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Show 'r k.m t WZiv :,t- Xz&f 0 V- s&ag&Vpti? ' - QmmM ' - " ,', . - .. f , i 50 cents ' : f , & . .. - 'v ' f ' .: t ' Nurse shortage causes divert status at Blanding Birth Center the student's grade point average and local officials would like geographic preference for at least a few spots in the program. San Juan County has contributed millions of dollars for a scholarship fund but it is ineffective if local residents are not accepted or do not stay after re- Citing a nationwide nursing shortage that has hit close to home, San Juan Health Care officials have announced that the Blanding Birthing Center will be put on temporary diversion". The nursing shortage reached a critical point in recent months and health care officials say they have no choice but to temporarily close the birthing center. This is a critical situation, said San Juan Health Care District Administrator John Hart, who added that the district is initiating an aggressive campaign to recruit and retain nurses. We have just 17 nurses to staff our operations, and at the current time, we cannot provide the 247 coverage that is needed at the birthing center. As a result of the status, all deTwo little snow bunnies enjoy a recent snowfall. Staff photo to San L Commission discusses new position i Concern about creation of a building department in San Juan County continues to interest San Juan County residents. At the December 16 meeting of the San Juan County Commis- sion, Victor Nebeker and a group of Eastland area residents asked a series of questions about the creation of the building department. Jerry Halliday of Blanding asked similar questions at the December 9 Com- mission meeting. Commissioners say that creation of the department was necessitated when long-tim- e County Assessor Bruce Bunker was defeated in the November election. New Assessor Howard Randall has not yet received the necessary licenses to complete appraisals, and he does not anticipate receiving a building inspection license. As a result the County is creating a new building department which will t t handle building inspections, authorize building permits and oversee planning, zoning and subdivision regulations. It is widely perceived that current County Assessor Bunker will apply and should be a frontrunner for the job. The decision will be made by the new county Commission and Commissioner Lynn Stevens said he has made it clear to Bunker that there is no predetermination who will get the job. in-comi- ng Howard Randall approached the Commission and said Bun- ; ker has stated he had been copy R 0 - yi-i- s ft promised a position in the County for as long as he wanted. Randall stated that Commissioners Ty Lewis, Mark Maryboy, and Calvin Black had made the promise to Bunker. Lewis denied the statement, Maryboy was not at the meeting and Black passed away more than a decade ago. Bunker denied the allegation and said he had been told by previous Commissioners that he ought to keep the building in- spection department in the Assessors office, because someday, if youre beaten in an election, you might be glad you kept it. Randall complained that he is feeling like a loser even though he won the election, because San Juan County needs to hire this new position. He asked that in light of the budget deficit and the financial status of the county, that the Commission give the Assessor crew a chance to do the job. They have the skills to complete the position. Commissioner Lewis said, Well, I need to talk to your staff. If they can tell me the office can function with all the responsibilities Ill believe it. In other matters at the December 16 Commission meeting: Commissioners approved a 3 cost of living acjjustment for County employees, plus another 1 merit increase and another 1 that can be used to catch up County positions that are paid below area averages. ceiving their degree. The nursing shortage problem has been a long time in the making and will take a long time to solve. It takes two years for an entering student to receive a nursing degree and the program apparently has a long waiting list. Stevens said that the Health Care District is not contemplating permanent closure of the Blanding Birthing Center. Stevens added, However, if we are on a temporary divert and the doors are closed, the birthing .enter is, in effect, closed for the ohort run. He added that the district is placing an enormous emphasis on recruiting and needs to meet with currently-license- d nurses in the area to see what can be done. Blanding area residents are concerned about the closure and point to a laundry list of health care actions that they say unfairly penalize their community. This includes cutting back hours at the Blanding Clinic, closing the emergency room which was located at the birthing center and now the temporary diversion status of the birthing liveries that present at the Birthing Center will be diverted Juan Hospital. The Blanding Birthing Center was opened more than a decade ago, with a special licensure provision that, in effect, creates a 22 mile hallway of San Juan Hospital to Blanding. Officials say the temporary diversion does not endanger the licensure. The birthing center has been placed on temporary divert status because of nursing shortages roughly a dozen times in the past year. Officials state that several nurses moved from the area because their spouses could not find employment. Some are nearing retirement and others face health difficulties and there is not the critical mass of nurses needed to cover the birthing cen- named Enterprise Zone San Juan County Commis- Monticello sioners said on December 17 that they hope to meet with health care officials, College of The City of Monticello is exEastern Utah officials, and offi- cited to announce that on Den cials who manage a cember 10, 2002, it received an endowdollar scholarship Enterprise Zone designation ment to see what can be done to from the State of Utah, Departcreate a geographic preference ment of Community and Ecofor spots in the CEU nursing nomic Development. The designation gives certain program for local residents. The College of Eastern Utah-Sa- n businesses that hire within the Juan Campus has what is community the opportunity to take advantage of significant widely hailed as a very successful nursing program. However, tax incentives. The two types the majority of the nursing of businesses that are not algraduates are leaving the area lowed to participate are retail for employment. sales and construction. If you It will take legislation to ear- currently own a business and mark spots for the nursing are looking to expand or if you schools, said health care board are entertaining thoughts of member and County Commis- starting a new business or if you multi-millio- would like to learn more about the program, please contact Scott A. Jones, Monticello City Planner at 1 I stf" i.y ' '' .1 . ' - V. jt .J- - ' y' r "tj. t'n'. V c . f vt mj - ' ..1-- ; ' "i".( -- f v'Vl-Ar ' apbi - j SINCE 1915 ... ' Canyonlands to offer local tour permit - See page 2 More water worries for Monticello - Sec page 3 Three pages of Letters to Editor - See pages 4,5,12 Effort to ions will save pintake time - See page 7 Bucks defeated by Devils, Broncos win two of - three See page 8 Wrestlers have busy week - See page 9 Christmas pageant a hit at La Sal -- See page 10 Twelve days of Christmas - See Caveman, page 1 1 Gft&W Monticello will enjoy the 11th annual Live Nativity program presented at Pioneer Park at 5 p.m. on Christmas Eve, Tuesday, Decem- ber 24. Please come take part in this small ter. sioner Lynn Stevens. But we will do what we can. Selection for the nursing program is now based entirely upon s' liwV 1 December 1 8, 2002 , ' 4 . HOMETOWN NEWS PAPER FOR SAN JUAN COUNTY, UTAH Volume 86 Number 1 2 ... - Ju a n 1 7if . Jr fc .& J 'h 5:7y! ivw ... y.-- v Pimwi 5? m,-- ; e V 435-587-227- 1. town tradition with your friends and neighbors. HBSiggi? rasp 1 News Roundup Letters to Editor. 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