By JOYANNA LOVE/ Senior Staff Writer

Clanton Pediatric Associates celebrated its new office and Chilton County Chamber membership with a ribbon cutting on July 12.

The office is the third for Doctors John Sumners and James Rabon. They have offices in Montgomery and Prattville as well.

“We are really excited,” Katie Jones, pediatric nurse practitioner, said.

Jones has worked in the Prattville office for nearly eight years.

Jones said she was looking forward to “reaching out to more of the Chilton County area.”

“We had several patients who were commuting from this area to our Prattville office to be seen,” Jones said.

This highlighted the need for a third office, Jones, who lives in Chilton County, said. She said many of her friends were taking their children to Prattville or Alabaster for a pediatrician.

Patients, and presumably their parents, have already begun having their records transferred to the Chilton County office in preparation for future check-ups.

“I think the one in Prattville is really successful and we’ve been needing this,” Janice Hull, Chilton County Chamber of Commerce director, said.

Hull said she was glad to see the number of people who attended the ribbon cutting.

“We always think that means support, and we are always happy to see people come in to Clanton and grow it,” Hull said.

The office will be open 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. each week day, except Wednesday. Wednesday hours are 8:30 to 11:30 a.m.

Jones will be the primary care provider as the office builds a patient base. She said the plan is to add another care provider in the future.

“Dr. John Sumners will be up here with me twice a month for a half day on Wednesday,” Jones said.

In addition to Jones, the office staff includes two nurses and a receptionist. The staff will meet the needs of the current patient base and would expand as needed.

“We are very excited and very pleased to have them in our community, and I hope the community supports it,” Chamber president Jason Calhoun said.

Calhoun said he thought the Chilton County community would be “pleased with” the facility and the staff.

The color scheme gives the office a cheery and welcoming feel for the young patients. Patients’ drawings and coloring sheets will be displayed on a board on one wall.