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Show - s . ''"KWKT?'" ' iA.r v: 'C- '- - s : ! i f T ' rp ;'! i I , lV ecr Juan HOMETOWN NEWSPAPER FOR SAN JUAN COUNTY, UTAH Volume 86 Number 18 g. x, SINCE 1915 50 cents - January 29, 2003 wi Continuing Birthing Center controversy in health care The closure of the Blanding Birthing Center continues to create controversy for the San Juan Health Services District. Health care officials created a divert status for the birthing center in blaming a severe nursing shortage. The district held a series of public meetings to reon-goin- g age of 1.5 a day. Officials state mathat a new digital chine, with radiologists from the University of Utah Medical Cenx-r- ay Monticello talks deep well - See pg. Army Cutworms on the march - See page ter providing timely reads, on-lin- -- gram. Courtesy photo Four killed in airplane accident Four travelers were killed on January 23 when their Piper aircraft crashed near La Sal. The four were flying from Longmont, Colorado to Las Vegas when the Civil Air Patrol received a distress call at approximately 10 p.m. Thursday. Officials state that all four were killed on impact when the plane crashed near Coyote Wash two miles east of La Sal. Despite the location close to La Sal, it took two days of search and rescue to find the wreckage. Curtis Wilcox of La Sal noticed a plume of smoke on his land early Saturday morning and found the wreckage. The search and rescue effort involved members of the San Juan County Search and Rescue squad, Civil Air Patrol, a Utah Highway Patrol helicopter and a rented helicopter. Killed were Therese Anne Moon, 39, of Westminster, CO, Barry Burk, 35, of Longmont, CO, Dennis Irsik, 44, of Dacono, CO and Jeffery Bynum, 43, of Longmont, CO. Beware of highwaymen on local roads The thoughts of highwaymen pulling over travelers on deserted stretches of road late at night is enough to strike fear in the hearts of many. That is exactly what has happened twice in San Juan County in recent weeks, most recently on January 22 when a Dodge Caravan was pulled over near Church Rock, on US 191 14 miles north of Monticello. The occupants of the car state that three men in a white sport utility vehicle with grill lights pulled the car over, and stole $520 and the vehicle, leaving the two travelers stranded. A call was dispatched to San Juan County law enforcement at 3 a.m., but officers respond- ing to the scene could find no one. travelers hitchhiked to Green River, where they reported the incident several hours after the veThe two hi-jack- ed hicle was stolen. The vehicle was recovered in Grand Junction later on Thursday. According to San Juan County Sheriff Mike Lacy, a similar event happened on December 1, when two people traveling were pulled over in the same area by a dark sport utility vehicle with a light bar on the front. Five people with rifles reportedly stole their belongings and the car. It was not reported to law enforcement officials until 10:45 a.m. the next morning. Law enforcement officials state that there are suspicious circumstances associated with the robberies. In both situations, the car occupants were illegal aliens. Law enforcement officials encourage local residents to keep an eye out for sport utility vehicles with light grills on the front. Call law enforcement officials as the occupants are considered armed and dangerous. San Juan County officials are in the process of processing the crime scene of the latest vehicle with a drug dog. 5 Car Care Center foshould be e this week. The Health Care Board voted cus of Shop at to give Administrator John Hart - See Home page 7 a $10,000 raise at the end of the Plane crash in La January 23 board meeting. cruit nurses, but admit that In other health care news, San Sal See page 14 Juan County has earmarked they have had little luck recruiting new nurses to the facility. $500,000 to help build a $4.5 Blanding area residents claim million health science building a host of nurses are willing to at the College of Eastern Utah - San Juan Campus. go to work and they dont underFuneral services are restand why the facility hasn't At the January 27 Commisannounced for Wayne opened. District officials state sion meeting, commissioners set on that February 13 is an antic- aside funds from the Health Rasmussen, age 88, Wednesday, January 29 ipated date to reopen the Care Trust Fund for the project. at the North LDS Chapel Blanding Birthing Center, but Dr. Don Larson and Beth Carter in Monticello. A that is not soon enough for many from the CEU - San Juan Cam- will be held fromviewing 10 to south county residents, who pus said that the county com1:30 a.m. and services state that lives are at risk with mitment will initiate fund will follow at noon. the facilitys divert status. raising efforts for the project. At the January 27 San Juan The proposed building will Tecft County Commission meeting, house medical training proCommissioner Lynn Stevens grams, classrooms, and library. Francisca girl stated frustration that the disOfficials hope to leverage the Jennifer & Antonio Davila trict hasnt placed a strong sense $500,000 from the County with January 18 of urgency on reopening the fa$500,000 from the federal government. The group will then cility. He said he didnt questo tion why the district had approach the State Community create the initial divert status, but questions why the center is not open several weeks later. County officials state they will Utah State Legislature. meet with health care board ofCEU oficials state that politi ficials to discuss the situation. While there remains controversy in the health care district, officials report good financial Orrin Hatch have reportedly news. Net revenues in 2002 tosaid the project is very doable taled $5,247 million, a 32.5 per- and Representative Jim cent increase over 2001. Matheson felt confident he could The increase was driven by a pursue funding from the U.S. dramatic increase in admissions House of Representatives. to San Juan Hospital. The 2002 It is a time of financial shortbed day census at San Juan fall for state government. HowHospital was 1,922 patients, a ever, officials are hopeful that 48.3 percent increase over 2001. the project will receive the sigThe Intensive Care Unit cared nificant state funding from the for 52 patients in 2002 and there legislature and from the Comwere 558 CT scans, for an aver munity Impact Board. (CtyypfkT&fzn mid-Decemb- Shannon Wero. a nursing student at the College of Eastern Utah -San Juan Campus, demonstrates a procedure during a training pro- 2 snow pack at Camp Jackson on Jan. 27, 2003. 8.4" is average on Jan. 27. 2.3" on Jan. 27, 1990. 19.6 on Jan. 27, 1993. 3.7" .S. Representative Jim Matheson visited San Juan County in the ast week. Here he meets with officials from the College of Eastern tah - San Juan Campus. Courtesy photo in |