It was nine years ago on August 1st when St. Luke's Health System began operating Hedrick Medical Center. On the anniversary of that agreement, St. Luke's and the city of Chillicothe held a ceremonial ground-breaking to commemorate the start of construction for a new hospital and doctor's building off the southeast corner of Highway 65 and Mohawk Road.

Speaking before a large group estimated to be in the neighborhood of 250 people was the new St. Luke's Health System President and CEO, Dr. Melinda Estes:

Click here to listen to Dr. Melinda Estes

Hedrick (and Wright Memorial of Trenton) are among ten hospital locations for St. Luke's Health System. Here is Hedrick Medical Center CEO Matt Wenzel:

Click here to listen to Matt Wenzel

Here are comments from Chillicothe City Administrator Ike Holland:

Click here to listen to Ike Holland

Construction by the J.E. Dunn Company will be getting underway soon, with completion anticipated by early in 2014. Here is Chillicothe Mayor Chuck Haney:

Click here to listen to Mayor Chuck Haney

The ceremony was held in a field on the former Litton Ranch in northern Chillicothe. The building itself will be built off the southeast corner of Highway 65 and Mohawk Road.