The Salina Journal from Salina, Kansas • Page 11

The Salina Journal Wednesday, November 2,1983 Page 3 Small town tries to create home for brain-injured By LINDA MOWERY-DENNING Oreat Plains Editor KANORADO Charlotte Roesch says her mother-in-law, Twila, was a "charming, social and lovely wife" before a car accident three years ago changed her life and made her part of a new population created by modern science the brain-injured. "It's almost like she's dead, but she isn't," said Mrs. Roesch, Colby. "It's a sad situation." Since her accident, Twila Roesch has been sent to a rehabilitation center in Phoe- nlz, has lived with her son and daughter-in-law at Colby and has been a patient in a nursing home. Through the moves and the difficult decisions, Charlotte Roesch and her husband, Duane, suffered frustration because they could not find a facility that catered to the brain-injured.

It was experiences such as these that led a group of northwest Kansas residents to propose the Oasis of Kanorado, which would initially offer specialized care to about 20 patients with permanent brain injuries. At present, the only obstacle standing between the Oasis and a grand opening is licensing requirements. "We're plowing new ground here and it's going to take a little time," said Sen. Richard Gannon, D-Goodland. "We're going to have to start with a clean slate and write new rules and regulations," Goldle Plzel, Goodland, the driving force behind the Oasis, said the home is having trouble because the special problems of the brain-injured "fall betwixt and between" the licensing requirements for other care facilities such as nursing homes and hospitals.

But Dick Morrissey, director of the Bureau of Adult and Child Care Facilities, Kansas Department of Health and Environment, said Tuesday that officials in Topeka have seen no concrete proposals for the facility and "we can't respond to an idea." "We're willing to work with them in any way we can. I don't believe we've closed the door. If there is a need for a new licens- ing category, we're willing to do that, but we're not convinced it's necessary. "I don't disagree at all with the need they're identifying. It's very real.

I'm Just not sure they're entirely realistic about what it takes to operate the kind of health care facility they're talking about." Mrs. Pizel, who talked with KDHE Secretary Barbara Sabol this week, said she is optimistic the department will find a way to solve the licensing dilemma. "It's the same story from every family who calls us," said Mrs. Pizel, whose son, John, suffered a brain injury in a head-dn car crash in 1968. "They can't find a facility.

I call them our little lost civilization. They're just sitting out here without homes. "Head injury people need training in everyday living skills. You can't just sit them in a corner and forget about them. They need a little extra tender, loving care, I guess you would say." The site for the proposed Oasis is the Kanorado school building, which was built in 1948 and has not been used since May, when the town of 200 combined its schools with the Goodland district.

The city has agreed to lease the building to the Oasis board for maintenance. Mrs. Pizel said the building is perfect for a care home and there are no barriers to the handicapped. Some changes are needed, however, and more bathrooms must be installed, she said. Morrissey said there is a "lot of technical stuff" that needs attention and, regardless of its classification, the building must meet certain standards as a medical care facility.

Mrs. Pizel said use of the former school would slash patient costs because Oasis wouldn't be burdened with the debt from a new building. She said organizers hope to hold per-patient fees in the non-profit facility to $1,500 a month. Mrs. Roesch, a nurse, said the brain-injured can be depressed, aggressive and lack motivation.

In other types of care homes, she added, they tend to mimic the behavior of those around them and their condition can "deteriorate a lot." A special center, Mrs. Roesch said, would give them a needed program of constant stimulation. The Oasis already has received donations from area residents, although a major fund drive isn't planned until later. Several, including two doctors from Denver, also have volunteered their time and services to the center. "I see a great deal of community support out here," Gannon said.

"Frankly, I don't think they're going to have that much of a problem getting a license. We've got the attention of the secretary (of the KDHE) and I think that will expedite the matter." Rep. Marvin Littlejohn, R-Phillipsburg, who heads the Legislature's Special Care Services Committee, said his group's report would probably include a statement on the center and the difficulities it is having with licensing. Mrs. Pizel testified before the committee last month.

"I just don't see how our committee can go any further than that," Littlejohn said. Human itmtf DOORS OPE OPEN Briefly Tom Dorwy Allen J. Correll, executive director, Tacoma, Human Rights Department, sees the Rev. Jesse Jackson as role model. Jackson serves as pioneer, blacks say By CHARLENE FARRELL Staff Writer Some Midwestern black leaders consider skepticism being voiced about the Rev.

