rooted in voluntarism. To have a strong viable community, you need community effort and participation,"
Elise tells us.

Elise has seen the benefits of the hospital’s services, through care for her late mother, her husband, and herself. Elise and her husband, Butch, have taken advantage of the wellness center, which she says is a gamechanger for the region.
 
"People look at a hospital and think you only need it when you are sick," she says. "We were just thrilled when the Beacon Wellness Center was built. It’s an asset. We’re seeing people living longer. There’s so much proof that even in the workplace encouraging wellness saves businesses money."
 
When Elise is not donating her time in the community, you’ll find her helping Butch at Mississippi Police Supply Company. Her husband of 24 years, Butch is a lifelong Ruleville resident, and Elise also grew up in the Delta.

You may also know her as a celebrity expert in barbecue. She serves on the Memphis Barbecue Network Board of Directors and has been involved in BBQ competitions for several decades.

She says Ruleville is fortunate to have a caring team at all levels at North Sunflower Medical Center. Many employees of the hospital are also donors to the foundation – because they see the benefits of equipment and educational grants for training for staff, Elise says.  “The Foundation is very attentive to making sure we are investing money properly. We are good stewards of every dime donated,’’ she says.

She hopes you consider supporting that work as we head into 2022.

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

Hope Clark is offering a behind-the-scenes look at how Hospice of North Sunflower can be essential for your family. She aspires to fix the misconception some have about hospice.
 
"It doesn’t mean a death sentence. We help people who want to live out their life comfortably," Hope says. "When you get hospice, you are gaining another family. You have someone to come in and help mentally, spiritually, and physically."
 
Hope has been a nurse for nine years, and her passion is helping people facing serious or life-ending illnesses. The community is fortunate to have her as director of nursing for Hospice of North Sunflower.
 
She says her team has decades of experience and approaches problems from every angle.

Hospice Can Be Affordable

Some people worry that they cannot afford hospice. That worry is unnecessary.
 
Most people who need it qualify for hospice under Medicare or Medicaid, which pays for equipment and medicines. You can ask your doctor or call Hope’s team to get more information.
 
Once hospice arrives, Hope says people realize how much help they need. The team includes nursing staff, a social worker, and a chaplain.
 
"We take care of the whole family, not just the patient," Hope says.  "When the end of life is approaching, there are signs we know. For someone who has not witnessed that, it can be traumatic. We hold hands. Our chaplain comes out and prays – whatever religion the patient practices," she says. "We take off some of the burdens and take care of pretty much whatever they need."
 
Hospice nurses guide and educate families. And a misconception, Hope says, is that it is a negative time.
 
"Most of the patients have lived a full life. It’s a celebration for them to go home," she says. "You get close because you work with the family every day. We spend time in their homes. They have our personal cell phone numbers. Even the ones that have gone on, we still stay in touch."

November is National Home Care Month

We celebrate Hope’s work as part of November’s National Home Care month.
 
According to the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization, 1.61 million Medicare beneficiaries living with life-limiting illness and their families received care from hospice programs in communities across America in 2019. Hospice provides services like caregiver training, respite care, and bereavement support.
 
"Hospice organizations are some of the best providers of community-based palliative care. In an increasingly fragmented and broken health care system, hospice is one of the few sectors that demonstrates how health care can – and should – work at its best for the people it serves," according to the resolution for the 2021 hospice month.

Hospice of North Sunflower is Ready to Help

Hospice of North Sunflower goes to private homes and also serves residents of assisted living and nursing homes.
 
The registered nurses and licensed practical nurses at Hospice of North Sunflower share a trait, Hope says, they are compassionate and dedicated to patients.
 
"Compassion and empathy are the main requirements. Patience is important too," she says. "We have a close-knit team. We all work together. It’s not just one person’s patient. It’s everyone’s patient."
 
She said in traditional nursing, the goal is to do everything possible to save someone’s life. "In this field, we are here to comfort to the end. We provide all the comfort and needs necessary. We want patients to be pain-free with the limited time left."
 
Hope and her team are ready to help you.
 
"We’re a small team but give really great care. We go above and beyond."
 
