OCR Text |
Show ft 1 rN TM LrU- : .L t ij lM - D ' 1 ' ' nnr7 The Voice of Sanpete County Volume MT. PLEASANT, UTAH Ninety-Seve- n S4647 - October 18, 1989 Number Forty Two Price 504 Sanpete Valley Hospital could face 1990 closure to update some of its existing equipment which is Mil! operational but somewhat limited in use. In addition, Sanpete Valley Hos- MT. PLEASAN- T- Sanpete Valley Hospital could face closure as soon as the middle of 1990 city councilmen were told at their Oct. pital has 1 1 patients whose hospitalization is paid by Medicaid. Regardless of the cost of that care, the hospital is reimbursed only $45 per day. Winn said IHC is willing to forgive the hospitals S450, 000 annual debt service, if the other shortages can be made up by the hospital. Winn said he is starting a public awareness campaign that has included visiting all city councils and the county commission to ask for support, although contributions arc not being directly solicited from local government agencies because of the proximity of two other hospitals, Gunnison Valley Hospital, Gunnison, and Central Utah Medical Center, Nephi, to some Sanpete towns. 10 meeting. Hospital administrator George Winn and boardmember Rhea Stewart presented a slide presentation explaining the plight of the local facility as well as other rural hospitals. The main dilemma facing the hospital, which is owned and operated by Intermountain Health Care, is its negative cash flow, blamed on numerous economic factors. The third largest employer in Sanpete County, IHC employs 85 people in its hospital and clinics. Winn explained that Sanpete Valley Hospital provided $300, (XX) in uncompensated care in 1988, representing welfare cases and unpaid bills. Popular singer, Michael Martin Murphey, will perform in a benefit concert at the ,Miow College Activity Center on October 18. The concert is sponsored by Far West Bank and proceeds will to the Sanpete Valley and Gunnison Hospitals. n country-wester- Michael Martin Murphey concert set tonight - EPHRAIM- Tickets are still available for the Michael Martin Murphey benefit concert to be held at 8 p.m. tonight, Oct. 18, in the Snow College Activity Center. Tickets are being sold at Far West Bank in Fairview or Mt. Pleasant, the Snow College Activity Center Ticket Office, or from First West Brokerage, Proceeds from ticket sales after expenses will go to benefit Sanpete Countys two hospitals, Sanpete Valley, in Mt. Pleasant, and Gunnison. The concert is sponsored by First West Brokerage and Far West Bank. Murphey, singer and songwriter, sings of love of the land, especially his adopted home, the Southwest, unique American archetypes oflovers, loners, driftersand cowboys. His musievaries from folk and country to pop and rock n roll. He has had hits on both sides of the popcountry divide and racked up over 12 hits in the last four years. His catalog of classic songs includes, Cherokee Fiddle, Carolina in the Pines, and Geronimos Cadillac. Wildfire, His albums include his latest, River of Time and Ameri374-520- country-wester- 0. n cana. Murphey recently performed with the Utah Symphony in concert at Deer Valley. a The Ruth Aragon story Mother, children victims of abuse Editors Note: The following story is the second in a series of articles written after an interview with the natural parFairview boy ents of a who died July 17, 1989, while in foster care, an alleged victim of child abuse. Foster parents, Blaine and Mary Mackay, Fairview, face an Oct. 30 of negligent homicide in the death of Erick Aragon and child abuse of Erick and his brother James. Ruth Aragon, the natural mother, and her former boyfriend, Joe Wayman, must answer to a petition in the Fourth District Juvenile Court that they sexually abused Erick and James prior to their being placed in foster care, Oct. 7, 1988. Ruth and Brent Aragon, who have sought to get their children returned to them since they were removed from the mothers Spring City home over a year ago, have consented to have their story published by Penny Hamilton MT. PLEASAN- T- How could I do that to my son? Ruth asks. I love my kids. I know how bad my father messed up my life. Do you think I would want that for them? Ruth refused to admit to the Sanpete County Attorney that she ld pre-tri- al four-year-o- ld had sexually abused two of her four sons even when he told her he had a video tape of her son, Erick, accusing her. She also refused to take rehabilitation designed for sex offenders and offered to take a polygraph test to prove her innocence. I am not a pervert. I did not