As the dental director at the Center for Family Health Dental Office, and the vice president of the American Dental Association, Dr. Jane Grover has both local and national resources to improve dental care at her fingertips. But simply making her dental office better is not enough. Grover wants to make proper dental care a priority for everyone in Jackson.

With the help of Delta Dental, Grover, a 54-year-old Summit Township resident, produced a dental health video targeting teens in 2007, and she won the Community Mini-Grant of the Year Award for her promotional work. Her office, at 817 W. High St., is the only dental facility in Jackson County to accept new Medicaid patients. The office offers drop-in appointments on Tuesdays for extra convenience. And the dental clinic at the Teen Health Center at the Middle School at Parkside, 2400 Fourth St., is another part of the effort to make Jackson residents of all ages more dedicated to dentistry.

Grover sat down with BHJ to share how she's using her expertise to spread the message of how valuable a healthy mouth truly is.

Continue reading "Proper dental care is Dr. Jane Grover's passion" »

LifeWays community mental health agency in Jackson has a new CEO, and because we believe in healthy minds and bodies, we want to introduce you. Jackson, meet Joanne Sheldon.

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Leona Stewart of Horton describes her father as a man with tenacity. "If he's motivated to do something, it will get done," she says.

Lloyd Keeney's recent accomplishment proves that. On March 20, 2008 -- Leona's birthday -- he reached 1,000 miles of riding on the Falling Waters Trail. And he did it at the age of 90. Weather notwithstanding, Keeney logged 40 miles each trip, all on his 50-year-old reconditioned English bike with a sign displaying his "mileage." Achieving his goal was like riding from Jackson to the Florida state line, Keeney estimates.

Born July 16, 1917, Keeney grew up in Greenville, west of Alma. He's lived in the Jackson County area for the last 66 years, presently at Ackerson Lake. A widower, he has two daughters, Stewart and Leola Goodin of Horton.

BHJ sat down with Lloyd Keeney in daughter Leona Stewart's downtown Leslie loft to recap his recent achievement and discover clues to his longevity.

Continue reading "Trail Blazer: One man's grand accomplishment" »