To reach Hospice of North Sunflower, call 662-756-1700, or go to:
https://northsunflower.com/services/hospice-of-north-sunflower

November is National Home Care Month, and so it makes sense that home care is having a moment right now.  You can think of this as just another way if you can’t make it to Ruleville, we are bringing Ruleville to you.

Over the past few years, the home care industry has been experiencing rapid growth.  It started when insurance companies -- as well as Medicare and Medicaid – altered the way they pay for home visits.  That’s where Rodger McClain comes in.

Rodger had been working as a farmer when he found an ad for a position as a service tech for a medical supply company.  That started out as a good, regular job checking on equipment for Rodger.  “I found it was a way to help people. They were mostly older patients and I like being of service to them.”

If a patient has a stroke or a heart attack, they are now able to get much of their treatment at home instead of having to stay in the hospital,” Rodger said.  “Or even simple things like having an unstable gate.  That increases the risk of falling and the patient might not feel safe at home. We can help them with a walker or a wheelchair that allows them to live comfortably at home longer. That makes you feel like you’re really helping people.”

Home care even extends into end-of-life care.  “We have brought in some Home Hospice equipment as we have seen a need for people who want to spend their last months at home.” With a licensed respiratory therapist on staff, Rodger’s team works with the wonderful people at Hospice of North Sunflower, who provide hospice care in the patient’s home.

“It just feels good to feel like you’re helping people.”

For years people have been saying “Take me to Ruleville,” but with the opening of Haire Drug Center in Cleveland, you could say Ruleville is coming to you.
 
Haire Drug Center has been a staple of the Cleveland community for almost 50 years. And according to Zach Warrington, the Haire Drug Center Director, outstanding customer service has been the reason it has lasted the test of time.

“Our customers expect that from us,” Zach said.  “There is a trust factor that has been built up for years, which is ingrained in the culture of North Sunflower. Here at Haire Drug Center, want to continue the tradition.”

Zach is a Cleveland, MS native and grew up in a family of health care professionals.  When he graduated from Pharmacy school at the University of Tennessee, he wasn’t sure this new chapter in his life would lead him back to the Delta.  But when North Sunflower Medical Center Pharmacy director, Mike Gilbow offered him a job in 2014, it was an easy decision.

“I have a young family,” Zach said. “The delta is just a great place to raise a family.”

One additional piece of the North Sunflower culture that has translated to the Haire Drug Center is the longstanding tradition of building improvement. “Just like he’s done in Ruleville, Billy Marlow believes that by making the building look better, it makes our community feel like a better place to live. After remodeling, Haire Drug Center is top of the line with all the modern conveniences, including free home delivery and a new drive-up window.”

But while some things have changed, some very important things remain the same.  “Nancy Pate has been a pharmacy tech here for over 40 years. People come in just to see her,” Zach told us.  “She’s always been a huge part of the store, and we’re glad she’s going to be here for a long time to come.”

In November 2010, Sheila Guest felt a lump in her breast.

Within months she’d had a mastectomy and was undergoing chemotherapy for stage 2 breast cancer. Her husband shaved her head, and with his help she determinedly fought the disease that claims about 43,000 lives each year in America.
 
Now cancer-free, Sheila credits the staff and technology at Sunflower Diagnostic Center for keeping her healthy.
 
October is Breast Cancer Awareness month. Thanks to the North Sunflower Medical Foundation, patients’ have access to a Sunflower Diagnostic Center’s 3D Hologic Mammogram Machine.

``I have so much confidence in the NSMC team. They always have the latest updates and the latest technology,’’ Shelia tells us. ``Even a few years ago I was telling my cousin who lives in Missouri that we have first-rate equipment and top experts right here in the middle of the Mississippi Delta.’’
 
The NSM Foundation paid for the October lease of the mammogram machine, which Sheila calls a life-saver. The money saved on this lease provides educational material to supply to women about the signs of breast cancer. 
 
``If that machine had been developed before I was diagnosed, they would have caught my cancer during my routine mammogram a year earlier, instead of me finding the lump myself. You can see everything on those things. There is no doubt this machine will save lives,’’ she says.

