Memory health care center gets support from QDC

By Larry Tucker
editor@wood.cm
Posted 3/16/23

The Quitman Development Corporation heard a presentation from Annette Simpkins and Quitman Mayor Randy Dunn on the progress of the Memory Health Life Center proposed to being built east of UT Health Quitman at its Monday meeting. 

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Memory health care center gets support from QDC

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The Quitman Development Corporation heard a presentation from Annette Simpkins and Quitman Mayor Randy Dunn on the progress of the Memory Health Life Center proposed to being built east of UT Health Quitman at its Monday meeting. 

Simpkins spoke about the group’s logo and the project name.

“We have changed our name to Memory Health Life Center which is a little shorter than the original. The hospital district has done a great deal of cleaning off that area and it looks really nice,” Simpkins noted. “The foundation has just done a delineation survey which is required before we can build the lake we want. We found out it’s going to be a long, expensive process to get that lake approved. We are committed to doing that because the lake will be used in many ways for this project and not just enhancing how it will look.”

Dunn said, “The Wood County Health Care Foundation will create a national institute for memory health located in Quitman. It will feature 54 uniquely designed dwellings with state-of-the-art care and serve as a living laboratory for education and research for universities and caregivers across the nation. We plan to become a national destination for those serving individuals impacted by dementia.

“This is not a place to come and wait on death. It will offer the hope and rewarding new phase of life.”

The QDC passed a resolution supporting the Memory Health Life Center project.

There will be another presentation tonight (Thursday) at the Quitman City Council meeting at 6 p.m. in the Quitman Library Community Room for local citizens to come learn more about the project. 

The QDC board also heard from board member Dr. Greg Eberhart concerning the Wood County Walls project. He discussed the vision of the project for the county.

”If it all works out there will be a mural in each Wood County city. It will go live during the Iron Horse Festival in Mineola. They will hand out brochures to everybody attending Iron Horse to basically send them around the county to check artists working on murals in each county city during Iron Horse,” Eberhart said.

“We want murals that people see it, get out of their vehicles and take a selfie for social media to help bring people to the area. This won’t be a competition; we will work collectively on behalf of the county so people will visit each town.”

The QDC board is interested in the project and possibly putting up money to help fund it through providing financing including $2,500 for the artist, finding a suitable location for the murals, local festival activities with countywide efforts, cost of supplies and mural site preparations. 

It was announced O’Reilly’s Auto Parts is set to open later this month or in early April at its new location on S. Main St.