Lebanon med school advances

LEBANON — Plans for Lebanon’s proposed medical training complex are going ahead, and officials hope to break ground next year and seat the first college class by 2011.

Representatives of the city of Lebanon and Samaritan Health Services held a public meeting Tuesday to discuss the project. About 60 people attended.

The city has prepared a proposed expansion of an urban renewal district to finance nearly $14 million in projects including several to make the medical complex possible.

Plans for the 50-acre complex include a conference center, a hotel, a restaurant and some retail and office space. That’s in addition to one or more medical schools: California-based Western University of Health Sciences is an established partner, and Western Oregon University and Linn-Benton Community College also have expressed interest, said Larry Mullins, president and CEO of Samaritan Health Services. Read the full story >>