There are many people in Franklin and Somerset counties who have “bad feet.” Well, mine have been broken a couple of times and I have had the opportunity, like many others, to have Dr. Jeffrey Johnson of Farmington take care of me.

For the past 10 years Dr. Johnson has had his own Podiatrist office in Farmington where he sees patients and does operations at Franklin Memorial Hospital. But many people are unaware that in his “spare time” Dr. Johnson puts on his “other hat” and becomes a Naval Commander in charge of the Medical Unit at the Naval Reserve Center in Bangor.

Dr. Johnson has traveled all over the world over the past 19 years that he has served in the Naval Reserves and has also been on the staff at the Naval Hospital in Sigonella, Italy as the only Navy podiatrist in the Mediterranean where he provided podiatrist evaluation and treatment to active duty staff members, their dependents, and retirees at Naval hospitals in Rota Spain, Naples, Italy, Souda Bay, Crete as well as Sigonella.

Dr. Jeffrey Johnson stands in front of the Black Hawk helicopter at the Arctic Circle in Northern Alaska. (Contributed photo) Dr. Johnson also finds time to serve on the Franklin County Animal Shelter Board of Directors. He is what I call a nut about animals, let a beautiful dog run by his office window while you’re there to have your foot examined and guess who gets the most attention! He loves telling me about all his animals he has on his farm in Temple. Commander Johnson has received many medals and awards including the Navy Commendation Medal for providing podiatrist care to the entire Mediterranean theater and another Navy Commendation medal for services overseas and in the United States as well as letters of appreciation from the White House.

Dr. Johnson is affiliated with Franklin Memorial Hospital, on the Courtesy Staff at Skowhegan Hospital and is one of three medical personnel who run the wound center at Franklin Memorial Hospital.

Just recently, Commander Johnson took part in Operation Arctic Care that involved 11 villages within the Arctic Circle in Alaska as the Medical Officer in Charge arriving there in a Black Hawk helicopter.

Red and Dora Tibbetts of Eustis have had a busy couple of weeks. They accompanied their daughter Julie and husband David Talmage and son Courtland to Dartmouth College in New Hampshire where they attended the graduation of their grandson, Christian Talmage. Also attending the celebration was their son, Gene Tibbetts, and another grandson, Taylor Talmage. On Thursday the Tibbetts had surprise guests when Dora’s two cousins from Oregon arrived along with Dora’s sister, Doris Scott, and daughter, Sarah of Dover Foxcroft. Everyone enjoyed a picnic at the Cathedral Pines.

We have been very busy getting my dear sister-in-law, Florence Hall, settled at the Edgewood Rehab and Living Center in Farmington. As Dr. Jacob’s says, “Florence will be the bell of the ball,” and he sure was right. Her roommate is wonderful and Florence just loved all the attention as her daughter-in-law, Margaret Hall, and I decorated her room. If you would like to send cards, please do: the Edgewood Rehab and Living Center 221 Fairbanks Road, Farmington Room 31 D. There is not enough I can say about the staff at the facility and how caring they are for everyone. When they brought in the fresh watermelon and then the root beer floats, Howard and I decided we would look around and slip into a bed too and take a chance that no one would realize we were not residents. My dad, the late John Hall, lived there for six years so many of the faces are still familiar.

I spoke with Pastor Connie Maginnis who told me she is breaking up her time between the Kingfield and the Strong United Methodist Churches. The new times for services will be in Kingfield, Sundays at 9 a.m. and in Strong Sunday School will be held at 10 a.m. and the church service at 11 a.m. The pastor said that she will be at the Kingfield church throughout the day Tuesday and Friday and at the Strong church on Wednesday and Thursdays.

My prayers go out to Theresa Barker who has had her “hands full” for the past few weeks. On June 23 Theresa’s son, Norman Barker, received a head injury when he fell. He was taken to Franklin Memorial Hospital and was later transferred to the Maine Medical Center in Portland. The next morning, Theresa’s husband, Clarence, was taken to the Farmington hospital having suffered heart failure and pneumonia but is now home. Norman is going on the Tufts Medical Center in Boston, Mass. to have further treatment from the head injury. Theresa said that at one time she had four different relatives at the Farmington hospital at the same time. Some said “we may as well call it the Barker emergency room.”

I think I should stop and say a prayer for my self too... after hugging State Representative Tom Saviello (never again Tom) at the Stratton parade and dropping my camera on the highway breaking it (that’s like my arm) and then later that night looking down and my diamond in my ring was gone, you wonder what is coming next. Have a wonderful July fourth!