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Show V AI IStaS 4 Tuesday May 21, 2002 Staff I U CO H D I Lessons learned from state convention By RICHARD SHAW Staff reporter There I sat with three thousand a crammed auditorium in northern Utah. It was a state politi-c- al lonventionrsomething Tliadn't people in . experienced since I was 20 years old. And it hadnt changed much. I had spent the night at my fa. thers the night before so I didnt have to drive all the way from Car- that morning. The agenda said it started at 8 a.m. As I drove toward the location I noticed that there were large numbers of cam- -' bon County paign signs hanging from overpasses along the way. A steady rain had begun. I wasn't sure what that water out of the sky was since it had been so long since ally seen any. I had actu- flirting with some guy at the bar. A few minutes later I was out of the diner and on my way to my desI knew where I couldn't have missed it if hadn't I Roy High School was cov- ered with signs, up and down and left and right. Huge tents were erected at one of the back en- trances. Close to my destination, my more primal side took over and it demanded I stop at Denny's for breakfast I spent about a half an hour in the restaurant looking at a daily and listening to my waitress tination. but I was going, didates scurrying around, shuttling boxes of materials or hand carts toaded with literature to their booths. finally found the registration area, which was already crowded by -r 7:40, but I was told by the registrar that I couldri't get a badge and my materials until 8 a.m. I stood in the. hall looking for someone I I "R-S- As walked up to the doors was accosted by a number of people asking me to vote for their candidate. I I I just played along; I wouldn't be able to vote for anyone, being from the second district We already had our candidate. was frantic campaign workers for various can Upon entering the building almost knocked down I knew, waiting until I . could officially become a delegate. But I saw no one. Hadnt anyone else from Carbon County come to this? Was I the only one? I by finally did run into someone (continued on page I 9A) Buest editorial Medicare doesnt pay enough today A vigorous man was airlifted to the emergency room recently for treatment of a heart attack. After evaluating him and making arrangements for his probable angioplasty, I stopped to talk with his family. To my surprise, the patient's son concluded our discussion by expressing sympathy for me. He was concerned about the impact on my profession of managed care and insurance impositions. Frankly, I was pleased to hear that he had heard about the problems the health care system has been having, but at my core I did not feel that his sympathy was warranted. Here I was with a patient, making a difference. Tliis for and love. When things go well and my patients respond to treatment, I feel like Roy Campanella, the splendid catcher for the Brooklyn Dodgers of thc'SOs, when he said: "I'm still amazed that theyre willing to pay me to play this game." But the fandlonl for my office building does not feel that way. He wants the rent paid. The secretaries and nurses in my office need their pay. The malpractice carriers have increased my premiums by 50 percent this year. And my own health insurance rates have increased along with everyone else's. So it is significant that Medicare reduced overall physician re is what I trained imbursement rates by 5.4 percent this past January, underaformula approved by Congress. Prior to this, Medicare reimbursement rates had been static for years. The inevitable is now happening. The New York Times repented last month that "for the first time, significant numbers of doctors are refusing to take new Medicare patients, saying the government now pays them too little to cover the costs of caring for the elderly." Further cuts in the Medicare fee schedule are planned for the next few years. We all know, that the HMOs have been leaving the Medicare HMO program in droves because of inadequate funding. And Letters hospitals, struggling with marginal compensation, have been closing Those that survive have been hiring minimal nursing staffs and have been reporting sig- nificant errors in providing care. Working on call on a recent weekend in New Haven, I found that one hospital had no intravenous hydrochlorothiazide, a standard diuretic. The other hospital across town had no intravenous forosemide, an even rriore widely used medication for coaxing urine output from patients with heart andor kidney failure. Both blamed national shortages of standard generic drugs for the problem. (continued on page 8A) So many changes in just a year i Weekend adventures in the high desert By KEN LARSON Publisher I have known for a long time that had the perfect job. What other job allows me the opportunitieste travel I around the areas that I am living in interviewing people and exploring the sites and sounds. Since I was a kid I have loved adventures, traveling through the hills or deserts, climbing mountains, fishing on the ocean, exploring the rivers and streams, visiting gardens, museums, bird refuges and resorts. My newspaper career has taken me to five states in the past 27 years and at each location 1 have spent extensive time traveling through as many places as I possibly could just getting to know the country, visiting with the people and understanding the culture. Starting in Montana and working my way through Oregon, Washington, Arizona, and now Utah, I have pined an incredible appreciation for the outdoors, pology, geography and history. At my last location, in Bullhead City, Ariz. one of my responsibilities was managing a travel magazine and I spent every weekend exploring the areas from Hoover Dam to Flagstaff. I rode through the Grand Canyon on horseback, fished the Colorado River, kayaked the streams, and explored several Mojave Desert