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Show ..?df iJiV ' r.feS J ; -- : i f Ss?r; r., Ze . Jt4atf'Hec&k$ -- - HOMETOWN' NEWSPAPER FOR SAN JOAN COUNTY, UTAH SINCE 1916 S0cents. Commission approves $1 million for local health care July 4. 2001 An obviously impressed San Juan County Commission authorized expenditures exceeding $1 million for health care at the July 2 Commission meeting. The expenditures include $510,000 for equipment in the District, in addition to another $500,000 to help cover the costs of district operations. The capital expenditures for equipment will be paid from a $1.4 million trust fund set up several years ago after the county sold the nursing home to a private organization. The $500,000 for operations will have to come from another source. San Juan County Clerk The newly crowned Miss San Juan royalty are (I) First Attendant Hetal Norman Johnson reports that Patel, Queen Sulane Freestone, and Second Attendant Sastia Johnson. recently received figures on Dowell Logan photo Local beauty named Miss Sari Juan by Logan Dowell Glamour, talent, and tension crowned the 2001 Miss San Juan, edging out nine other filled the Monticello High contestants. Auditorium during the annual Miss San Juan Pageant on June 30. After the scores were tallied, Sulane (Suzy) Freestone was First Attendant honors went to Hetal Patel and Second Attendant to Sastia Johnson pageant is the first of many events for the annual San Juan County Fair. Coordinator Crystal Alvares, MC Rhett Maughan, Fair President Terri Harris and the ten contestants worked together The Retired trooper admits to abuse Documents filed in the Seventh District Court in the past week charge Doug Hall, a recently retired Utah Highway Patrol Sergeant from Monticello, with one count of forcible sexual abuse. Hall turned himself into San Juan County Sheriff Mike Lacy and admitted the crime. The documents state Hall inappropriately touched an unidentified minor, who was 14 years or older when the incident happened in May or June 1999. County Attorney Craig Halls is handling the prosecution, which is being monitored by the Utah Attorney Generals Office. The case will be heard in Seventh District Court by Judge Mary Manley, after local Seventh District Judge Lyle Anderson recused himself. In addition to his responsibilities as a Utah Highway Patrol Sergeant, Hall was the Bishop of the Monticello Second Ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-da- y Saints. He was released as Bishop on July 1. -- well-attend- ed property values indicate that the county will have an additional $100,000 in the general fund, the result of increased property values. However, that increase just begins to touch the $500,000 that the Commission approved in theory. The remaining $400,000 could be garnered from a number of sources, but not from the general fund. The Commission approved a similar in the healthcare property tax in December, 2000. However, that increase was overturned by the Utah State Tax Commission be- increase cause public hearings were not held to provide the public an opto present an entertaining portunity to comment on the increase. performance. Commissioner Mark Maiyboy Freestone is a daughter of made the motion to approve the of Freestone and Kerry Sandy Monticello. Patel is a daughter expenditures, adding that he of Rama and Nick Patel of was impressed with the presenMonticello. Johnson is a tation made by District Director daughter of Ruth and Norman Jon Hart and Finance Director Johnson of Blanding. Lyman Duncan. Maryboy Other awards included Jessica stated, "In 15 years, this is the Bellar as Miss Congeniality, first time Ive seen a report from Alene Frost for Best Talent (a the health care district that outpiano solo, "Clair de Lune), lines its problems and the posKrystal Helquist for Best sible solutions. The proposal includes a CAT Evening Gown, Kisper Ramsay for Best Swimsuit, and Katie scan for the hospital, a monitor Joslin, Marylin Harris, and for cardiac diagnostic testing, a Candi Jackson for participation respiratory ventilator, and dialysis machines for the districts awards. medical clinics in Blanding and Aside from winning scholarships for their efforts, Freestone Monticello. Jon Hart told the Commisand her attendants will preside at local events throughout the sion, "The purchase of these summer, including the July 4th capital equipment items reprecelebration in Blanding, Pioneer sents, in one stroke to all the Days in Monticello, and the San residents of San Juan County, a Juan County Fair. quantum leap of increased Patel will represent San Juan medical services closer to home. County at the Utah State Fair Quality of care is enhanced Pageant in September. Free- through increased utilization of stone, a senior at Monticello district equipment and staff." High, is not eligible for the state Hart added that many more competition because she is not emergency patients will no longer require an additional trip yet a high school graduate. Commission brief. to another emergency room out of the county. The capital expenditures are absolutely necessary, according to Hart, who added that "if we don't change, the ship well sink. Duncan added that it is "defi- nitely hold-your-brea- th See page 2 - white-knuckle-ti- for the financially-district. San Has Services Juan Health for several struggled years with both market, legal and internal Monticello City Council - See pg 2 . Where is Planet of the Apes? - See page 3 What do you fear most? - See page 7 challenged issues. Estimates are that the Golf hole -- News in $510,000 in equipment will gen- Seepage New, page 9 Buzy in La Sal - See Northern News, page 14 Three friends - See Caveman, page 16 patients within the District, rather than sending business out of county, will benefit the entire health care system. The presentation to the Commission was attended by several members of the Health Care Board and local health care providers, and represent a new look for health care in San Juan County. Hart stated that the arrival of Dr. Jay Reddy, a doctor of internal medicine, represents a significant increase in the scope of services that can be provided at the hospital. The newly authorized equipment will help maximize Dr. Reddys expertise. Hie district management, who began working for the district in the spring of 2001, approached the Commission with what they say is a much better picture of the health care situation in San Juan County. They addd that while it may be a better picture, it doesnt mean it is a good pic- Funeral services for Marlene Randolph will take place on Friday or Saturday, July 6 or 7, at the Monticello LDS Stake Center, 165 South Main Street. Call San Juan Mortuary for details at 453-678-26- I 1 boy Dylan Wayne Joe Nichole Hawkins & Gerald Joe June 21 girl year-to-dat- agement Hart and Duncan state that their management focus will be to balance inpatient and outpatient services in the district. Currently, approximately of all revenues come from the outpatient clinics. The new maragers state they would like to balance the revenues. As a result, their focus will primarily be on hospital operations. (please turn to page 13) two-thir- ds Miriam Liberty & Angela Brady Hunt June 27 ture. The financial statements show a net operating loss of nearly $500,000 in the first five months of 2001. Roughly half of the e loss was in May, the of result accounting adjustments made by the new district man- 10 Monticello - See Whats erate approximately $19,000 a month in increased cash flow for the district, totaling $228,000 each year. Hart and Duncan state that the increased cash flow from the equipment is the tip of the iceberg, adding that serving more 13 Monticello May Hi Lo Pr 25 85 50 26 83 55 .12 27 78 45 .10 28 29 30 Blanding Lo Pr 91 59 74 57 .28 Hi 86 49 89 52 94 57 85 93 97 98 53 60 62 62 93 63 95 54 June 1 News Roundup 2 Letters 6 8 Society 10 Sports Community News ...11 Obituary is Legate Real Estate. Classified 16 17 18 |