The Daily News Leader from Staunton, Virginia • 11

Sunday News Leader, August 1990 County Outdoors, Page B8 DScoreboard, Page B4 Sports, Pages B2-7 Hadson AHC, opposition 9sr up for licensing (Continued from page Al "It (the conference) is not something the public should count on being involved in," she said. The health commissioner would then make the final decision to approve or deny AHC's CON application. Most unsuitable proposals are discouraged before they reach the application stage, and as a result the state approves most of the CON applications it receives, Mrs. King said. i 4 1 Tfi-trr ftfct1 i iiW Health care needs, availability, geographic and financial accessibility and quality are all considered in approving or denying the CON.

AHC officials have said AHC's application has a good chance for approval. A new hospital will reduce duplication of service at KDH and WCH, provide health care at a lower cost due to greater efficiency and increase health care quality by attracting more doctors to the area, the officials say. But the Coalition for Health Care Awareness, a public group opposed to AHC's plan to close KDH, disputes those claims and is preparing to oppose AHC's certificate of need application. Eleanor Patrick, chairman of the opposition group, said the organization favors renovation of KDH and consolidation of services there because KDH is in sound physical shape and could provide health care at a lower cost than the new hospital. Studies have shown that building a new hospital would be more expensive than renovating KDH, but AHC officials say the new hospital would be cheaper to run.

The coalition and other critics have questioned the Price-Water-house study's validity, but AHC officials have said it was objective. The coalition will fight AHC's CON application with the attorney it has retained and the $30,000 war answers criticism BUENA VISTA A split within the community and county isn't what developers of the proposed cogeneration plant here intended, according to a company spokesman. Robert P. Kennel, Hadson Development vice president for project development, addressed Buena Vista City Council recently in order to facilitate "good comunications" and to let council know where the project stands in regard to obtaining the permits necessary to close financing and begin construction. Hadson wants to build a multimillion-dollar coal-burning power plant that has received public icism for possible environmental damage.

Kennel said the 30-day public comment period set by the State Water Control Board ended last Buena Vista week with the board receiving' four more comments on the permit application. The comments presented to the board were from Buena Vista City Council, the Rockbridge County Board of Supervisors, the Department of Conservation and Recreation and Hadson Development. The department of conservation comments included a recommendation to set the water withdrawal limit at 200 cubic feet per second after people in the department canoed in the Maury River when the water was at various levels. Kennel said the department's comment says that 160 cfs "would be OK too." The board of supervisors' petition to the SWCB opposes the issuance of a water permit primarily because of Hadson's proposal to use wells to supplement its water supply at times it would be unable to draw water from Maury. Kennel said wells scare some people, but they have done them before and wells are not harmful.

The supervisors' petition argues Hadson's groundwater withdrawals will deplete the flow in the river and therefore have an impact on the river's recreational use, as well as have "devastating and irreversible consequences to the water supply of numerous residents and businesses in the county and surrounding area." Kennel said Hadson was looking into on-site water storage that would provide enough water for several months of operations. He said test wells would be dug within the month to check the water table. Kennel said he expects the SWCB to make a decision on the water permit at its regular meeting Sept. 24. He said he does not foresee the board calling a special meeting to set the conditions of the water withdrawl permit.

As for the air permit, Kennel said he doesn't think the Virginia Air Pollution Control Board will set a hearing date until late September for the proposed plant's air permit application. Hadson is completing computer modeling using source data to determine what happens to emissions from the plant taking the local terrain into account. Kennel also said the Environmental Defense Fund and other environmental groups were not considering filing suit to halt the project. NEW HOPE Fire Chief Gerald Early and Sgt. Walter Abbott prepare to raise an American flag over the New Hope Volunteer Fire Company Firehouse during a dedication ceremony Saturday.

(Photo by Cindy Corell) Community shares dedication of fire company By CINDY CORELL Staff Writer NEW HOPE There's even more hope in this tiny community after Saturday's dedication of the New Hope Volunteer Fire Company. The 21 members joined Fire Chief Gerald Early in welcoming members of the community who pulled together to raise money for equipment and government officials who helped provide a firehouse and the company's only fire engine. Located at the corner of four existing fire companies' territories, the community has long waited for its own fire company for quick response and earlier fire suppression. Saturday, it wasofficial. Three years ago, said state Sen.

Frank W. Nolen, D-New Hope, the plan was set into action when the Grottoes Fire Department suggested opening a substation in New Hope. Nolen took the idea to the local Ruritan club chapter and a committee began looking into the pros and cons. New Hope bottle sponsibility, along with recruiting nurses and other health care professionals to reduce AHC's current shortage. "We are serious about nurse staffing we are going to resolve that," he said.

"All the health care professionals are scarce pharmacists, lab technicians, physical therapists. I don't know a hospital that doesn't have (recruiting) as a priority," he said. Graham's skills as a team builder are good, said Chris Lums-den, a former associate of Graham's and chief executive officer of Halifax-South Boston Community Hospital in South Boston, where Graham served as CEO for five years. Graham is skilled at dealing with physicians, he said. Graham said he sees himself as a good team builder too.

"I have always had a good rapport with physicians and have had respect for the medical profession. It is essential to have good team relations with the physicians," he said. Tensions between AHC's administration and medical staff have been high under Roger Cooper, who at one point was asked to resign by medical staff. Cooper, who resigned as AHC's chief executive officer in early July, will continue to serve as AHC's president until Sept. 30, primarily to work on the CON application, Graham said.