sexually abuse my kids, she adamantly maintains. Ruth Aragon, whose three sons were taken from her by Family Services, Oct. 7, 1988, and who has contested the state for custody of her children for over a year, was served with an amended petition, Oct. 2, 1989, in the Fourth District Juvenile Court. This time the court is saying she and Wayman sexually abused Erick Lee and James Arthur Aragon prior to their placement in foster care. Erick, died July 17, 1989, while in foster care, an alleged victim of child abuse. The new charges against Ruth stem from Ericks alleged behavior in the foster home of Blaine and Mary Mackay that prompted referral to a psychologist. Ruth said she was told Erick was doing something to his brother, Continued on page 3 long-term-ca- The hospital lost $700,000, based on figures revealing that only 48 percent of residents needing hospi- Winn said he hasnt even approached businesses or private contributors for financial support, but that fund raisers, like the Oct. 18 performanceof Michael Mattin Murphey, at the Snow College Activity Center, are being planned. The council pledged its support, recognizing the hospital as a vital part of Mt. Pleasant's local economy, and offered further assistance if needed. In other business, the council heard a proposal from Ccnlerficld busi nessman, Kan Munk lor mandated garbage pick up, approved a $10,252 contract with Valley Asphalt to pave the armory road to the Search and Rescue Building, passed the Association of Government's membership bv laws, discussed the pending hydro project, and heard an update from Chcsley Christensen on the youth city council elections at North Sanpete High School. The following election judges were approved for the November 7 municipal elections. District 1, Wayne Beck, Jean Madsen, Lois Bynum, and alternate. Grant Seely, District 2, Thelma Tuttle, Lois Tucker, and Ed Monk with alternate, Helen Christensen, and District 3, Glen Thompson. Bermecc Coates, and Maurine Wilcox, with Ray Dodge, alternate Approval was given for a spook alley at the recreation center, Oct 26, 27, 28, 30 and 31. Harold Mickel named president of Mt. Pleasant Stake at conference tal care used the local facility. Winn explained that those figures didnt mean all people not using Sanpete Valley Hospital elected to take their medical needs up north. The hospital offers, in addition to its four resident family practitioners, doctors who visit the facility to offer specialized medical care. Those doctors, Winn explains, see patients at the local hospital, but often refer them to larger urban hospitals for treatment because Sanpete Valley does not have the facilities for all procedures. Instead Winn has asked the county commission to organize a task force to study the situation and make recommendations. Ina'ddition legislation to aid rural hospitaLs is being prepared, and one Sanpete family practitioner, former president of the Utah Medical Association, Dr. Kim Bateman, is the rural spokesman for the medical association. ; Although Sanpete Valley has a visiting surgeon that performs surgeries and a modem operating room, Winn said the hospital recognizes that most specialty physicians want to monitor their patients daily during post operative hospital care. Where the surgeons are not available daily, this care is not possible, and only routine surgeries where no compli- cations are anticipated are performed locally. Winn said the hospital is looking for a general surgeon that would be willing to locate at Sanpete Valley Hospital, so more surgeries could be performed. Some procedures are not performed because the hospital does not have the sophisticated equipment necessary. Although Sanpete Valley Hospital has an ophthalmologist visit regularly, all that doctors patients have to be treated at another facility because of the expensive equipment required for those procedures. Winn said the hospital also needs Fairview man escapes serious injury MT. PLEASAN- T- Harold Mickel, Spring City, was named president of the Mt. Pleasant Utah LDS Stake during the stakes semiannual conference Sunday, Oct. 15. Mickel succeeds President Robert Jorgensen, Mt. Pleasant who served in that capacity for nearly nine years. The new presidency includes Maurice Turpin, Fairview, first counselor; Mark Allen Beck, Mt. Pleasant, second counselor; Lowell R. Anderson, Fairview, clerk, and Earl Clark, Spring City, executive secretary. The retiring presidency included Osral Allred, Spring City, first counselor; Glade Mower, Fairview, second counselor; Denis Andelin, Mt. Pleasant, clerk; Ted