Hospital breaks ground for child development center | Events

MT. VERNON, IL (KFVS) - Hospital and local officials broke ground on Tuesday for the addition of a $1.8 million child development center to be located on the campus of the new Good Samaritan Regional Health Center in Mt. Vernon.

The 10,000-square-foot Good Samaritan Child Development Center will be located just south of the new hospital under construction off of Veterans Memorial Drive. It is being constructed by Shores Builders. Construction is expected to be complete by Patient Move Day on January 20, 2013.

The new child development center will have eight classrooms, a gym, a playground and a safe room to protect children from extreme storms.

"Because safety is of utmost concern in our hospital and in the Development Center, the facility will include a tornado-resistant room," said Good Samaritan Regional Health Center President Mike Warren. "Constructed with reinforced masonry walls and precast concrete walls, the room can resist the wind and debris associated with the tornado."

The ceremonial groundbreaking had Good Samaritan Regional Health Center administration members on hand, as well as, Steve Shores of Shores Builders, Mark Abbey of BSA LifeStructures, Mt. Vernon Mayor Mary Jane Chesely, Tourism Director Bonnie Jerdon and Jefferson County Development Corporation executive director Mary Ellen Bechtel. Also in attendance were some children currently enrolled at the hospital's child development center and their parents, who are employees of Good Samaritan.

Sr. Andrea Chudzik prayed to bless the new facility and St. Mary's Good Samaritan CEO Phil Gustafson also spoke of the center and its importance to the mission of St. Mary's Good Samaritan.

"For decades, the Good Samaritan Child Development Center has cared for many of our most precious assets--our children,"said Warren. "From the beginning of construction of the new Good Samaritan Regional Health Center we were dedicated to continue having a child care option at our new hospital."

Warren also thanks those who worked to make the new child development center a reality and also thanked the Development Center staff for the great care and education they provide for children.

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