"Roger has a role in that. He's here 60 more days and should get us through filing and the early follow-up. Because he's been so instrumental in developing the CON, he would represent AHC in that area," Graham said. Beyond fighting the new hospital, the coalition plans to continue serving as a citizen's health care advocacy group, Mrs. Patrick said.

"We would like to see a continuation of a group of people that really cared about working on health care in the community," she said. CHCA could participate in finding new uses for KDH, she said. high school diploma or equivalent, or be 18 years old and able to benefit from the program. Algebra geometry and a strong mathematical ability are also required. There is a placement test ree-quired for new students which helps assess current strengths and weaknesses and allows formulation of an educational plan for each student, Eiland said.

For more information or to schedule a placement test, contact the counseling center by calling 234-9261, 885-5960 or 949-0269. Registration for fall is Aug. 16-23. be on duty placement is found for vonClef. Every effort is being made to keep the clinic staffed, but there may be some times when no physician is available.

Therefore, it is recommended that appointments be scheduled in advance. Patients without appointments will be seen as soon as possible. Craigsville Pharmacy has purchased vonClef's practice and equipment and has agreed to turn over the practice and equipment to a physician committed to maintaining a practice in Craigsville. chest raised from community donations, Mrs. Patrick said.

Mrs. Patrick said she could not elaborate on CHCA's strategies because laying them out on the table would allow AHC to prepare to counter them more effectively. "If AHC gets the CON, there is nothing more we can do to stop it from building the new hospital and closing KDH," Mrs. Patrick said. Beyond obtaining the certificate of need, Augusta Hospital's main goal is to build the new hospital, said Richard H.

Graham, who be- came interim chief executive officer of AHC last month after Roger W. Cooper resigned the position. "The CON should be resolved sometime in January or February. Whatever form it is approved in, we will be ready to implement. We would begin building the new hospital in early spring," Graham said.

"A number of issues will have to be resolved between now and the completion of the hospital," including future uses of the Staunton and Waynesboro hospitals once they vacated, he said. AHC has appointed building reuse committees to examine possible uses for both KDH and WCH. In July, the committees made preliminary recommendations, including using both as nursing or residential facilities for the elderly, office use, and dormitory use. Graham said he sees his job as interim chief executive officer as temporary. "My orders from the board of directors are to serve as interim chief executive officer until relieved.

Realistically, I think that means about three months," he Graham said maintaining quality patient care is his primary re in four years." The courses that will be offered in the fall are ETR-113, ETR-106 and MTH-115. ETR-113 is basic DC theory and will meet two nights per week. The course is three hours lecture and three hours laboratory per week. ETR-106 is introduction to BASIC programming and meets one night per week. ETR-115 is technical math and meets one night per week.

The requirements that are needed to enter the program are a Physicians to CRAIGSVILLE Augusta Hospital Corp. and Craigsville Pharmacy have arranged with a physi- Craigsville cian placement firm in Chapel Hill, N.C., to have physicians on duty at the Craigsville Medical Center following the departure of Dr. Julius vonClef on July 31. Officials are hopeful that this can continue until a permanent re vfCJ -j "It was decided we would have an independent fire department," Nolen said. "That was just one of many decisions that had to be made." The Augusta County School Board offered use of a small building beside New Hope Elementary School and the Augusta County Fire Department donated a fire engine.

The community went to work raising money and put in many hours renovating the building. Fire-resistant clothing was ordered for each of the firefighters who began training more than a year ago. "Thank you, all you community members who pledged money and trained as firefighters," Nolen said. Gerald Garber, chairman of the county Board of Supervisors, wished the young company good luck. "I hope you never have to answer your first call," he said.

"But I know you will and I know you will be ready." New county Administrator Patrick J. Coffield assured the members the county would offer as much assistance as needed and thanked them for the extra work in beginning a volunteer company while many similar organizations are breaking up nationwide. "Your county is behind you," he said. An American flag that once flew over the Nation's Capitol was presented to Early by Nolen. The flag was donated by company member, Sgt.

Walter Abbott. Just as the community had to struggle for its fire company, the flag-raising effort was also hampered, but in several minutes it was flying above the firehouse. When the rope slipped off the pulley on top of the flagpole, Firefighter Harry Kalista shimmied up the pole and fixed it. Cub Day Camp Kathy Wyant, leader, helps David Ste- Spring Presbyterian Church. More than pbens, James Koiner and Jared Remines 100 Cub Scouts and leaders attended, build tool boxes at the Valley District Cub Elizabeth Hash and James Duncan were Day Camp held last week at Tinkling directors.

BRCC to expand electronics program WEYERS CAVE In an effort to meet the demands of the com- munity, a person desiring to pursue an associate In applied science degree in electronics technology during the evening may do so beginning this fall at Blue Ridge Community College. "The evening program is identical to the successful day program and articulation with four-year institutions will be maintained for those aspiring students who wish to complete their junior and senior years at a four-year college such as Old Dominion University and earn their bachelor of science degree," said James E. Eiland, instructor of electronics technology at BRCC. Weyers Cave "The evening program concept provides individuals who normally work during the day the opportunity to seek educational benefits in a technical area of study for retraining, skills update, career change, personal interest, etc. "The program is structured in a sequence and assumes that the student has no previous knowledge of electricity or electronics.

The average student is expected to finish the AAS degree requirements I -x'l dm-h-' lie mm- fk. Winning team "Betty" and "Lou," owned by Bill Shuey Draft and Mule Show held Saturday at of Swoope, were named the grand cham- Ferrum College. The 3- and 4-year-old pion working team at the Blue Ridge draft horses beat out 14 other teams. 6 (Photo by Dennis Sutton).