Breast Cancer Awareness Month

NSM Foundation is not only the way that Sunflower Diagnostic Center has funds to offer services to the community, the Breast and Cervical Cancer program (BCCP) provides women that are uninsured, and medically underserved free mammograms and pap smears. 
 
At North Sunflower Medical Center this month you will see employees wearing pink on Fridays to raise awareness of breast cancer. According to the Centers for Disease Control, breast cancer is the second most common cancer among women in the U.S. (skin cancer ranks first). The CDC also reports that Black women die from breast cancer at a higher rate than White women.
 
Each year in the United States, about 255,000 cases of breast cancer are diagnosed in women and about 2,300 in men.

This month Sunflower Diagnostic Center is raffling off a Susan G. Komen bike in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness. Sunflower Med Spa clients can also enter to win.

Sunflower Diagnostic Center

Sheila, a retired teacher who mentored many children in her 32 years in the classroom, has her calendar marked each year for a mammogram at Sunflower Diagnostic Center.
 
``They have wonderful diagnostic technicians. They are very thorough and friendly and nice. They make you feel at home,’’ she says.
 
The Sunflower Diagnostic Center offers Mammograms, Sonograms, Ultrasound, Bone Density and yearly gynecological screenings.
 
Sunflower Diagnostic Center accepts Medicare, Medicaid, health insurance, and private pay. The center also participates in the Breast & Cervical Cancer Program (BCCP), and patients may qualify for free treatment through that.
 
Sheila underwent three months of chemotherapy and was losing clumps of hair when she asked her husband to shave her head. “He was sweet. He didn’t really know how to do it. We could have been on America’s Funniest Home Videos,’’ she jokes.  Even today, and her husband work out regularly at the NSMC gym as she continues her healthy lifestyle. Back to her diagnosis, she
 
Now Sheila offers advice to friends and community members facing cancer. She encourages all women to look into their mammogram options, especially if they have a history of breast cancer in their family or if they are over age 40.
 
She says people can feel confident in the care they will receive in Ruleville.
 
``I feel so secure and at peace,’’ she says.
 
For more information, contact the Sunflower Diagnostic Center at 662-756-2100 and for a full list of services, visit www.northsunflower.com.

This is the second in a series of profiles about the people who are helping make our community better by serving as members of the North Sunflower Medical Foundation’s Board of Directors.

When we caught up with Becky Tollison, she was running home to take care of one of her “GrandDogs”.  That’s serious business for Becky – or Cotton, as her four grandkids call her. But Ms. Becky is a serious businesswoman.

Becky grew up in Drew and moved to Ruleville when she married Bubba Tollison in 1983. She taught home economics for a generation of students before retiring so she could make “grand sitting” her full-time job.  Unfortunately, life had other plans for Becky.

“My husband had an insurance agency. When he died, I was forced to learn about the insurance business quickly,” she said.  “Everybody tells you to not make any major decisions for a year.  I just decided that I didn’t have a choice.”

Good Leadership

“It gave me a purpose to get up and get out of the house in the morning.  I had one employee, Laura Wells, and she’s still with me.  She is fabulous.  I could not do it without her.  We grew together, and the business has grown with us.”
 
Becky said the town of Ruleville has changed some since she moved here in the early 1980s. “Downtown isn’t quite as bustling as it used to be. Even still, Ruleville has remained a nice clean respectable Delta town.  There aren’t that many of them left.  We have had good leadership in our town and we have a very good hospital,” Becky said.
 
By serving on the board of the North Sunflower Medical Foundation, Becky is now part of the leadership that keeps the town and the hospital going. “I was honored that they asked me,” Becky said.  “They have done many good things for the community.  Things people don’t realize, like helping the police and fire departments. Giving scholarships to people to help them get their degree.”

North Sunflower Foundation's Impact

Becky says that it’s the little things the Foundation does that make the biggest impact, like the new housing for Ambulance drivers next to the hospital that gives them a nice place to stay when they are on call. And the driving force behind that type of foundation work is her old high school classmate, and former Foundation board member, Billy Marlow.
 
“I don’t think that any of this would be possible without Billy’s guidance,” she said.  “I think he has been very helpful for our community.  One thing Billy has done that I appreciate is that he would buy a house and renovate a house so the community could use it.  Then he would sell it at a lower cost so another family could move to Ruleville and become part of our community.  He has been very instrumental in the development of North Sunflower and our little town.”
 
