New Year's Birth

The new year saw its first baby born in Alleghany County relatively early — a New Year's Day baby born less than seven hours into 2002 at Alleghany Memorial Hospital. Alexandria Storm Crouse was born to Jessica Crouse (above left) and Chris Reeves (not pictured), both of Sparta, at 6:29 a.m. Jan. 1. She was 21 inches long and weighed seven pounds, 11 ounces. Dr. Maureen E. Murphy was the attending physician. Also pictured above is Heather Turner, cousin of the mother, and Crouse's other child, three-year-old Abby. Grandparents are Darlene Bare and Lenny Crouse, and Susan Reeves.

Deborah Yarborough, the hospital's marketing director, said Alexandria was only the second baby born there on New Year's Day since 1993. AMH's first baby of 2001 was not born until Jan. 24, while in 1997, the first birth did not occur until February. The mother and child received numerous gifts from businesses and organizations.