Newport Hospital Welcomes New Year Baby January 8, 2025 Swaddled snuggly and sleeping peacefully, Gentry Gene Mitchell was the first baby to be born in the new year at Samaritan Pacific Communities Hospital. Gentry Gene, who is being called G.G., arrived at 10:39 a.m. on Thursday, Jan. 2, welcomed by parents Haley and Levi Mitchell of Eddyville. She weighed 7 pounds, 2 ounces and was 18-3/4 inches long. The new family received a generous gift basket filled to overflowing with baby essentials and toys, lovingly created by the Samaritan Pacific Communities Hospital Auxiliary. G.G. is the third new year baby in Haley’s extended family, the new mom said. In 1966, her own grandmother had a new year baby, and six years later her aunt on the same side of the family also had a new year baby. G.G. joins a family with deep roots in Lincoln County, the Steenkolk and Carver families. Her first and middle names honor two male relatives – a great-grandfather and a grandfather. However, G.G.’s two brothers were hoping the newborn could be a brother named Gus. Because of visitor restrictions, the boys, ages 10 and 4, were not able to visit their new sister in the hospital. “But we FaceTimed and they were really stoked,” Haley reported. Gazing at G.G., the Mitchells described their newest family member as “really mellow” and already looking a bit like Daddy around the eyes, with the Carver family chin. Haley is a former Samaritan employee who worked as an OB tech at the Newport hospital until February 2020, and Levi is employed at Georgia-Pacific in Toledo.