She’s one tough gal.
St. John’s Regional Medical Center stood up to winds of 200 mph-plus 15 months ago when a monstrous EF-5 tornado closed her doors forever.
Over the past month, the old girl has put up a fight against the wrecking ball. Blow after blow, she resolutely defied the takedown, finally crumbling when she could stand no more.
Now, only two bays are left.
Final demolition for the hospital is planned for 5:30 p.m. Tuesday. The demolition project started on March 1. The goal is to have the property cleared by Sept. 30. Sisters of Mercy Health System is constructing a new hospital — Mercy Hospital Joplin — at 50th Street and Hearnes Boulevard. It is to open in the summer of 2015. In the meantime, Mercy is operating a temporary hospital at 2817 St. John’s Blvd. on the medical center property.
On May 22, 2011, there were 189 people inside the hospital. Six of those lost their lives when the tornado hit. But because of the response of the doctors, the nurses, the staff and even the visitors there on the scene, many lives were saved because they were moved to safety.
The hospital building has been a mainstay and a physical presence in our community for some 40 years. We will miss it, but it’s time for the shell — a painful reminder of an awful day — to be gone.
Now’s the time to say your goodbyes.
She’s coming down.
Opinion
Our View: Finally saying goodbye to St. John’s
- Opinion
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Our View: Safer schools
Being able to see for ourselves what would have happened to our children had they been standing in the main hall of their schools during the May 22, 2011, tornado had a profound effect on our understanding of safe schools.
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Marilyn Beasley, guest columnist: Claiming responsibility for abuse of power
Over the past few months we’ve witnessed the abuse of power by President Barack Obama and his administration.
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Our View: ‘Why?’ has no answer
Just hours before, there was breakfast and laughter. There were pictures on the walls and memories in every room.
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Our View: Absent from House
We can’t figure out why two Missouri legislators think they should be elected to the U.S. House when it appears they can’t seem to show up to take care of business in the Missouri House.
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Your View: Terrorism is terrorism
In the May 13 issue of The Joplin Globe there was an Associated Press article concerning the New Orleans shooting.
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Your View: Terrible injustice
I see this Jasper County nuisance law as a terrible injustice on the rights of the residents of Jasper County.
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Your View: Should we be outraged?
Were there effusive apologies following the lockdown of Boston as most of the continent indulged vicariously in the ongoing manhunt?
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Phill Brooks, columnist: Missouri Senate did what Founding Fathers had in mind
George Washington once described the Senate as being like a saucer in which you pour coffee or tea.
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Other Views: Conflicts in SEC
Money talks. In the continuing dispute over the all-too-cozy relationship between the people who create and sell financial products and the people who rate their risk, the money says: Shut up and let us do what we want.
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Our View: Fixing failure
Some 1,200 injured workers will finally get the payments they are owed. In its final week in session, Missouri’s General Assembly, through bipartisan efforts, passed a solution to address the insolvency of the state’s Second Injury Fund.
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