MEDICAL CARE COMES TO VALE

By Jon Mayhew

VALE -- The ride into central Lincoln county for many West Lincoln residents seeking a doctor just got shorter last week.

Members of the Lincolnton/Lincoln County Chamber of Commerce, along with west Lincoln leaders and political candidates, gathered at the new West Lincoln Medical Practice for a ribbon cutting and a business after hours.

Dr. Jason Glass, the lead physician of the practice, told the crowd he's originally from Pennsylvania.

The town he and his family came from, said Glass, reminds him of Vale.

"I hope everyone expects great things in the next five, 10 and 20 years from here," Glass said. "We have received a great welcome in the past two months we've been here."

Glass added that he never dreamt several months ago that he'd choose a community like Vale but said he's received a lot of support from the community.

Current chamber chairman John Dancoff said the new facility is a "step in the right direction" for Carolinas Medical Center - Lincoln and the Carolinas Healthcare System.

"I'm glad CMC had the foresight to open a facility like this in western Lincoln County," said Dancoff. 'There's been a lot of excitement about this new facility."

CMC officials touted Glass as the physician to bring the vision of medical care in west Lincoln to fruition.

The grand opening comes at a time that CMC is planning on building a new hospital in the Boger City area, on McAlister Road near Buffalo Shoals Road.

The new 110-bed facility is expected to open in the next couple of years.