Hospital district declines to purchase mammography machine for hospital
TRI-COUNTY — The Big Bend Regional Hospital District (BBRHD) declined a proposal from the Big Bend Regional Medical Center to purchase a permanent mammography machine for the hospital.
Local healthcare leaders are seeking a solution to the lack of mammography services in the region following the August discontinuation of Mammos on the Move, a mobile mammography program run by company Desert Imaging for 10 years.
The cost of the new mammography machine for the hospital was estimated to cost $350,000. The hospital was asking the district to invest $250,000 in the equipment, in addition to $247,000 worth of improvements to its X-ray room, which is in sore need of upgrades, according to hospital officials.
The BBRHD board heard the proposal in early October, but decided to table the item, citing more time to consider investing such a large sum of money. At their meeting last week, they declined to move forward with the proposal.
“After consulting with our attorney, BBRHD cannot purchase the mammogram machine for the hospital as the proposal was requested,” said BBRHD Executive Director Lynette Brehm. “Buddy Cavness, our board president, assured the community that although this was not the outcome the hospital (or public) was hoping for, the board remains committed to this issue and will discuss an alternative path forward in the coming weeks and months.”
Brehm did not respond to additional requests for comment on the reasons for the decision. The district is also considering partnering with another mobile mammography program.
Michael Phelan announces Marfa Invitational 2025
MARFA — Michael Phelan, the founder of the Marfa Invitational art fair, announced the event will be taking place May 15-18, 2025, at the Saint George in a post on Instagram this past weekend, with a special “Mi Locale” edition to follow on May 22-25.
The annual event was scaled down and did not include the “fair” aspect of gallerists at Saint George Hall in May 2024 following the loss of the Marfa Invitational’s nonprofit status — which has since been reinstated — and claims from an ex-board advisor alleging Phelan misused donated funds for personal expenses.
Phelan wrote on social media that programming for Marfa Invitational 2025 will span two weeks, and include both an international and local edition. “Marfa Invitational could not be more excited to feature and highlight Marfa’s foremost artists + galleries at this year’s MI LOCALE,” the post states. “Championing Marfa’s leading visionaries ~ introducing to the world at large.”