Madsen, Fairview, executive secretary, and Reed Miller, financial clerk. Harold Mickel Harold Mickel was born and raised in Spring City and is a life-lon- g resident. He graduated from North Sanpete High School and Snow College and received his Bachelors Degree from Brigham Young University. He has taught math at North Sanpete High School for 27 years. A member of the Spring City Second LDS Ward, he has served in the Stake High Council, as stake executive secretary, bishop, and Sunday School president. He and his wife, Jean, have four children and three grandchildren. Maurice Turpin Maurice Turpin was born and raised in Fairview and has lived there the last 27 years. A member of the Fairview Second LDS Ward he has served as bishop, Elders Quorum president, ward clerk, first and second counselor in the bishopric, and on the Stake High Coun cil. He served a mission to Nova Scotia and Newfoundland. He is a coal miner at Valley Camp Mine. He and his wife, Rodaleen, have five children and three grandchil- dren. Mark Allen Beck Mark Allen Beck was born and raised in Mt. Pleasant. A member of the Mt. Pleasant First LDS Ward, he has served as bishop, young mens president, counselor in the Elders Quorum and Sunday School, and on the Stake High Council. He owns and operates Becks Appliance. He and his wife, Laura, have four children. Ixjwell R. Anderson Lowell R. Anderson, was born and raised in Fairview and has lived in Fairview since his retirement eight years ago after working for 28 years for the Bureau of Reclamation. A member of the Fairview First LDS Ward he has served on the Stake High Council, as High Priest group leader, counselor in the bishopric, and Elders Quorum president. He and his wife, Jeanne, have four children and 10 grandchildren. Earl Clark Earl Clark was born and raised in Spring City and has lived there most of his life. A member of the Spring City Second LDS Ward, he has served as bishop, finance and ward clerk, in the Elder's Quorum presidency, on the Stake High Council, stake clerk and stake young mens president. He Ls the Sanpete County Treasurer having worked in the treasurers office for 22 years. He and his wife, Leslie, have three children and one grandson. Other stake changes included those sustained to the Stake High Council: Terry Curtis, Charles Bryce Jackson, Blake Madxen,and George Bench, all Fairview; Kenneth Palmer, Peter Hafen, and Joseph Hanks, all Mt Pleasant, and Donald Watson and Dariell Olsen, both Spring City. Released from the High Council were: Jerry Nelson, Ray D Eichcr, Michael Aime, and Lowell Anderson, all Fairview, James C Thoi nton, Joseph G. Richardson, Paul Peel, Harry L. Hanson, and Maik Allen Beck, all Mt Pleasant, and LailD Clark, Spring City. New stake auxiharv callings included: Ryan Anderson. Fairview, young men's president, with Ed Staker, Mt. Pleasant, lust counselor, and Melvin Curtis, Fairview, second counselor, who replace Earldean Anderson, president, and counselors. Alan Hansen and Erwin Smith. Dan Nielsen was released as secretary. the young womens organization, Lila Erickson, Mt. .Pleasant was sustained as first counselor and Margaret Elaine Jensen, Fairview, second counselor, replacing Cynthia Allred and Kathy Jo Keisel. Diane Kelley was released as secretary. Elliot Lund, Mt. Pleasant, was sustained as stake extraction coot dinator and Rex Hafen was icleased from that assignment. In -- Speakers at the conference included Dallin Oakes, a membei ol the Council of thcTvvclv e Apostles and Max Caldwell, regional representative. Music included the Stake Reliel Society Chorus at the Saturdav session and the Noith Sanpete High School Chorus. FAIRVIE- A Fairview man escaped serious injury when the vehicle he was driving collided with a horse on Highway 89 three miles south of here Oct. 12. W- According to Fairview Marshal Jim Cheney, Kelly Holden, 28, was northbound when he struck the horse also in the northbound lane. Holden suffered minor cuts on his fingers, Marshal Cheney said. He was not taken to the hospital for treatment. The 80 sports car he was driving sustained about $4,000 in damages. The horse, belonging to Kevin Turpin, was seriously injured and was later destroyed. Holden was alone in the vehicle at the time of the accident. There were no citations issued, Marshal Cheney said. Members of the newly sustained Mt. Pleasant LDS Stake presidency include: President Harold Mickel, center, Maurice Turpin, first counselor, Mark Allen Beck, second counselor; Lowell R. Anderson, clerl and Earl Clark, executive secretary. |