Casper Star-Tribune from Casper, Wyoming • 5

Monday, September 8, 1997 WYOMING AND THE WEST Casper Star-Tribune A5 Casper Police close street after gun threat COMMISSION packers can say, 'Naw, we'll get some from our own Eventually they can drive the price down, and you have no choice but to sell at their reduced price." Cattlemen want packers to be required to label the origin of the meat they sell. Consumers could trace tainted beef and also would know if the beef came from U.S. ranches or foreign Other at the hearing on Thursday praised organic farming, saying the personal contact and higher prices offered by smaller-scale fanning without pesticides could be a way to save the small farmer. Sarah Grant of the New Mexico Farmers Marketing Association suggested the commission pursue financing the promotion of small organic farms. By the Star-Tribune staff CASPER Casper Police 'cTosed off First Street west of Poplar Street for nearly an hour Sunday evening after a man was jeported to be sitting in his car with a gun.

Public Safety Director Art de Werk said the 38-year-old Casper man, who was not identified, was slumped over the wheel of his vehicle in Amoco Park when a passerby approached him to see if he was OK. scene. Around 7:15 p.m., the man agreed to be taken to Wyoming Medical Center for evaluation, according to Casper Police Lt. Jack Watters. He said the man's ex-wife said he had been despondent.

Watters said the man was very cooperative and did not threaten himself or police at any time. Police don't expect to file any charges, Watters said, because the man did not break any laws. A holstered handgun was taken from the scene, Watters said. graduate from boot camp Hospital chain's profits took toll on patient care, employees say De Werk said the citizen reported that the man showed a gun, at which point the citizen notified police. Authorities closed First Street from Poplar Street to west of Amoco Park.

Casper Police Sgt. Dave Lyman, a specialist in hostage negotiation, approached the man and got him to open the door of the vehicle, show his hands and bring his feet out of the door. The man's ex-wife and a friend were later brought to the 'At Columbia it was bonus and revenue above all else. It lost its heart It lost its SHAHBON TIEDJENS, HCA AND COLUMBIA CONSULTANT FOR 14 YEARS sell their mothers to get that bonus," Chuck said of managers. Critics point to one incident in 1994, when Columbia cut back on services at a money-losing hospital in Destin, Fla.

A man injured in a boating accident was left pleading from his stretcher for emergency room staff to treat him, as yellow tape blocked entry to the ER door. The company wouldn't say the emergency room was closed, but rather that it was understaffed. The man died three days later at another hospital. After state and federal health regulators charged the company with failing to provide emergency medical services, the Destin hospital shut down in a legal settlement. Columbia admitted no wrongdoing.

Columbia spokesman Jeff Prescott said the company's new chief executive officer, Thomas Frist, is changing the practices that have made it a magnet for criticism. "I would say it is becoming a substantially different company," Prescott said. "Dr. Frist's focus on values and community-based health care is certainly going to make a difference. You can't forget the past, but the company's really focused forward." Frist took over in July shortly after federal officials raided Columbia hospitals and offices in seven states and seized documents.

Investigators are looking into whether Columbia overcharged Medicare and other federal health care programs. Three Columbia officials have been indicted and pleaded innocent. Under Frist's predecessor, Continued from A4 lawsuit filed by the national Cat-tlemens' Legal Fund against Iowa Beef Processors, the largest of the four corporations. The ranchers say beef prices are being set by the packers -and in most cases those prices are unfair. "Say you want to sell your cattle for 65 cents a pound," rancher Richard Snyder said.

"The Military Wyomingites By the Star-Tribune staff Eight Wyomingites recently graduated from U.S. Marine Corps recruit training. Pvt. Zebuelon Worland, son of Mike and Linda Worland of Bar Nunn, graduated from Recruit Depot San Diego and will attend the School of Infantry at Camp Pendleton, Calif. He is a 1996 W0RLAND graduate of Natrona County High School.

Pvt. First Class Daniel Clark, son of Jim and Susan Clark of Casper and Bret and Gail Baugh of Cheyenne also recently graduated in San Diego. He will attend 4 Marine Corps CLARK School of Infantry at Camp Pendleton, and then Marine Corps Security Forces School in Norfolk, Va. He is a 1996 graduate of Natrona County High School. Pvt.

