— Thursday, Nov. 8, Franklin Community Blood Drive at the First Baptist Church, 69 Iotla Street, Franklin, 12:30 to 5:30 p.m. Call (828)369-9559 for more information or to schedule an appointment.

— Friday, Nov. 9, Angel Medical Center Blood Drive, 120 Riverview Street, Franklin, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Call Barbara at (828)369-4166 or go to www.redcrossblood.org and enter Sponsor code Angel for more information or to schedule an appointment.

— Saturday, Nov. 10, Mountain Valley Fire Department Blood Drive, 188 Echo Valley Road, Franklin, 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Call Joyce at 421-3454 or go to www.redcrossblood.org and enter Sponsor code Mountain Valley for more information or to schedule an appointment.

— Saturday, Nov. 24, Fun Factory Blood Drive, 1024 Georgia Road, Franklin, 2 to 6:30 p.m. Call Jon at (828)349-8888 or go to www.redcrossblood.org and enter Sponsor code Fun for more information or to schedule an appointment. Most healthy people who are 17 years of age or older, 16 with parental consent, and weigh at least 110 pounds are eligible to donate blood or platelets to the Red Cross.

On Saturday, Sept. 8, the community came together to raise funds for the Outpatient Medicine and Chemotherapy Treatment Expansion at Angel Medical Center in Franklin.

“The community’s support of the Radiothon was overwhelming,” said Jim Bross, CEO and president of Angel Medical Center. “More than 200 people volunteered their time and talents to assist in this fundraising effort. Our thanks also goes out to the businesses and companies that donated goods and services to help make the event a success.”

Action due to low patient volume and loss of revenue.

To meet the decrease in revenue by declining patient volume and the increase in operational costs, Steve Heatherly, President and CEO of WestCare hospitals announced last Tuesday that between the three hospitals, MedWest-Harris, MedWest-Swain, and MedWest-Haywood, MedWest would be laying off 86 employees.

MedWest-Harris, an 86-bed, not-for-profit acute care facility located in Jackson County, which is a fully-accredited hospital and has been providing care to the surrounding areas since 1929, MedWest-Harris was forced to lay off 24 positions.

Angel Medical Center announces the addition of Ladsen Gaddy-Dubac, MD at the new Angel OB/GYN & Family Practice.

Gaddy-Dubac is a graduate of the University of Georgia in Athens where she received a Bachelor of Science in Genetics graduating Summa Cum Laude. She obtained her Doctor of Medicine with Distinction honor at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine in Chapel Hill.

“We’re pleased to welcome Dr. Gaddy to the staff of Angel OB/GYN & Family Practice,” said Paula Alter, vice-president for Physician Services for Angel Medical Center. “She comes to Franklin from the Mountain Area Health Education Center in Asheville, where she performed her internship and residency.”