Posted on 03/21/2008 7:33:40 AM PDT by SmithL
NASHVILLE -- State Sen. Ophelia Ford is expected to return to the legislature next week after being absent with an unspecified illness since the session started in January.
Ford's temporary assistant, Sherwine Lucien, told The Associated Press on Thursday that the Memphis Democrat had contacted her about booking a flight to Nashville on Monday.
"As far as we know, she should be here Monday," Lucien said.
Ford has been in and out of the hospital with health issues that have plagued her the past year. The 57-year-old said in March that she had a severe case of anemia that had caused her to miss much of last year's legislative session.
In January, legislative leaders from both parties asked for an update on Ford's health after being told earlier that month that she would miss several weeks of the legislative session.
The family then asked Methodist University Hospital and Ford's physician to issue a statement saying that "she has a medical condition causing malnutrition, dehydration and anemia and at this time, requires continued hospitalization."
At the time, she had been in Methodist Hospital since about the first of December, according to her family.
A call to Ford's daughter, who has also been speaking on the senator's behalf, was not immediately returned Thursday.
However, concerning Ford's health, Lucien said "she's feeling better."
Ford is a member of the politically prominent Ford family. Numerous relatives have held public office and she took over the seat held by another brother, John Ford, who stepped down after being indicted and eventually convicted in the Tennessee Waltz corruption sting.
Earlier this year, Senate Democrats withdrew a bill that would have allowed temporary replacements for sick lawmakers.
Just amazing. Not a single mention of Ford’s drunken forays or behavior. Just simply absent due to a medical condition.
Perhaps it’s just her latest binge is over with.
How many members of the Ford crime family are currently in elected positions?
Next thing ya know, Ophelia will be named mayor of Memphis.
A .2 BAC tends to do that.
I would imagine that replacing a substantial part of one’s blood inventory with alcohol could cause anemia. Just a guess.
” unspecified illness “
We used to call that “being wasted”.
No way is she quitting. She’s getting the best paycheck of her life. What else is she good for? Working at Church’s or Popeye’s?
How many members of the Ford crime family are currently in elected positions?
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Better question to ask “How many members of the Ford crime family are currently in prison?”
I'll say the obvious, "She must have gotten her broom fixed and had autopilot installed".
Yes, I should have asked the corollary.
aka alcoholism
Yes, I should have asked the corollary.
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http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/corollary
It’s every Nashvillian’s duty now to make sure every manhole cover and barstool in town is secure for Auntie.
Federal courtTrial date set for Ford landlord
An April 24 trial date was set Thursday morning for the landlord of former Memphis City Council member Edmund Ford Sr.'s Whitehaven funeral home.
Dennis Churchwell is accused of lying to a federal grand jury that was investigating whether Ford received a break on his $2,500-a-month rent in return for helping Churchwell get special-use permits from the city to store heavy equipment.
The trial before U.S. Dist. Court Judge Bernice Donald is expected to last about a week.
-- Lawrence Buser
http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2008/mar/21/in-brief-heavy-rains/
I wouldn't expect much to happen with this. Donald is the Judge that insisted that the State Senate couldn't remove Ophelia, just because dead people voted for her.
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