caves. It was an exciting time and somehow, water skiing and swimming the rivers and lakes helped when the temperatures topped 125 in the summer months. But in November when I accepted the transfer to Utah.and to Carbon and Emery Counties, I was excited because I had seen pictures of Utah and knew that once again I was in a recreation wonderland. But I had no idea it was anything as wonderful as it is. The past few weeks as the temperatures climbed and spnng appeared I started my topical exploration process and the more I see and do, the more I want to see i and do. It is amazing the places to go, things to do, and the people to meet I. will capture these experiences on film or with a pen and include you with me as I explore Eastern Utah. Two weekends this past month I traveled extensively through the San Rafael Swell visit- Periodically ing the Wedge and areas near the west end of the Swell. I also made it down toArches near Moab last week- end and the same weekend traveled the Scenic thro Hunting-to- n Canyon over to Scofield. I had spent a Sunday horseback ay riding just east of Green River a few weeks ago and this time we traveled through Huntingfon and went down the west side of Cedar Moun- - tain, looking over the Wedp and driving down through the river bot-tom of the San Rafael River. A- lit is extremely diy in this area rt was an incredible day. We drove well over 350 miles in three days and saw country I had onto seen in pictures and books. spectacular cliffs and The can- yons, every imaginable shade of red, brown, black, green and white were sparkling in the bright sunlight I was a like a little kid who was seeing the Grand Canyon or the Rocky Mountains for the first time and we stopped every five minutes to take pictures from a different angle. One of the amazing puts of the trips was the incredible number of pictographs and petrogtyphs in the B region. It seems as though eveiy-wher- we traveled there were more and more, all reminders of our past Traveling into the Swell n. realty an experience of a lifetime and in a single day I experienced views of some of Utah's most spectacular lowing. It is fitting that, as we remember the military men and women who died in service to er this America, we also-ju-st as well as the first casualties of the war on terrorism. They are also American heroes who died in their line of duty. They gave their all in service to our country as surely as if they had been mi the front lines of once-rememb- Editor JOne year ago we were a na- -. tion at peace, but not now. A short year ago, Blue Star Service Banners were lost in the memories ofa ago, but not half-centu- ry now. On Memorial Day 2002, 1 see more and more Blue Service Banners in front windows of houses and businesses across America. A banner reminds us that a loved (me from that family is serving in Armed Forces, fighting terrorism in Operation Enduing Freedom and providing homeland de- -' fense. Unfortunately, Gold Star Banners are replacing some of the blue. Tbdays men and women sent into harms way differ little from the doughboys who fought in the trenches of France, the GTs who the-U.- Still editorial editor to the S. stormed the beaches of Normandy, or die troops who bought indies of land with blood at Koreas Chosin Reservoir. Indeed, they are no different than the millions of men mod women who have answered the clarion call through out American history. As did those before them, todays men and women-th- at we honor did their duty. Regrettably, we mustnow add 3 ,000 more names to the list of hon. ored dead. Some of the honored dead were in the armed forces, but some were not Each was cm the frontlines of the terrorist assault on America. All lost their lives on September 11 or the days fol Again, young Americans, wearing uniforms of our armed forces, are fighting inawar without borders and without dearly identified combatants. Some of them have given the supreme sac- rifice for our nation. We are thankful that we are a nation that dock hot forget..that we are a people who rememberand honor the mfcmory of those who died fighting the enemies of the ver United and States-where- whenever they threaten. . On this Manorial Day I ask all citizens of this great land to remember the sacrifice of more than one million Americans whose memoxy we honor today. Richard J. Santos American Legion Safeholiday driving encouraged Editor The Utah members of Foresters are focusing their attention on prompting safety this Memorial Day weekend. Various Forester branches throughout die United States have been copduct-in- g holiday rest stops since the (continued on page 9A) scenery and some of the World's most exciting rock art It is amazing how geology, geog-thou- raphy, and history can all come to- gether and I am grateful I have the opportunities to again explore a new country. The voice of Carbon County since 1892 ADMUnSTRATION Publisher Ken Linen , Amzmsnffi Addreac 845 Eat Main, Price, Utah. Telephone: (435) Fax: Sales m naanfiodi deadline: Monday at 10 far Itaeidayt publication and Wedneeday at 10 ajn. for Thunday1! publication. .. Kiminiki din FattitfNel nice: 50 cents per copy, $37 per year in Cuban and Emery oountiei, $40 in Utah and $54 outride of Utah per n yearly mail. Subscription Gossiped, Legals Lynda Barnett . EDQQHAL Editor Lymda Johnaon Reporter Richard Shuar' Reporter nmrt . , Publication Jfo. (USPS iaaued ) a week at Prioe, Utah. Periodical poctafe paid at Price, Utah, and at mailing office PO Boa 589, Caatle Dale, Utah S4513. 174-960- addi-tion- al Internet: httpVMwwjunad oocV , Lynda Barnett , Circulation ' - Entire eantanta :a .77' . smiM Monday-Frida- fa30 " . - .V' , twioa . Office Manager Linda Thayn . 637-271- S Foatmaiter Send change of addreu to 845 Eait Mam Street, Price, Utah 8450L lunette Lean data (435) 1 Advertising Director Shiriey Stubbe Jcani F . 637-073- 2. y ajn, to 5 pjn. at the C2SS1 San No part,; ay'he nprednead in |