Jesse Jackson's chances for a presidential nomination to be an emphasis on the wrong issue. "What is most important is that it provides a role model for our young people," said Allen J. Correll, executive director of the Tacoma, Human Rights Department. "It allows our young people to say 'I can run for Correll spoke Tuesday to an audience of about 30 in the Bicentennial Center at Salina's first annual Human Relations Week. Correll views Jackson's effort as an opportunity his generation never had.

"So many of us had no black role models. I don't know how we have not lost our sanity," he said. Regardless of Jackson's ultimate showing in the Democratic pri- maries, he is laying the groundwork a minority member must have to capture the nation's highest seat, said Salinan Robert Caldwell, former state legislator. Troy Scroggins, compliance manager in the Houston district office of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, sees Jackson's chances of winning the nomination as slim, but not because of his qualifications. "I don't think the political climate is right.

There are not enough people ready to accept a black nominee," Scroggins said. Were the first black to seek office 30 years from now, his chances still would be minimal, Scroggins said. Someone must be a pioneer in the field. "This will be the last time people will think it (a black running for president) is unusual," said Joyce Tucker, director of the Illinois Department of Human Resources. Jackson may create incentive for future presidential minority hopefuls, but his campaign will also be a catalyst to help elect minority candidates to other positions, the leaders believe.

He will be an incentive for more minorities to register to vote not just because he is black, but because he addresses issues of concern to all minorities, Tucker said. That will enable those minorities to vote in other elections, increasing the likelihood of a minority candidate's election. But most of those questioned Tuesday hesitated to gauge the effect of Jackson's campaign on the Democratic vote. Some said a majority of his votes will come from the newly registered voters, thus drawing little support away from other candidates. Yet others conceded there will be some breakdown in the party because of the rare opportunity for active voters to endorse a minority candidate.

Should Jackson's campaign for Dealers feel computer shake-up By CAROL LICHTI Staff Writer Terry Ruff, manager of the Central Kansas Computer store in Herington, was not surprised to hear that Texas Instruments had decided to discontinue manufacturing the company's home computer. Ruff said, "We're going to see a lot more of that type of thing. A lot of companies are losing their pants. "There's going to be a shakedown in the industry and only the strong companies will survive," she Texas Instruments announced last week it was discontinuing its 99-4A home computer after suffering a $110.8 million third-quarter loss. Ruff said her store will continue to stock the TI computers through Christmas.

"We'll continue to support the machines we have sold and my customers will continue to get service. "We'll continue to provide software for our customers that have them (TI home comuters)," she said. TI has said software for the computers will be available for the next five years. "But it's not our biggest item, so we're not terribly concerned," she said. Most of the Salina computer stores no longer handle Texas Instruments home computers.

John Shoultys, manager of Electronics 235 N. Santa Fe, said his store stopped stocking TI home computers some time ago. It decided to drop the Texas Instruments computers when home computers became prevalent in discount stores and price wars started. Computerland, 127 N. Seventh, also decided to get out of the low-priced end of the computer market because of the discount wars, according to John Gunn, store owner.

Most of the retailers that still do handle the Texas Instruments home computer in Salina are the department stores. Because they carry more than one line of home computers, TI's announcement did not have much effect on them. Sears, 510 S. Santa Fe, plans to continue to sell and display the TI computers until word is received from the company headquarters to change, according to Pat Bryant, Salina store manager. Dan Walters, manager of Wal-Mart in the Mid- State Mall, said the store sold it's last TI home computer Monday for a reduced price of $54.

It now Is taking inventory of the TI home computer software and awaiting direction from the general office. John Thyne, manager of mart, 400 S. Broadway, said the store had knocked down the price of the TI home computer to $57 each. the nomination fail, he still may be in contention for the second seat. John Lloyd, Kansas National Education Association executive director, has predicted Jackson will be Minnesota Democrat Walter Mondale's running mate.

The teachers' group endorsed Mondale last week. That pairing is logical, Scroggins said. Mondale has been highly sensitive to the changing plight of minorities and is "certainly the strongest possibility." Leaders see Jackson's effort as rekindling black awareness in human rights issues. Correll said people now are accepting prevalent injustices. "I am extremely tired.

What we talked about in '83 we talked about in am frightened we may have to see history repeat itself," Correll said. "We may have fair housing, but what if we can't afford fair housing? What good is it to have rights if we don't have the opportunity?" Heart ticket sales little bit Ticket sales for tonight's Heart rock band concert are "a little bit slow," but Mike Grimaldi, Bicentennial Center spokesman, said he expects sales for the general admission performance to perk up today. Grimaldi said 1,216 tickets had been sold by late Tuesday afternoon. He said that is typical of most general admission shows. Grimaldi cited examples of other general admission concerts such as Loverboy and Journey, in which 3,700 and 2,700 tickets, respectively, were sold on the day of the show.