Serving on the North Sunflower Foundation is a small part of what Becky feels is her civic responsibility.  “It is a good way to do community service. I think everybody should do something to help the community in one way or another.  I’m just glad I can do that.”
 
If you are interested in contributing to the North Sunflower Medical Foundation, contact Stacy Davis at stacy.davis@nsmedicalfoundation.org or call (662) 756-4129.

This Friday, Sept. 24 & Saturday, Sept. 25

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 a 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. Due to the COVID Pandemic, we could not celebrate our 15th year in 2020; therefore, 2021’s Great Ruleville Roast will be our 15-year celebration. 
 
2021’s Great Ruleville Roast will begin Friday, September 24th at 6 pm in downtown Rule Park with The Grove Factor Band kicking off the festivities. Grilling’ Outta Quarantine is the theme. 

The Festival will continue Saturday, September 25^th, in downtown Rule Park beginning at 9 am with Championship smokers, basters, tasters, and everyday eaters serenaded by the live entertainment throughout the day, starting with Boundless Love Gospel Group from 9 am – 10 am. Thomas Edwards Central High School Band will perform at 10:15 am, followed by Joe Garcia & The Big Guns from 10:30 am – 12:30 pm, and last but not least, Mississippi Marshall will play from 1 pm – 5 pm. Saturday will also feature MBN BBQ Competitions and the FIRST EVER World Junior BBQ League Competition. We will have arts, crafts, food vendors, and more filling up the park for a family fun day. We will make sure you are well fed and entertained.

Delta BBQ Battle

The Great Ruleville Roast is the 2^nd 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 Ruleville Chamber of Commerce, Ruleville-Drew Rotary & North Sunflower Medical Center to celebrate the town we are proud to call home. We are “Ruleville & Proud”. 

Great Ruleville Roast 2021

For details, visit our Facebook page “The Great Ruleville Roast” www.facebook.com/thegreatrulevilleroast, call (662) 719-6655, or email rulevillechamber@gmail.com.
 
Event Sponsors
Bumpers of Ruleville – Cleveland Trophy & Awards – Delta Radio Network – North Sunflower Medical Center – Planters Bank & Trust Company - Southern Bancorp – Two Brooks Farms – Whitfield Media
 
Platinum Sponsors
Cannon Ford Lincoln, LLC – Coopwood Communications – Enterprise Tocsin – Haire Drug Center – Mad Cow Cutlery – Mexico Grill Ruleville – Mosquito Mist Control – Scott Petroleum Corporation – The Pharm
 
Gold Sponsors
Advance Physical Therapy - Arant Acres – AsurePrint - Barfield, Salley & Associates, PLLC - Carver Brothers Partnership - City of Ruleville - Delta Staffing, LLC – Katherine Carver - Mississippi Police Supply – Race Addict - Refuel Operating Company - LLC -Sonny’s, Inc. - Specialty Glass/Cleveland Rentall, LLC - Taylor’s Air Conditioning & Heating, Inc
 
Silver Sponsor
Bill’s Body Shop, Inc. - Bill’s Tire & Alignment, LLC  - Brooks Rizzo, FNP-BC - Delta Thunder Motorsports - Denton’s Dairy Products, Inc.  - Brandon Cummins/Ruleville Farm Bureau - Flatlanders, Inc. - Fleming Lumber Co., Inc. - Griffin Trucking - Horizon Ag, LLC - Lamar Outdoor Advertising- Lampard’s Wholesale Meats, Inc. - Lovett Auto & Tractor Parts - Mike Myers, Constable - Robinson Electric - Ruleville Cash & Pay - Sunflower County Board of Supervisors – Sullivan’s Grocery - The Greenwood Commonwealth - The Imagine Specialist  - Total Lawn Service, Inc. - Tollison Insurance, Inc. - Townsend, McWilliams & Holladay, LLP - Victoria’s -William & Lord Funeral Home - Woodard Eubanks & Sons, LLP
 
In Support of
Cleveland Funeral Home – Ray Funeral Home - Upchurch Heating and Air