UNICOI COUNTY HOSPITAL BOARD VOTED TO ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH MOUNTAIN STATES HEALTH ALLIANCE BUT NOT ALL MEMBERS WERE IN AGREEMENT. TWO BOARD MEMEBERS VOTED AGAINST THE ACQUISITION. ONE OF THOSE IS SUE JEAN WILSON… Uh, they should not have a monopoly on the hospital beds in this area. We need competition in this county, and I feel that Wellmont will do their part and due diligence in keeping track of how things are going. WELLMONT IS NOT GIVING UP THE FIGHT. THEY PLAN TO CONTACT THE ATTORNEY GENERAL AND THE FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION SAYS WELLMONT CEO DENNY DENARVAEZ… You know, it’s all very suspect to us because it’s not handled in open forum you have you have to question what is the real purpose for that. So, I do think the Attorney General will be very interested in this process and in the discovery of that process I think there is going to be some embarrassment. MOUNTAIN STATES CEO DENNIS VONDERFECHT SAYS HE DOES NOT THINK THERE WILL BE A PROBLEM WITH THE TAKEOVER OF UNICOI COUNTY HOSPITAL. (CC)