First Class Cody Car roll, son of Bruce and Joanna Carroll of Casper, also graduated in San Diego. He will attend Marine Corps Combat Training at Camp Pendleton and then the Ma CARROLL rine Corps Avia- tion Crew Chief's course in Pen sacola, Fla. He is a 1997 graduate of Na Public MARRIAGES CASPER These licenses were issued In Natrona County from Aug. 29 to Sept. 4, 1997: David Brent Oler and Teresa Lee Potter Robert Arthur Gorrell and Susan Jo Schroeder Michael Clay Chase and Seriann DeMarie Davis Dennis Leo O'Keff Dyer and Donnett Wynn Shelly Gregory Howard Stampfli and Danae Lee Browning Charles J.

Williams and Frances Christine Vann Joseph Kelly Hunter and Amanda Rae Brinson Damon Marion Carson and Angela Elizabeth Coy Jayson Lewis Gibson and Terri Sue Casias DIVORCES CASPER These were granted in Natrona County the week ending Sept. 2, 1997: Arta Kay Zaharas (maiden surname of Scott restored) and Nick P. Zaharas Sheila Ann Martinez and Jesse NMI Martinez Michelle Lynn Meyer (maiden name of Selby is restored) and Shawn Earl Meyer John E. Ramirez and Stephanie R. Ramirez (maiden name of Trujillo is restored) BIRTHS CASPER These were recorded at Wyoming Medical Center July 30, 1997 Girl to John and Stephanie Smith, Midwest.

Child's name: TaShara RaNee SERVICE Some restrictions V. INSURANCE We Work We meet or trona County High School. Pvt. John Grieve, son of Catherine Grieve and the late Robert Grieve of Casper, also graduated in San Diego and will attend the School of In fantry at Camp Pendleton and GRIEVE then Marine Corps Security Forces School in Norfolk, Va. He is a 1997 graduate of Natrona County High School.

Pvt. Jason Gates, son of Nancy and Bob Gates, has graduated from San Diego and is attending Marine Combat Training at Camp Pendleton, followed by Avia GATES tion Mechanic School in Pensacola, Fla. He is a 1996 graduate of Douglas High School. Pvt. Chris Waldron, son of Jim and Jean Ann Waldron, has graduated from San Diego and will attend the School of Infantry at Camp Pendleton, followed by Marine Corps Security Force School in Nor folk, Va.

WALDRON He is a 1996 graduate of Natrona County High School. Pvt. Jason G. Turner, son of Erma J. Turner of Wright, recently completed basic training at San Diego.

He is a 1996 grad- Record Aug. 25, 1997 Boy to Peggy Wagoner and Timothy McGuirk, Evansville. Child's name: Raymond Earl Aug. 27, 1997 Girl to John and Ann Wimp, Casper. Child's name: AnnElise J.

Boy to Dewayne and Linda Smith, Casper. Child's name: Jordan Pendleton Aug. 28, 1997 Girl to Richard and Michelle Miles, Casper. Child's name: Rebecca Kersey Girl to Mitchel and Jacalyn Kautzmann. Casper.

Child's name: Bailey Lynn Aug. 29, 1997 Girl to Shawna Houser, Evansville. Child's name: Shaylin Gabrielle Girl to Bruce and Lorri Hoffman. Casper. Child's name: Ashlee M'Kay Boy to Peter and Karen Wildman, Casper.

Child's name: Matthew Neol Curtis Aug. 31, 1997 Boy to Kristine Mayo, Casper. Child's name: Dustin Lee Girl to Jennifer Holling, Casper. Child's name: Tesla Renae News about people and events of interest from throughout the state may be submitted. Please submit information to: Sally Ann Michalov, P.O.

