Fire reported in South Point

SOUTH POINT — A fire damaged a home in South Point Thursday evening. Firefighters were called around 9 p.m. to a residence at 594 County Road 17, said Lonnie Best, director of Lawrence County 911. At the time of the call the structure was fully engulfed, Best said. Firefighters cleared the scene at 12:38 a.m. Friday morning.

Best was not aware of the extent of the damage to the home or if there were injuries. The Red Cross has been called in to assist the family, he said.

Responding to the scene were firefighters from Burlington, Fayette, Chesapeake and Perry Township fire departments.

— Lori Kersey

Presbyterian church to host 9/11 services

IRONTON — First Presbyterian Church, at the corner of North Fifth and Railroad streets, is including a remembrance of 9/11 in the 10:30 a.m. worship service.

Musical selections include “O Day of Peace,” an original hymn, “O God, Our Words Cannot Express,” written soon after 9/11, “When We Are Living,” “America the Beautiful,” and “Lord, Dismiss Us with Thy Blessing.”

The New Testament readings are Romans 14:1-12 and Matthew 18:21-25. Various responsive readings directly address the events of 9/11. Everyone is welcome to the service and the coffee hour that follows.

St. Mary’s welcomes new doctor

St. Mary’s Cardiac Electrophysiology is pleased to announce the addition of Aamir A. Cheema, MD, an electrophysiologist specializing in heart rhythm care. Dr. Cheema is board certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine with subspecialty certification in cardiovascular medicine.

Dr. Cheema received his medical degree from Allama Iqbal Medical College in Lahore, Pakistan. He completed a residency at Wayne State University, St. John Hospital, in Detroit, Mich., and fellowships at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Md., and University of Missouri, Mid-America Heart Institute, in Kansas City, Mo.

Dr. Cheema offers the following services to adult and some pediatric patients:

• Comprehensive electrophysiology and rhythm disturbance management

• Treatment of acute and chronic heart failure

• Management and treatment of atrial fibrillation/flutter with medication and/or catheter ablation

• Treatment of supraventricular tachycardias, PVCs and ventricular tachycardia

with medication, electrophysiology study and/or catheter ablation

• Anti-arrhythmic drug management and follow-up

• Implantation and evaluation of pacemakers/defibrillators based on CMS

guidelines

• Remote home monitoring of pacemakers/ICDs

• Implantable loop heart recorders for patients with syncope of unknown etiology

and other hard to capture arrythmias

• Holter monitoring

• Cardiac event monitoring

St. Mary’s Cardiac Electrophysiology is located at 2828 First Ave., Suite 510, in Huntington. To refer a patient to Dr. Cheema, or for more information about services, call (304) 399-7548.

Foundation gives Marshall $2.6M to combat diabetes

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (AP) — Marshall University has received a $2.6 million grant to combat diabetes in 10 Appalachian communities.

The five-year grant from the Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation will be used to support the efforts of diabetes coalitions in the communities.

Bristol Myers-Squibb CEO Lamberto Andreotti says type 2 diabetes is one the nation’s greatest health challenges.

Foundation director Patricia Doykos announced the funding Thursday in Prestonsburg, Ky., at the Appalachian Regional Commission’s annual conference.

Heart and vascular conference is Sept. 16

ASHLAND, Ky. – King’s Daughters Medical Center, in conjunction with the Kentucky Heart Foundation, is pleased to present Heart & Vascular Update 2011, a continuing education program for healthcare professionals.

The program begins at 7:30 a.m. Friday, Sept. 16, at the Ashland Plaza Hotel, 1441 Winchester Ave.

Heart & Vascular Update 2011 features guest faculty from Penn State University, the University of Illinois and Washington Hospital Center, Washington, D.C. Resident faculty from King’s Daughters Heart and Vascular Center will join them in presenting the latest information on:

· Ventricular Assist Devices (VADS) as destination therapy for patients with heart failure

• Percutaneous valve replacement

• Implantable defibrillators

• Pulmonary hypertension

• Atrial fibrillation

• Heart disease in the Asian Indian population

• Varicose veins

• Women and heart disease

The conference has been approved for continuing education for physicians, nurses, physical and occupational therapists, radiation operators and dietitians.

Conference registration may be completed via:

• Online at kdmc.com/register

•Email to lisa.wilson@kdmc.net

• Phone at (606) 408-6829

Registration is $35 for those not affiliated with King’s Daughters and may be paid in advance or at the door. The deadline for registration is Monday, Sept. 12.

Rep. Johnson appointed as Chairman of House Veterans Affairs committee

COLUMBUS—Speaker of the Ohio House William G. Batchelder (R-Medina) today announced the appointment of State Representative Terry Johnson (R-McDermott) to serve as chairman of the House Veteran Affairs Committee.

“I am honored by this opportunity to serve the veterans of our great state,” Johnson said. “As a veteran myself, this is a cause that is very important to me. I am proud to help direct our legislative efforts to ensure these great men and women receive the respect and support they have earned while serving our country.”

In addition to his new committee assignment, Rep. Johnson currently serves on the Health and Aging Committee, as well as on the Transportation, Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee.

Rep. Johnson is a Colonel in the Ohio National Guard, currently serving as the State Surgeon, and a former commander of the National Guard Medical Detachment. He is a veteran of the War on Terror and served three tours of duty. He has authored various personal accounts from the war in Iraq that were published in newspapers in southern Ohio.

State Rep. Clifford A. Rosenberger (R-Clarksville) has been appointed to serve vice-chairman of the committee.

AmeriCorps VISTA member sponsors 9/11 film

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — Connie Mayle, an AmeriCorps VISTA member, is sponsoring a showing of the film World Trade Center at 6 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 11, at Beverly Hills Presbyterian Church, 406 Norway Ave., Huntington. The event coincides with the Sept. 11th National Day of Service and Remembrance.

The Sept. 11th National Day of Service and Remembrance is an effort to encourage Americans to come together in the same spirit of compassion, unity, and service they did after the attacks. It was launched by The Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS).

“Although Ground Zero is almost 600 miles from Huntington, we will never forget that day 10 years ago. It affected all of our lives and I think we should gather with our friends and families in remembrance of 9/11,” said Mayle. “In the spirit of compassion, I am asking the audience to bring with them one

non-perishable food item for the Loaves and Fishes Food Pantry, a combined program of the Beverly Hills United Methodist Church and the Beverly Hills Presbyterian Church.”

Members of the Presbyterian youth group will conduct a candlelight vigil in memory of the victims immediately following the movie.

World Trade Center is a 2006 film directed by Oliver Stone, based on the 9/11 World Trade Center attacks. The drama is rated PG-13 and stars Nicolas Cage.

The event is free and open to the public. A non-perishable food donation is requested. Items needed are canned soup, canned fruit, cereal, spaghetti sauce, pasta, noodles, macaroni and cheese, rice, cornbread mix, tuna, peanut butter, and jelly. For more information contact Connie Mayle, AmeriCorps VISTA, 304-523-8929, ext. 112.