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Show 'Jto&rttit . a?-- JF C. V V ' ,:! n ' 1 fr f. v ' SINCE 1915 HOMETOWN' NEWSPAPER FOR SAN JUAN COUNTY, UTAH f7'50jjents. - 's M..MW HHWWMW October 2,. 2002 &t 'rami, ikr Wii .!") Inappropriate and abusive? - See Dust in the Wind, page 2 Monticello Council recounts summer water projects - See page 3 Livestock drought - See page 4 aid Applied Technology College gets grant - See pages 5 Five letters to Editor - See Letters, pg. 7 6-- Art Award winners named -- See page Bucks, Broncs to meet Friday -- See pages 10-1- 9 1 Tips on tipping -- See My View, pg. 12 Learn from a sun- - See Whats flower New, pg. 16 The 2002 Homecoming royalty at Monticello High School includes second attendant Cynthia Harris, Queen Julianna Redd, first attendant Staff photo Adri Pearson, and Miss Congeniality Ashley Bellar. boy David Michael & Douglas Harkey September 16 Michelle Health Care Board approves debt restructuring plan The San Juan Health Care Board voted on September 26 to approve the restructuring of nearly $800,000 in debt owed by the health care district. On September 23, the San Juan County Commission voted to forgive nearly $55,000 in old debt owed to the county by the district. In addition, the county agreed to contribute $95,000 to help the district retire a $200,000 loan from the Community Impact Board. The loan is being used to purchase new and surgical equipment for San Juan Hospital. The health care district will match up to $25,000 to purchase the financial instruments which will retire the debt Finally, the county restructured a $500,000 loan to the district which was due in 2004. The loan was created in 1999, with a 2004 payoff date. The new terms call for full payment of the loan on a monthly basis over a 25 year period at a 2.5 percent interest rate. When asked in a separate interview why the Commission would initiate the move to restructure the health care dis- x-r- ay trict debt, San Juan County Commissioner Bill Redd said, We shouldnt spend money foolishly, that is granted. I dont know if medicine is foolish or not. There may be some legitimate complaints, but they (Health Care administrators John Hart and Lyman Duncan) have done a pretty good job and earned my respect, so I think we should restructure. I have done a lot of credit business in my life and I have learned that it is better to sit down and recoup the debt over time rather than lose your money entirely. Redd said that the money to retire the $200,000 C.I.B. loan came from a health care trust fund set up when the county sold the nursing home. This is exactly the type of thing the fund was set up to handle, said Redd. These two cities (Monticello and Blanding) get back much more money in San Juan County services than they put into the system. The truth is, oil money is what is being used to guarantee continued health care in San Juan County. was delivered in a clinic as a ing new board member Lynn result. Officials stressed that the faStevens, voted unanimously to approve the plan. Stevens said cility was not closed, but that an that the plan made good busi- employee was there to notify inness sense for the district, but coming patients of the divert blasted administrators for mov- status. They add that the divert ing ahead before they had talked was the result of an unusually to the entire board. busy day at San Juan Hospital, The perception is that this which resulted in calling all board is doing things behind the available employees to the hosscenes, said Stevens, who pital. While three babies were delivadded that the perceptions are a major reason for the lack of ered at the Birthing Center in confidence in the district. the entire month of August, In other matters, the number there were three deliveries on of patients at San Juan Hospi- that day alone, in addition to 13 tal continue to grow. Officials other patients who were admitreport that the patient census ted into San Juan Hospital. . has increased by more than 51 percent through August, 2002, when compared to 2001. While the loss from operations in the district totaled $2.4 million in 2000 and $1.4 million in 2001, through August, the 2002 net loss is $212,000 before any The Utah Arts Councils Reproperty tax or county subsidy. source Center announces CreHealth Care officials report ating Your Artist Website, to be that the Blanding Birthing Cen- held October 8 at the Artist Reter was placed on divert for sev- source Center in the Rio Grande eral hours a few weeks ago. It Depot in Salt Lake City. had been reported that the faFor more information, call cility was closed and that a baby (801) The health care board, includ- Website workshop for artists 533-358- 2. mm fry1 sQi1 ! Jfc .&-- A' girl Giovanna Alisa Myriam & Juan Alba September 17 a! r' boy Nathan Jeremy Candice & Nathaniel Nakai September 18 boy Ely Geo Bitsinnie Eva Blackwater & Gary Bitsinnie September 19 girl Aimee Lynn & Kirk Crowley Angela September 24 I I I SfeTl |