The staff at Vaughan Regional Medical Center welcomed a little girl into the world Thursday — the first baby born in Selma in the 2015.

Baby Powell was born New Year’s Day at 11:54 a.m. and weighed 6 pounds, 11 ounces.

Her mother, Nateshia Powell, said she is looking forward to having a “wonderful year” with the newest member of her family.

“Who’s going to be the first born of the New Year? I think it’s always a big highlight,” said Meagan Austin, physician and community relations coordinator at Vaughan.

“It’s always exciting — having babies around the holidays is always a cheerful thing.”

Welcoming the first 2015 baby isn’t the only thing hospital staff is excited about though.

Vaughan has recently been equipped with a state-of-the-art security system meant to protect patients, including some of the hospital’s tiniest.

“The nursing [staff] and security can monitor through computers where the babies are in the hospital — where each baby is at all times,” Austin said. “It’s a really new and up-to-date system that the hospital’s really proud to have.”

Austin said the system adds another layer of security at the hospital.

“Having the security system just gives our nursing and security staff extra support to make sure nothing happens to our babies,” Austin said. “The most important thing is patient safety.”

Austin applauded the staff at Vaughan, saying Selma is blessed to have such a great place for mothers and their babies.

“Vaughan is very privileged to have an OB floor here to take care of our mommas and our babies,” Austin said. “We’ve got a great nursing staff and physicians.”