Box 80, Casper, 82602, phone 266-0532, toll free 1-800442-6916 or fax to 266-0568, or e-mail to michalovtrib.com SAVE UP TO is II pi i Ml inn jr ft- i -l' rtfiii inn'il if Richard Scott, the focus was on profit. The median hospital profit in the United States is just over 5 percent of revenues, according to HCIA, a Baltimore industry group. Investor-owned hospitals average about 9 percent. But after Columbia merged with HCA in 1994, managers raised hospital earnings targets to as high as 20 percent. Two Columbia hospitals in Pasadena, Texas, and Anchorage, Alaska had profits of 31 percent in 1995, and one -Columbia Specialty Hospital of Tulsa earned 47 percent that year, according to the most recent figures available from HCIA.

"It just seems to me that the motivation of HCA before Columbia was patients, employees and service above all else," said Sharron Tiedjens, an HCA and Columbia consultant for 14 years. "At Columbia it was bonus and revenue above all else, It lost its heart. It lost its soul." HCA, which Frist headed before selling it to Columbia, reviewed hospital earnings quarterly, but Columbia took scrutiny to a new level. Administrators who missed monthly budgets had to write extensive reports explaining what happened and how they planned to boost profits. The 10 lowest performers had to meet with Scott and senior managers.

"That was a party you never wanted to be invited to," said Steve Hoelscher, who headed a Columbia hospital in Georgia and now oversees a Tennessee nonprofit hospital. Several Columbia employees said Frist has remade the company closer to the image of HCA. Family doctor Clayton Wilson said he probably would have left if Frist hadn't taken over. "At least now I feel somebody's listening," said Wilson, who works at Columbia's facility in Lawrenceburg. "And patient care's going to be a major factor rather than how much it's going to cost to take care of that patient." fishing, hunting, boating, snowmobiling, and the great outdoors.

He is survived by his mother, his wife, his son Christopher Hamlin, his daughter Peggy Daugherty, his brothers Jerry and John Kobielusz, and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his father, brothers Little Joe and David, grandparents George and Eva Washut, and Joseph and Anna Kobielusz. Memorials may be made to the Jim Kobielusz Memorial Cancer Fund, First State Bank, Thermopolis 82443. FREE MOBILE uate of Wright High School. Pvt.

Jacob C. Bratton, son of Daniel L. and Evangeline D. Bratton of Cheyenne, recently completed basic training at San Diego. He is a 1993 graduate of Cheyenne Central High School.

DELAYED ENLISTMENT: Numerous Wyomingites have enlisted in the United States Air Force Delayed Enlisted Program, according to staff sergeants Tina L. Dragovich and Greg Fournier, Air Force recruiters at the Casper Eastridge Mall office. Dorothy L. Norris of Mills is scheduled for enlistment on Dec. 29, 1997, and will take basic training at Lackland AFB, Texas.

Elizabeth K. -Katie" Brit-ton of Mills will enlisted on Dec. 4, 1997, and will take basic training at Lackland AFB, Texas. Billy Foster of Casper will enlist on Jan. 8, 1998, and is a 1997 graduate of Kelly Walsh High School.

Jeffry Pederson of Casper will enlist in January 1998 and is a 1997 graduate of Moorcroft High School. Cassandra Hanson of Glen-rock will enlist in January 1998 and is a 1997 graduate of Glen-rock High School. Alicia L. Logsdon of Casper will graduate in 1998 from Natrona County High School and will enlist on June 25, 1998. AIR FORCE BASIC: Air Force Airman Nicholas C.

Robinson, son of De- niece D. Tanner of Rock Springs, has graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio. He is a 1996 graduate of Eatonville, ROBINSON High School. Casper College needs horses CASPER The Casper College horseshoeing class is seeking horses to shoe, according to Gum Brown, college ag instructor. The class will meet four nights a week for two weeks, beginning Sept.

15. The class needs at least three or four horses per night, according to Brown. He said all students in the class will be supervised while they work on the horses. For more information, call Brown at 268-2525. HEARING TESTS SET FOR CASPER FREE Electronic hearing tests will be given at the BELTONE HEARING AID CENTER, 833 S.

Center TUESDAY, SEPT. 9, WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 10, AND THURSDAY, SEPT. 11 At 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

by Cheryl Vanatta, Beltone Hearing Aid Specialist. Anyone who has trouble hearing is welcome to come in for a hearing test using modern electronic equipment to find out if a tiny modern hearing aid may help. Diagrams showing how the ear works and some of the causes of hearing loss will be available. Everyone should have a hearing test at least once a year if they have any trouble at all hearing clearly. Even people now wearing a hearing aid or those who have been told an aid won't help should have a hearing test and find out about the current hearing aids.