Heart originally was scheduled to appear in concert with Kansas, which later scrapped its Salina date because of scheduling problems. Instead) the Michael Stanley Band will be the warm-up group for tonight's concert. Heart will be at the Bicentennial Center all week, preparing for the beginning of a national tour. The Salina concert will be its first of the tour. Tickets for the show, which starts at 7:30 p.m., are $11.

Cycle crash lawsuit is settled A lawsuit between a Salina motorcyclist, a local road construction firm and state authorities has been settled out of court and dismissed. Details of the settlement between Lawrence D. Smith, 53, 935 Osage; Brown and Brown, 124 Indiana, and the State of Kansas weren't disclosed in the dismissal notice, filed in Saline County District Court. The lawsuit was filed during the summer of 1982 by Smith, who was injured June 17, 1980, when his motorcycle crashed on 1-70 just each of Salina. Smith claimed the crash occurred when his cycle hit a four-inch rise in the roadway.

He claimed the asphalt overlay on one eastbound lane had been inadequately marked by Brown and Brown. After Smith lost control of the cycle, it remained upright for 100 feet, then slid for 200 feet, to Kansas Highway Patrol reports. Smith alleged he suffered fractures of the skull, ribs and right hand, and a head injury that left him comatose for several days and caused permanent brain damage. Guilty verdict in bank holdup NORTON David Ferree, 24, Elkhorn, was convicted Tuesday of robbing an Almena bank last spring. A sentencing date will be set next Tuesday by District Judge Charles E.

Worden, Norton, who presided over the two-day trial. Twelve jurors deliberated an hour Tuesday before agreeing that Ferree was guilty of committing aggravated robbery at the First State Bank of Almena on May 6. Ferree had been accused of stealing $4,700 from the bank after threatening four bank employees and three customers with a gun and forcing them to lie on the floor during the robbery. Ferree was captured in Colorado Springs, a month after the hold-up. Town meeting set on drug abuse The public is invited to a town meeting to be sponsored by the Citizen Coalition on Drug and Alcohol Abuse at 7 tonight in the Salina Central High School auditorium.

The meeting will include the Public Broadcast System presentation, "The Chemical People," followed by a panel discussion and a question-and-answer session concerning drug problems in Salina. A seven-member panel will discuss how drugs affect youth and what community members can do to combat drug abuse. The panel will include Salina School District Superintendent Terry Terril, League of Women Voters President Sydney Soderberg and recovering drug addicts. The local chapter of Students Against Drunk Driving will provide a babysitting service at the meeting. School district seeks tax renewal Salina School District taxpayers will be asked to renew a four-mill resolution over the next five years when the school board meets at 4 p.m.

today in room 200 of the City-County Building. The district is on the fifth and final year of the current four-mill tax, which is used for capital outlay projects. As in the past, the district hopes to levy the maximum $4 per $1,000 assessed valuation. The money is used for building, remodeling and major equipment purchases. Taxpayers can file a protest petition within 40 days after the district gives final public notice of its intentions.

Notices will be published in The Salina Journal. To be successful, 10 percent of the "qualified electorate" must sign such a petition. A protest petition has never been filed against the capital outlay levy. 1983 tax bills may be a bit late Real and personal property taxes for 1983 came due Tuesday, but Saline County property owners probably will not find tax bills in their mail boxes until after Nov. 10.

According to County Treasurer Keith Lilly, mailing of approximately 26,000 real estate and 6,600 personal property bills for taxes due by Dec. 20 is running behind schedule. The City of Sauna's computer was used to prepare the bills this year, Lilly said, and the preparation had to be scheduled around other computer tasks. Lilly said his office is charged with collecting more than $20 million this year the total generated by city, county, school and other taxing district levies countywide. "Let Them Eat Cake sale planned A "Let Them Eat Cake" sale is planned today and tonight as part of the Salina observance of Human Relations Week at the Bicentennial Center.

Such sales, referring to what Marie Antoinette is said to have replied when told that the people of France didn't have enough bread, are being held throughout the nation. Their purpose is to show concern that the United States not show the same callous attitude toward people's needs. Proceeds from the cake sale will help support the Domestic Violence Association of Central Kansas, Emergency Aid, the Family Drop-in Center, Prairieland Food Cooperative and the Salina National Organization for Women. The sale also is sponsored by Amnesty International, the Center for Peace Concerns and the Land Institute..