With more than 4,000 signatures from Bulloch County and around 1,000 more from surrounding counties, local veteran Ray Hendrix feels he has more than enough to show the support of the region to locate a Veterans Affairs clinic in Statesboro.

            Hendrix has been working closely with Congressman John Barrow's office in an effort to get a clinic built to alleviate the travel local veterans currently have to endure to get medical treatment.

            He'll be collecting signatures and letters through Friday before he starts compiling everything into a packet. From there Hendrix said he'll wait for Barrow's office to tell him what to do with it.

            "Barrow's people were hoping for 2,000, so we've done very good," Hendrix said.

            Hendrix is hoping Barrow will be able to take the packet he's prepared and go talk to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs.

            "I hope he can say 'we need this clinic and he can walk out with it approved," he said.

            Barrow has already spoken to Chet Edwards, chairman of an appropriations subcommittee, in regards to getting a VA clinic built Statesboro.

            Hendrix said the political climate is such that now is a good time to ask Congress about a new clinic in the area.

            "Both Democrats and Republicans are of the mind set of 'what can we do to help veterans?'," Hendrix said. "With everything that happened at Walter Reed Hospital and other places, it seems like a good time to approach them."

            Hendrix and other veterans first approached Barrow about the need for a clinic in Statesboro back in April during a town hall meeting. At that meeting, several veterans expressed their displeasure with having to drive as far away as Savannah, Dublin or even Charleston, S.C. for medical care.

            At that time, Barrow pledged to do everything he could to see a clinic located in Bulloch County.

            "I won't be satisfied until the veterans get the care they deserve," Barrow said at the time.

Petition to get VA clinic in Bulloch County

Contact Ray Hendrix: (912) 764-2097 or (912) 481-1455

Mail petitions to: 305 South College Street

            Statesboro, Ga. 30458

Sign Petitions at: Snooky's Restaurant

            Boyd's Barbecue

            Statesboro Car Wash