" The local rag shows their true colors once again, eh Early Bird? How predictable and sad. "

" You conveniently omitted the fact that several thousand people from this area have to travel over an hour away, for surgery and follow up care, because SBLHC refuses to take their insurance. At least you had the decency to keep from throwing in a barb or two toward Carle. Difficult to understand why it would be controversial? Talk about closed mindedness. Why would FutureGen want to locate in an area that is so anti-growth? We all know how you would feel if another land based line telephone company wanted to move into this area. You would be writing editorials blasting them too, just like you did to McHugh. McHugh didn't realize who he was taking on when he started his protest campaign, did he? I think it's pretty obvious who big money guy is behind the whole convention center idea. That whole issue has the areas number one tax evaders fingerprints all over it. I guess you only support growth when certain people in this area aren't effected by the competition. "

" Please sir, may I have more? You people have no shame in your fawning over Mr Big. "

" Coles County NEEDS Carle, Carle does not need Coles County. How many times a week does Sarah Bush transfer patients I wonder. Sarah Bush has limited services. The doctors and nurses who work there are wonderful at their jobs. However, there is a limit to their services and experience. I believe this eats at Sarah Bush, they are intimidated. That is why they refuse to take health alliance. Its their way of punishing those who chose a higher level of healthcare. They can not practice safely without Carle as a safety net. I wonder if you anti-Carle people will change your tune when you have a condition the Bush is not willing to treat. Will you then cross over to the big bad Carle side of the street. "

" To disgusted. Ditto "

" Not impressed with you sychophantic editorial. But I'm sure Mr Big enjoyed it. "

" I certainly hope none of you in favor of NOT having Carle here never needs their services. I hope you are not the one at Sarah Bush that has to be transported to their facility because SBLHC can't help you. "

" SBLHC is a poor excuse for a community oriented hospital. "

" "...like you did to McHugh..." Exactly. If you recall, Harry wouldn't publish some online comments about Carle/SBLHC/Our View because they bordered on "personal attacks." Personal attacks, just like those leveled at McHugh. "

" Remember, if its an emergency, you likely have to go to sarah bush, then carle, and still get a bill from SBLHC, for entering the facility. A surgicenter, wouldn't immediately, cut into that, but it might open another door, that would. Transfers, to wherever, they get to collect their share, as they see fit. The employees, of SBLHC, are great, put in long hours, and work very hard, they do a lot, with what management, provides them to work with. So just like, some other things, I support the troops, in the trenches, not their bosses. Congrats to the employees, who give so much, and get so little. Your efforts, are appreciated. Happy 30th, employees of SBLHC. "

" Let us celebrate a monopoly and sub-par care!! Happy 30th Sarah Bush. Are you related to George? "

" Wow the years sure flew by. I remember when my Mother moved with the old Mattoon Memorial Hospital to the new Sarah Bush Lincoln Hospital as a LPN and than while at Sarah Bush Hospital in 1982 became a RN. So many memories for so many employees left behind at Mattoon Memorial Hospital and then came the new memories at Sarah Bush. Mom retired after so many years of service in 2006. Happy Birthday Sarah Bush. I applaud all the Doctors, Nurses and Staff including the retired staff. God Bless you all for your hard work beginning over 30 years ago and in the years to come. Happy Retirement Mom. (Loretta Arthur RN retired). Your daughter Vicki "

" For a fact, when I was attending college on a scholarship and made less than $5,000 per year working part time, I required emergency surgery. My EIU health care provider required I go to SBLHC and covered half of the cost, leaving me with around a $2,000 bill. I explained the circumstances to SBLHC, offered to work with them on a payment plan, but they refused. SBLHC demanded to see my parent's finacial records -- I was a 33 year old and my parents had nothing, absolutely nothing, to do with me being able or not able to pay for this bill. I gave SBLHC my tax records, my scholarship records, and my transcripts (as I was 1 semester from graduation.) What did SBLHC do? They said, because I am attending college, I had access to money and was therefore unable to qualify for assistance and/or a deferred payment plan; SBLHC, our fine little community hospital that the JG/TC love so much, thought I should drop out of college, get a full time job, pay them off, then return to school. I even brought the matter to the senior management at SBLHC and it went nowhere. SBLHC turned over the bill to a collection agency after 3 months. If I had 4 children, couldn't speak English, and just came to the community I could probably have gotten SBLHC to be a bit more flexible on the issue; I and my parents and my grandparents, however, have been residents in our county for our entire lives. Talk about a good, community oriented health service! My mother distinctly recalls having to subsidize SBLHC when working at GE in the 1970s -- we want 100% donation here, said the management at GE. This is how SBLHC treats it's community. I could care less if SBLHC fell of the face of the Earth. "

" Well said, Voltaire! While I think a few good eggs exist in a few of the different departments out there, if David Copperfield were to make Sarah Bush disappear, I know I would NOT miss it. "

" What ever happened to the days when business and community leaders said, "Bring on all who want to compete and the ones who serve best will survive." Isn't that the way it should be? Why protect one segment of the business world and not others? "

" I had surgery at Carle - and got a staph infection - took 3 months to get it under control and cleaned up. Bad things happen at all hospitals - we need a local hospital to take care of us - take it away and we have a long drive ahead of us for medical care, and for many it may be too late. I'm sorry we aren't a trauma center and we have to sometimes be airlifted or transported to other hospitals - but if it weren't for this hospital we wouldn't have that choice, as many of us would never be stable enough for transport. Wow - I hope my enemies aren't as vocal and unreasonable as many of you. "

" Every hospital has staff infection from time to time so that is not an issue. I know someone who got it at SB too but that doesn't make them bad. The idiots that want to keep out competition is what gags us all. "

" Why have all the comments gone away just like they did on April 9th? Is it that the SBLHC controllers ordered their removal because they didn't like the posts telling truths about SBLHC'S BUSINESS PRACTICES? I guess that it is such bad press for the hospital that they want us kept quiet. Maybe the campaign for saving the hospital should be reignited. You can still go to www.savesarahbush.net and voice your opinions without everything disappearing. I noticed that more independent physicians are quietly leaving just like was predicted on that site. First Dr. Hank Nino and now Dr. James Kohlmann. The atmosphere in that place must be intollerable. Seems like they are not interested in keeping any free thinking doctors or employees. If you are a sheep they are glad you are there, but if you are intelligent they want you to go away. "

" Exactly what I want to know. Hey JG/T-C Editorial Board? Why are all the posts disappearing off the SBLHC columns, ONLY? It can NOT be website issues or maintenance. Did Barnett or Lumpkin come after you folks, or threatin to pursue legal action? Someone afraid of the truth? If that place is willing to allow articles to be posted about itself, they better be ready for a full round of criticism! Bogarting the bad is not good! We'll tell two people, they'll tell two more, then those well tell two more.... and so on. Get the picture? "

" Please explain yourselves! "