The free hearing tests will be held at Beltone Hearing Aid Center, 833 S. Center SEPT. 9, WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 10, AND THURSDAY, SEPT. 11 at 10 a.m.

to 3 p.m. To avoid waiting, call 237-7894 for an appointment. Serving the hearing-impaired for over SO years. ADVERTISEMENT 1997 Belton Electronic Corporation By JOHN HENDREN Associated Press LAWRENCEBURG, Tenn. As the sole obstetrician in the only hospital in Tennessee's rural Lawrence County, Frank Chuck delivered nearly 100 babies and $1 million in patient fees last year.

That wasn't enough for ColumbiaHCA Healthcare the nation's biggest for-profit hospital chain. Columbia Crockett Hospital in Lawrenceburg gave him a choice: a pay cut from $240,000 to $170,000 or the door. He chose the door, and starting this month women in labor will have to drive 45 minutes to another hospital so he can deliver their babies. "I had my other two at Lawrenceburg and I wanted to have this one there," said Trina Minatra. However, she is following Chuck to have him monitor her pregnancy-induced diabetes and deliver her baby, instead of a general practitioner at Crockett.

didn't want to switch doctors." The profit pressure that left Lawrence County, which is 71 miles southwest of Nashville, without an obstetrician also helped make Columbia the target of federal Investigators. And it began affecting patient care immediately after Columbia's 1994 takeover of Hospital Corp. of America, current and former hospital employees say. In Utah, where the health-care giant operates seven hospitals and 19 other facilities, state Medicaid investigators have worked with federal officials for more than a year looking for fraudulent claims and billing practices. Critics say the pressure for profits ranged from senior managers, who set earnings growth targets as high as 20 percent, to division heads, whose bonuses depended on meeting them.

Doctors and administrators on the hospital floor were not immune either. "Their bonus is based on a quarterly system and they would Funerals MRlUflKIAL CHAPEL Funiral Homp ft Crematory 710 K. 2nd St. 2.144)234 G.W. 'SUM' LEAVENG0OD Memorial services for G.W.

"Slim" Leavengood were conducted Saturday at the Saratoga Masonic Lodge. Cremation has taken place under the direction of Memorial Chapel Funeral Home in Casper. Memorials may be made to his family. Casper's only homeoumed funeral service CY it Spruce 234-7123 TRINIDAD TRINA' PONCE LARA Funeral Liturgy for Trinidad "Trina" Ponce Lara will be celebrated on Tuesday at 10 a.m. at St.

Anthony's Catholic Church by Msgr. James O'Neill. Rite of Committal will be conducted at Highland Cemetery. Vigil for the Deceased will be recited Monday at 6:30 p.m. at the Bustard Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, memorials in her name may be made to the Hospice Program, 319 S. Wilson, Casper 82601. IVHracIe-Ear 235-1901 MaH 1-800-227-2221 1 ate's FLOWERS GfTTS ROVER WOT HUT0P 1042E2NDST. A Bustard's Funeral Director Obituary Jimmy Dean Kobielusz THERMOPOLIS Services for Jimmy Dean Kobielusz, 38, will be held Thursday at 11 a.m., at the First Baptist Church, with Pastor Harvey Seidel officiating. Mr.

Kobielusz died Sept 5, 1997, at Hot Springs County Memorial Hospital in Thermopolis, following a lengthy illness of cancer. He was born Nov. 19, 1958, to Joseph and Agnes (Washut) Kobielusz, in Thermopolis. He graduated from Thermopolis High School in 1977. After his graduation he worked in the oil fields for 3 years in Wyoming, Colorado, and New Mexico.

In 1980 he was employed by Reda Pump, becoming a field service technician of submergible pumps. For the past 15 years he was in Reda Pump's International Field Service which took him to several continents of the world. On June 28, 1986, he married Macie Geneva Hurley at the "Polish Plantashun," north of Thermopolis. He was a member of BPOE No. 1746.

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