Site picked for VA clinic in Bogalusa

BY MARCELLE HANEMANN
The Daily News
Published/Last Modified on Friday, November 6, 2009 8:45 AM CST


The projected opening has been pushed back about a month, but the location has now been decided and soon local veterans won’t have to travel to New Orleans or Biloxi to reach a Veterans Affairs Clinic.

During a City Council meeting Tuesday, Bogalusa Mayor Mack McGehee announced that the VA selected attorney “Dale Branch’s old office,” at 319 Memphis St. as the site for its Bogalusa outpatient clinic.

The projected opening date is Jan. 18, 2010, he said.

The building at 319 Memphis St. has been selected as the site for the new Bogalusa VA Clinic, according to Mayor Mack McGehee.

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Earlier this year, the VA said the clinic — the only one of its kind in Washington Parish —was expected to open in December.

The VA has contracted with Dr. Ray Lanier to provide services at the new Bogalusa clinic, which will reportedly serve veterans from Washington Parish and nearby parishes and counties.

The clinic will provide comprehensive health care, health promotion, maintenance, routine/urgent care procedures and education. It will also offer access to mental health services, radiology services and specialty care.

Lanier expects to be able to serve 35 patients at a time in the clinic, according to Bogalusa Public Works Director James Hall who said he’s hoping to improve the parking in the area to help the vets get in and out.

“Right now, the parking is a mixture of dirt, concrete and some asphalt,” he said. “I’m going to get prices to try to asphalt the street. And we have a 100-foot right-of-way, so we could asphalt up to everybody’s doors. People with canes, or in wheel chairs need the stability. I don’t know if it’s in the budget, but we’re going to see what we can do.”

Lanier, who is based in Washington, D.C., said he is “excited” about the Bogalusa project, but said protocol dictates that the VA issue additional information.

The VA did not respond this week to repeated requests for that information.

Copyright © 2010 Daily News

Comments

    Reader Comments

    The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of downtownnews.com.

    dealmakers wrote on Nov 6, 2009 9:15 AM:

    " Funny how the site was "just picked"but they have been renovating the office for several months now. Dale Branch isn't he the city attorney? City mayor made the annoucement........ "

    FYI wrote on Nov 6, 2009 1:58 PM:

    " "Dale Branch's old office" and property are owned by Basco contracting whose owners are residents of Washington Parish. They have been renovating the property for office space for themselves until recently when the VA became interested. It has nothing to do with city officials helping out city officials which is what you are implying. It is great that a VA clinic is coming to our city. "

    spot wrote on Nov 6, 2009 4:27 PM:

    " I want to give props to BASCO Contracting for allowing the VA to occupy their office building. To the brothers Pope, keep good things coming to the Magic City. "

    SANDI RUSHING wrote on Nov 6, 2009 5:53 PM:

    " WHERE CAN YOU GO TO FILL OUT A JOB APPLICATION FOR POSITIONS AT THE NEW VA CLINIC.
    THANKS, SANDI RUSHING
    (985)732-3503 "

    rogerrabbit wrote on Nov 6, 2009 6:12 PM:

    " I'm an employ at BASCO CONTRACING and i can say that we did remodel this location for ourself's ,so people should investigate before assuming "

    Ricque wrote on Nov 6, 2009 7:26 PM:

    " All I can say is "Its about time".... "

    VA Advocate wrote on Nov 6, 2009 9:42 PM:

    " No matter what you want to think, I know personally that it has nothing to do with dealmakers and who built the building. This is all done on the up and up and no one has gotten a deal from anyone. This is a good thing coming to Bogalusa. I would ask everyone for once to look at the good it will do and don't make it out to be bad. "

    suspicious wrote on Nov 9, 2009 8:16 AM:

    " with so much corruption in Bogalusa, people do not know who or what to believe as being on the "up-and-up" ... Did City Hall engineer this deal?

    Did "Mack" have his hands in this pie? What about "kick back" to the mayor, city council, the owner of this property, etc.

    so many city officials are under indictment for felony charges, corruption, fraud, etc.

    what is the TRUTH? "

    Edmond Chandler wrote on Nov 9, 2009 8:26 AM:

    " as a veteran myself, I am happy to see a VA clinic open in Bogalusa, however, this is a very SMALL building. How can this TINY building serve veterans of Washington Parish and surrounding areas? It may be alright for blood work and flu shots, etc. BUT ...

    I will continue to drive to the VA in Biloxi, Ms.

    This "deal" smells of FRAUD! "

    VA Advocate wrote on Nov 9, 2009 3:24 PM:

    " Please understand this VA Clinic is for medical care and mental care. There will be x-ray and blood work. I know there are alot of bad things going on here. But I would not lie to you this is on the straight side. No side deals with the Mayor. These people coming in care for the Vet and will take good care of them. I have no reason to lie to you. I know them personally. "

    Veteran wrote on Nov 11, 2009 5:41 PM:

    " Mr.Chandler I suggest you rethink your position with the size of the building and where you receive your annual care. It's a primary care and PSy. care office . As stated above x-ray machines as well as a lab for blood work will be available. Sorry if you thought you were getting a full care hospital. Have a good Veterans day. and thank you for your service to our country. "

    to the job seeker wrote on Nov 12, 2009 8:44 AM:

    " Looks like McDonalds was holding a job fair.... "

    ariestaurus wrote on Nov 13, 2009 9:21 AM:

    " why are people suspicious when something positive for our veterans is happening in our city? be thankful and grateful for this service. "

    Edmond Chandler wrote on Nov 13, 2009 1:29 PM:

    " Thank you for clarifying what this VA facility is intended for. It will be a big help for blood work and x-rays. This will save driving very early mornings to Biloxi for blood work. The VA does an outstanding job taking care of us veterans!

