(Banner Staff Photo by Don Treul) The official ribbon cutting ceremony for the new ETMC Olympic Center was Monday, Dec. 7. Cutting the ribbons were Dr. Gary Babbitt (left, center) and ETMC CEO/President Elmer G. Ellis (right, center). Officials at the ceremony included Bullard City Manager Larry Morgan (far left) and Bullard City Council member Jay Abercrombie (second from left). Scores of people celebrated the ribbon cutting ceremony for East Texas Medical Center’s new Olympic Center at the intersection of F.M. 344 and Highway 155.

The center features a fitness and outpatient rehabilitation services.

ETMC CEO/President Elmer G. Ellis and First Physician Dr. Gary Babbitt cut ribbons, representing the Bullard Area Chamber of Commerce and the Lake Palestine Area Chamber of Commerce.

Jeramie Hinojosa, director of the ETMC Olympic Centers, said the newest facility will benefit the Bullard area.

“Accessibility – instead of having to travel to Tyler, because this center is here, people are more likely to exercise,” he said. “People will travel about 15 minutes to do that.”

Hinojosa also said the facility is different than an average fitness center because of the degreed/certified fitness staff available at the center.

“From the expertise standpoint, we’re very different, safe and effective,” he said.

Bullard City Council member Jay Abercrombie and Bullard City Manager Larry Morgan represented Bullard at the ceremony, while Larry Paxton represented the Lake Palestine Area Chamber.

The $9 million, 25,000 square foot stateof the-art building features all the exercise equipment and services, as well as a new and expanded physician clinic. Memberships start at $30 and the facility is open from 5:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 5:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday and 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday.

For information, call (903) 590-5967.

The two-story fitness facility also includes a salt water swimming pool as well as modern exercise equipment, group exercise classes and a suspended indoor walking track that overlooks the fitness floor.