1970-08-26; Clare Sentinel

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4TH & »*»«_\l^
XX
Wht Clare Sentinel
FIFTEEN CENTS
16 PAGES
WEDNESDAY AUGUST 26, 1970
OUR 92nd YEAR NEW SERIES
VOL. 92 NO. 51
HOSPITAL FUNDING OUTLOOK
GOOD,  OWNERSHIP EXPLAINED
BY
PHIL SCHNEIDER
Managing Editor
Clare Osteopathic Hospital is one step closer today to obtaining needed
funds to make necessary
improvements in the hospital building in order to
maintain its operating
license.
Members of a citizens
group formed to find ways
of obtaining the estimated
$700,000 required to
make the improvements
in the physical portion
of the hospital were told
it was possible for the
hospital to proceed with
plans to begin selling
bonds within a month to
gain   the   needed  funds.
The steering group will
meet again September 15
to finalize plans, according to Bernie Wyman,
chairman of the committee.
The 12-member citizen's group met Tuesday
morning at the Doherty
Hotel for a progress report on the bonding proposal and decided to recommend to the hospital's
board of trustees that
they approve the bonding
proposal as a means to
finance the required construction.
. The     needed   construction is part of a retirement  issued by the
jlchigan Department  of
-Public  Health as a condition for the renewal of
In Schools
the   hospital's  operating
license.
Several weeks ago the
state health department
ordered the hospital to
make certain improvements In the physical portion of the building or face
a possible loss of its
operating license.
The money raised by
the bond sale will finance
the construction of two
additional floors on the
newest portion of the hospital building which is a
two story building. Other
funds will be used to renovate the existing two
floors of the newest building.
In late May the state
health department recommended that the hospital add the two patient
floors and relocate the
x-ray, surgery and dietary services into the
lower two floors of the
newest part of the hospital, which was constructed in 1967.
In its letter to the hospital the state health
board noted 48 "defic-
iences" in the older portion of the hospital. The
deficiencies pertain to the
physical aspects of the
building and deal with the
width of halls, lighting in
hallways and rooms, fire
extinguishing equipment,
width of doorways and
other items.
The citizen's group recommended that bonds in
amounts of $500 *"afnd'
$1,000 be sold. The bonds
Ruling Costs
Over Estimates
The air still isn't clear
yet, but it may cost the
Clare School system
more than the $8,500
originally estimated as a
result x)f a state supreme
court ruling.
The ruling in question
was issued by the state
high court several weeks
ago and since then has
thrown school boards
across the state into a
state of confusion. Man}
Eire searching desperately for the additional
money needed to comply
with the ruling.
Earlier Clare school
officials estimated the
ruling would cost Clare
schools an extra $8,500
to provide free textbooks
to all students.
But Clare school officials, like others in the
state were unable to make
a definite estimate because the language of the
court's decision was considered to be vague by
many.
The state's high court
ruled that school systems
could not charge book
rental fees and for
"other school related
materials." It was that
phrase that confused
many school officials and
still has many pondering
the full meaning.
In a letter sent to
members of the Clare
School Board Richard L.
Snyder, superintendent of
Clare public schools, indicated the court ruling
could cost the district
as much as $100,000.
While Snyder now
doubts the impact of the
decision will cost that
much here, he said it
will cost more than had
been earlier anticipated*
Snyder said he would
be      meeting    with the
board's attorney this
week and would present a
recommendation to the
school board during a
special meeting of the
board August 31.
The special meeting
was not called specifically because of the
recently issued guidelines, but was scheduled
at the board's last regular meeting over a week
ago when board members
decided they would meet
to discuss several items
of business.
The final effect of the
ruling probably will not
be known until the school
district's budget is formally approved sometime
in October, which Snyder
said is a normal practice.
Snyder said the school
system would not collect
certain fees until all details are worked out and
indicated he would have
a report ready before
school opens September^
to inform students and
parents what items will be
charged for.
Free books, pencils and
paper are among the
items students may not
be charged for if they are
needed for classroom
work und'er the guidelines
issued by the state board
of education.
Basically the board's
guidelines say all materials used as part of the
school curriculum in a
required capacity must be
free to students.
The state board did rule
that school systems could
continue to charge fees
for extracurricular activities when such activities carry no academic
credit.
State education officials said as soon as
(Continued on page 16)
will earn eight per cent
interest annually for a
15-year period. Once the
needed money is raised
approximately $550,000
will be used for the construction of two additional
floors and about $150,000
will be used to renovate
the lower two floors of
the newest portion.
The bonds will be sold
by members of the hos
pital's medical staff and
board of trustees. Persons interested in purchasing bonds should contact Miss Helen Morgan,
hospital administrator.
Half of the $700,000
'bond issue will be in $500
amounts and the remainder will be in $1,000
amounts. Persons interested in contributing to
the building fund instead
of buying bonds may still
do so. Contributions
should be sent to Miss
Morgan at the hospital.
