35 Beeghly Oaks employees out of work


35 Beeghly Oaks employees out of work

BOARDMAN — When Sherrie Kocher pulled into the parking lot at Beeghly Oaks to report for work today, she never expected to hear these words: You no longer have a job.

Kocher was among the 35 employees at the nursing home, formerly under the auspices of Forum Health, who found out they were suddenly unemployed.

Forum Health sold the Market Street long-term care facility in September to Columbus-based Vrable Healthcare Companies.

The sale of the 140-bed Beeghly Oaks was the first transaction to receive board approval after Forum placed all of its assets on the market earlier this year.

Allan K. Vrable, a Youngstown area native, is owner, president and chief executive officer of Vrable Healthcare Companies.

Repeated messages left at Beeghly Oaks and at Vrable corporate offices weren’t returned. Forum Health offices were closed today.

“A Vrable representative told us, ‘I’m sorry, you no longer have a job here. You no longer have a position here,” said Kocher, of Youngstown, a nurse practitioner who has worked at the facility for nearly 19 years.

For the complete story, see Sunday’s Vindicator and Vindy.com.