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Show : Vv- ,r,. S - '4i ., ' ' 4 - . W?a? '". . ,i- .:. . is- V " ' ';.'' r ' ", J '',.r V ' X - ''' Vt V& . Ate. ' i' , i'-s-K U - .; S ' A,t .Jr v VA 4 - m 1 .r' Juan 4 fi J i H J 4 -- ' S- TJ ':'4' ' &' ' - SINCE 1015 HOMETOWN' NEWS PAPER FOR SAN JUAN COUNTY, UTAH ' c H jfS 'to? V M I -- 50 cents Volume 86 Number 13 December 25, 2002 VV v ZSSXWlSStS ffflfecfe&l I Felony court report - Bluff H . f wastewater op- tions V See page 2 - See page 4 Seven Letters to the Editor - See page 8-- 9 Shop at Home features Pollys Parlor - 12 Bucks, Broncos ! Monticello Elementary School students sang with enthusiasm at the annual holiday music concert on December 20. Staff photos Health district, college investigate options as nursing crisis grows . See page The San Juan Health Service District is in the midst of an intense effort to recruit and retain nurses to stem a nursing shortage crisis. However, several Blanding area residents told the San Juan County Commission Aft December 23 that the effort would fail unless nurse concerns up to 50 percent in the past year, but they are still $4 an hour below surrounding areas. Hart stated that the nursing shortage is caused by a number of factors and that it will not be easy to resolve. "It doesnt mat- about the administration are problem is going to stay. addressed. Blanding Health Care Advi- sory Board President Letha Burtenshaw said that several Blanding area nurses did not attend recent meetings to discuss the crisis because "they fear retaliation for their comments." District Financial Officer Lyman Duncan stated that he will meet with nurses publically or privately and will ensure that confidential concerns are heard and addressed. Health District Administrator John Hart outlined the national nursing shortage that he states is responsible for the recent "temporary divert status at the Blanding Birthing Center. A number of nurses have recently left the District, creating an eight shift shortage that mandated the temporary closure of the Birthing Center. The closure has resulted in a firestorm of controversy in Blanding, where residents complain that the closure is just the latest in a series of actions that has cut the availability of health care in the Blanding area. In recent years, the Emergency Room was closed and hours were cut at the Blanding Clinic. "The nation will have a 450,000 person nursing shortage by 2020 and Utah has the third largest nursing shortage in the nation, said Hart. "This shortage has an impact nationwide, statewide and locally. Hart stated that the District has increased nursing wages by COPY ter if John Hart or Lyman Duncan are here or not, the Hart stated that the recent success of the health care district has contributed to the crisis. "In the past year, we have increased our patient days by 550 patients and doubled the number of admissions to the hospital. This represents five more months of work this year for the hospital employees. Duncan warned that the increased work load is impacting all departments in the hospital and added, "We are on the edge ofa divert status in other areas. Hart denied statements that the district will not pay overtime, stating "We must fill our needs and many times it in- cludes overtime. Hart bristled at a suggestion by new health care board member Grant Imel that the national nursing crisis "doesnt have a direct impact here. Hart responded, "That is absolutely wrong. It hits us here every day, it is true today, true every day. Officials from the nursing program at the College of Eastern - Utah San Juan Campus outlined a series of steps they are considering to address the problem. A January 3 meeting will bring together the various medical organizations in the county. In other matters at the December 23 Commission meeting, Commissioners approved a five percent raise for elected officials. The previous week, they approved a three percent raise for county employees, along with a one percent merit increase and an additional one percent increase for several po- sitions. Commissioners say that wage rates for county elected and paid Concert at Monticello High School. Boyle was the unanimous choice of the council, who recognized his "active involvement in the pursuit of prevailing standards. Commissioners cut $550,000 from the proposed budget. ment reporting and Smart Record. Since that time, he has been directly involved in covering news and events throughout the county. The City Council acknowl- edged the San Juan Record "Shop at Home campaign, which supports the local businesses in San Juan County. In addition, the nomination letter acknowledged Boyles ef- forts with "economic develop- - here - See Maxine, page 24 San Juan County is like Santa Claus, the elves do the work and the guy in the suit gets all the credit. - Commissioner Bill Redd, all 9? last Commission meeting, regarding raises for county employees and elected officials. in his boy Antonio Rafael Jenelle (Atencio) & Rafael Cervantes November 19 deop- the board of Canyonlands Natural His- tory Associa- fu- 1994 to take the helm of the San Juan 14 Christmas is finally portunities. As chair of the vitalization of the community, with a vision of prosper- hometown in See Caveman, pg. - Site, economic velopment that Boyle is "dedicated to turned to his present and the pursuit ofseveral other in ture." Boyle is a Monticello native who re- thought-provokin- g Enterprise Zone status for the city, the establishment of a Monticello. Officials state ity for our Nearly the perfect a editorials. In addition to his work with the newspaper, the nomination letter said, "Bill is an irreplaceable member of Monticellos Economic Development Committee. The committee has been involved in the development of economic deve- lopment 14 positions are significantly below Monticello names San Juan Record Editor Citizen of Year San Juan Record Editor and Publisher Bill Boyle has been named Citizen of the Year by the Monticello City Council. The annual award was announced at the December 19 Holiday Music both beat Devils? - See Sports, page tion, Boyle is also involved in the development of a new visitors center in Monticello and the establishment of the visitor center gift shop at the new Blanding Information Cen- Monticello Blanding Dec Hi Lo Pr Hi Lo Pr tr. 48 31 16 41 21 17 40 27 .28 40 26 .24 38 20 .05 18 32 3 38 16 19 30 10 12 33 15 .10 20 29 tr. 21 27 8 tr. 34 15 40 19 22 31 9 Monticello had 5 of snow Dec 17 and a trace Dec 21. Blanding had 2 Dec 17, 1 Dec 20, and trace Dec 16, 18, and 21. ter. MSB 1 Boyle also sits on the board of the State Division of Business I and Economic Development, where he is involved in strategic planning of the rural economic development initiatives by the state government throughout Utah. Bill and his wife, Lynda, are the parents of four children. News Roundup,. Letters to Editor Society Sports 2 8 10 14 16 Community News ... Real Estate 21 Legals 22 Classified 22 |