Last week Frank
Coker, chairman of the
hospital's board of
trustees and a member
of the steering committee
spoke to the Clare Rotary Club. Coker explained the ownership and
operation of the hospital
to members of the club
at their luncheon.
Questions were raised
about the ownership of the
hospital and Coker explained that Clare Osteopathic Hospital is a nonprofit corporation.
The hospital's' first
building and land was purchased from Dr. Stewart
C. Mc Arthur by Dr.
Alfred     Ferris  in 1951.
Later the ownership was
shifted to Werreg Realty
Company which rented the
building and land to what
was then called Clare
General Hospital.
In 1961 Werreg Realty
sold the building and land
to the physician staff of
the hospital. In effect
the doctors did not purchase the building and
land, they only served as
underwriters of a loan to
finance the hospital.
At no time did any of the
doctors ever receive
money from the hospital
except for normal medical charges, according
to Coker.
Since 1961 the hospital
has been controlled by a
board of trustees who received  ownership  of the
hospital in 1966, No
.doctor can be a member
of the corporation, which
by state law is required
to operate as a non-profit
organization.
Although doctors cannot be members of the
corporation, they can be
elected to the board of
trustees. Presently three
doctors serve on the
board and are primarily
there for medical advice
to the board. Any person except a member of
the medical staff of the
hospital can be a member
of the corporation. _ Corporate members pay an
annual due of $1 and meet
annually to elect members to the board of
trustees.
Planners Meet
In Townships
LAZZY, HAZZY DAYS— With just a few days remaining before the start of school and the annual
Labor Day celebration marking the end of summer
vacations for many, one young man found a quiet
pond in which to fish and ponder serious and care
free thoughts about life.    In a few weeks the placid
waters  will tingle with thin coats of ice along the
shore line and the surrounding trees will announce
in  bright colors the coming of winter.    (Sentinel
Photo)
Members of Clare
County's planning commission are still continuing their tours of the
county today in an attempt
to learn first hand from
county residents what
they want to see in their
areas in the future.
The tours of the county
are part of a four-day
program which began
Monday with a tour of
Winterfield, Frost, Summerfield and Franklin
Townships.
Meetings in each of the
county's townships were
scheduled by Ken Barnes,
chairman of the Clare
County Planning Commission, with township
officials.
Commission members
and planners were scheduled to meet Tuesday
in Hayes, Redding, Hamilton and Greenwood
Townships with night
meetings scheduled at
Hamilton Township Hall
for residents of Hayes
and Hamilton Township.
Centennial Plans Nearing Completion
Farwell—little more
than a wek remains
before the celebration begins to observe the 100th
anniversary of the founding of Farwell.
Centennial committee
members are makinglast
minute preparations for
the six-day event honoring the lives and history
of past residents and businesses
The centennial celebration will begin September 2 and run through
Labor Day, September 7.
The 100-year history
of the Farwell area will
be recalled during a
special pageant performed by local talent
beginning at 8 p.m. September 4 at the Farwell
High School.
Coordinating centennial events are committee
chairman Don Luce
assisted by Albert Eisenhauer as co-chairman.
. Events will actually begin on August 29 with the
crowning  of the Farwel)
Centennial Queen. Eight
candidates are in the running for the honor and the
winner will be announced
at the queen's ball that
night at the Farwell High
School.
Candidates for centennial queen are Elaine
Glass, Joyce Wixson,
Pam Rogers, Darlene
Denton, Marilyn Pitchford, Jean Snover, Mar
garet Rice and Pat
Thrush.
One of the main attractions of the centennial
celebration     will  be    a
(Continued on page 16)
Residents of Greenwood and Redding township were scheduled to
meet at 7 p.m. Tuesday
at Lincoln Township in a
joint meeting to discuss
common.problems, goals
and objectives, according
to Barnes.
Tours will be continued Wednesday in Freeman, Hatton and Arthur
residents meeting at
Arthur Township Hall.
On Thursday Garfield
and Grant Townships will
be toured in the morning
and Surrey and Sheridan
Townships will be toured
in the afternoon. Combined meetings for Garfield and Surrey will be
at Garfield Hall and Grant
and Sheridan residents
will meet at Grant Township Hall.
Last week Barnes revealed at the regular
meeting of the county
board of commissioners
that the county was in
danger of facing a possible reduction in financial aid for large public
works projects unless
concrete steps are taken
for the development of a
master plan for the
county.
• Federal officials indicated by letter to Barnes
that the Department of
Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has no record    of   any    compre-
(Continued on page 16)
What's Inside
Farwell News
Page 2
Clare News
Page 3
Editorial Views
Page 4
Social, Rural
Page?
Sports
Page 11
Classified Ads
Page 12
Farming News
Page 15
EMOTIONS MOUNT—Emotions tingle in anticipation
of putting in the next bid on some long wanted object
or antique to be traded for the highest bidder during
one of the frequent auctions in Clare County.  Here
auctioneer Jim Sykori draws out an extra dollar for
some object, that once discarded* will find a place
(Sentinel Photo)
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