    I suppose smaller clinics are needed to take some of the burden off the major VA facilities, such as Biloxi.

    When I served in the US Army, they had a slogan: "We take care of our own"...

    They sure do! "

    Cholly wrote on Nov 13, 2009 9:53 PM:

    " Did I just read where Mr Chandler made a positive comment without discord or discontent ? Wow ! Way to go Mr Chandler. "

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Reader Comments

The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of downtownnews.com.

dealmakers wrote on Nov 6, 2009 9:15 AM:

" Funny how the site was "just picked"but they have been renovating the office for several months now. Dale Branch isn't he the city attorney? City mayor made the annoucement........ "

FYI wrote on Nov 6, 2009 1:58 PM:

" "Dale Branch's old office" and property are owned by Basco contracting whose owners are residents of Washington Parish. They have been renovating the property for office space for themselves until recently when the VA became interested. It has nothing to do with city officials helping out city officials which is what you are implying. It is great that a VA clinic is coming to our city. "

spot wrote on Nov 6, 2009 4:27 PM:

" I want to give props to BASCO Contracting for allowing the VA to occupy their office building. To the brothers Pope, keep good things coming to the Magic City. "

SANDI RUSHING wrote on Nov 6, 2009 5:53 PM:

" WHERE CAN YOU GO TO FILL OUT A JOB APPLICATION FOR POSITIONS AT THE NEW VA CLINIC.
THANKS, SANDI RUSHING
(985)732-3503 "

rogerrabbit wrote on Nov 6, 2009 6:12 PM:

" I'm an employ at BASCO CONTRACING and i can say that we did remodel this location for ourself's ,so people should investigate before assuming "

Ricque wrote on Nov 6, 2009 7:26 PM:

" All I can say is "Its about time".... "

VA Advocate wrote on Nov 6, 2009 9:42 PM:

" No matter what you want to think, I know personally that it has nothing to do with dealmakers and who built the building. This is all done on the up and up and no one has gotten a deal from anyone. This is a good thing coming to Bogalusa. I would ask everyone for once to look at the good it will do and don't make it out to be bad. "

suspicious wrote on Nov 9, 2009 8:16 AM:

" with so much corruption in Bogalusa, people do not know who or what to believe as being on the "up-and-up" ... Did City Hall engineer this deal?

Did "Mack" have his hands in this pie? What about "kick back" to the mayor, city council, the owner of this property, etc.

so many city officials are under indictment for felony charges, corruption, fraud, etc.

what is the TRUTH? "

Edmond Chandler wrote on Nov 9, 2009 8:26 AM:

" as a veteran myself, I am happy to see a VA clinic open in Bogalusa, however, this is a very SMALL building. How can this TINY building serve veterans of Washington Parish and surrounding areas? It may be alright for blood work and flu shots, etc. BUT ...

I will continue to drive to the VA in Biloxi, Ms.

This "deal" smells of FRAUD! "

VA Advocate wrote on Nov 9, 2009 3:24 PM:

" Please understand this VA Clinic is for medical care and mental care. There will be x-ray and blood work. I know there are alot of bad things going on here. But I would not lie to you this is on the straight side. No side deals with the Mayor. These people coming in care for the Vet and will take good care of them. I have no reason to lie to you. I know them personally. "

Veteran wrote on Nov 11, 2009 5:41 PM:

" Mr.Chandler I suggest you rethink your position with the size of the building and where you receive your annual care. It's a primary care and PSy. care office . As stated above x-ray machines as well as a lab for blood work will be available. Sorry if you thought you were getting a full care hospital. Have a good Veterans day. and thank you for your service to our country. "

to the job seeker wrote on Nov 12, 2009 8:44 AM:

" Looks like McDonalds was holding a job fair.... "

ariestaurus wrote on Nov 13, 2009 9:21 AM:

" why are people suspicious when something positive for our veterans is happening in our city? be thankful and grateful for this service. "

Edmond Chandler wrote on Nov 13, 2009 1:29 PM:

" Thank you for clarifying what this VA facility is intended for. It will be a big help for blood work and x-rays. This will save driving very early mornings to Biloxi for blood work. The VA does an outstanding job taking care of us veterans!

I suppose smaller clinics are needed to take some of the burden off the major VA facilities, such as Biloxi.

When I served in the US Army, they had a slogan: "We take care of our own"...

They sure do! "

Cholly wrote on Nov 13, 2009 9:53 PM:

" Did I just read where Mr Chandler made a positive comment without discord or discontent ? Wow ! Way to go Mr Chandler. "

Submit a Comment

We encourage your feedback and dialogue. All comments will be reviewed by our Web staff before appearing on the Web site.
(optional)
   

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