Daily Sitka Sentinel from Sitka, Alaska • Page 1

Member the Associated Press A I I WEEKEND EDITION-FRIDAY, AUGUST 16, 1985 Sitka Alaska 35" AFTER BOTHA'S SPEECH: Bishop Tutu Says Peace Changes 6 NiP It was a case of mutual admiration when a young couple and their baby paused where Anna Bradley and her dog were sitting at Crescent Harbor Exchanging Looks park recently. Many other passersby also stopped to admire Anna's dog as a break ta the rain Sentinel photo by Susan By Sentinel Staff Two new programs aimed at raising more revenue for Sitka eommiinity Hospital, respite care and swing bed, were approved hospital boird oi- directors Thursday Both programs would attempt to utilize space not being utilized by ac- cute care patients. Because neither program would involve a significant outlay of funds to implement or a change in the hospital budget, both can be- put into place without assembly approval, indicated Dan Keck and Maxine Brittell, assembly liaisons to the board. Respite care can be implemented immediately, while the swing bed program requires approval from a state agency, said Hospital Administrator Berkshire. No more than two beds would be used for either program.

The respite program would provide short care for people who do not need to be hospitalized for. illness or injury, but still require 24-hour care. For instance it could provide care for an elderly person ordinarily cared for in a private home in the event the family went on a vacation. The fee would be $100 a day. Because there is no third party insurance for respite wpiiloV be 'required m' The wouldv- on medical need, and would not coihpete another program in town in which relief care is provided to parent? of developmentally The works like this, explained SharfonReno, director of nursing, after.the -meeting: Each time a patient is admitted for a certain cause, Medicare and Medicade will only pay costs up to a set amount.

complications sometimes occur, particuarly with older patients, so that they are not ready for discharge at the time the insurance benefits are used up. In such instances, the patient would continue to receive the same care at the hospital, but in the swing bed program, the hospital would not charge the regular room rate of $350 but continue to charge $150 daily Medicare would pay up to $132.50 daijy for swing bed care, said At 2 New Programs TM Raven Radio Explains New Fund-Raiser By Sentinel Staff The acting station manager of public radio station KCAW-FM, also called Raven Radio, outlined a plan to the Chamber of Commerce Wednesday whereby businesses and organizations can "underwrite" programs. Willa Rabinovitch said a sponsor would pay a set fee to support broadcast of a program, and in return receive an on-air credit. Rabinovitch portrayed the program as different from more traditional radio advertising, adding that "it's a statement of presence in the community." Such an underwriting announcement also does not get lost "-in the clutter of commercial breaks" on nonpublic radio, she said, and is tax-deductible, as are the contributions made by the public annually in the stations public fund appeal. Raven Radio, funded primarily by No Sign Found Of Sitka Hunters By Sentinel Staff Weather conditions have unproved enough in the WrangeU Mountains to allow about a half dozen planes to seach for two Sitkans reported missing in the area Aug.

8, an Elmendorf Air Force spokesman today. Missing are John McMahon, 32, and. Larry Gangle, 31, who were in McMahon's private aircraft. The two had been spotting sheep, from air while on a hunting trip. state and federal grants, is implementing the new program to help offset "dwindling state funding," said Rabinovitch.

"We're worrying money, just like any other business," said Rabinovitch. The Chamber speaker admitted that one "loyal supporter" has criticized the new fundraising plan, claiming it was unfair for a state-funded agency to pursue local advertising dollars in competition with the private sector. She by pointing out that Raven Radio also sells T-shirts, which are also sold by other Sitka businesses, and that the radio station is not criticized for those sales. "What we have is a product people want, like the she said. Additional funding from the underwriting program would help ensure that the quality of programming on Raven Radio would not decline, the Chamber speaker emphasized several times.

Raven Radio has been on the air since 1982, said Rabinovitch, recounting some of the station's history. The station has a paid professional staff which trains volunteers, who then assist with the daily operation of the station. "These people are about as various as the population of Sitka is," Rabinovitch said, explaining that the volunteers have included doctors, lawyers, fishermen, fiddlers, businessmen and chefs. Four volunteers have gone on to become professional radio people, she said. Berkshire.

Another type of patient be admitted under the cut-rate program would be someone transferred from -ahpthefaiospitalrslJdfi as one itiSeattleT for rehabilitation closer to home. The stipulations are that the patient must have been in another acute care facility for three days within the past 30 days and cannot be admitted under the swing bed program for more than 90 days, explained Reno. The new programs join a home health care program for which the board has received assembly approval upon first reading, and which could be passed on second reading later this month. Under that program, nurses would come into the homes of patients to assist with tasks such as changing dressings or administering medicines: In other business, Berkshire continued to express concern that Sitka Community Hospital could some day face direct competition from the Mt. Edgecumbe hospital if the Southeast Alaska Regional Health Corp.

(SEARHC) should assume administrative control of the federal institution. Presently, the Mt. Edgecumbe hosital is operated by the federal government to serve Natives in Southeast Alaska and has a contract to provide care to Coast Guard families. SEARHC is a Native regional health corporation that has tentatively negotiated an agreement with the Indian Health Service (IHS) to assume administrative control of the facility. Berskshire told the board that he has received correspondence from IHS headquarters explaining that once SEARHC met contractual obligations to Native people, it would be free to offer services to the entire community.

Likewise, Keck reported that he has spoken with an aide of Sen. Ted Stevens, and that the aide also felt that SEARHC could compete with the city- owned hospital. Furthermore, the aide Incinerator Goes Down By Sentinel Staff Burning of Sitka garbage has been halted while repairs are made to the municipal incinerator's pollution- control device by a manufacturer's representative, City Engineer Larry Harmon said today. The repairs should be complete by Sunday or Monday, Harmon said. He said the electrostatic precipitator has required some fine-tuning since the incinerator first began operation this spring.

A technician from the French manufacturer has been called in to make the adjustments. The precipitator is designed to capture small particles that otherwise would escape into the air. The garbage burner operates 24 hours a day except for weekends, when it is shut down. It is supposed to emit visible smoke only for brief periods when the system is started up at the start of each week. added, SEARHC could undercut Sitka Community Hospital prices sign- ficantly because most of the Mt.

-Eagecumbe hosital operating costs would still be funded by the government. About the only protection available to Sitka Community Hosital, indicated Berkshire, is to make the IHS, SEARH- and the Congressional delegation aware of the hospital's concern, which Berkshire said he has done. On a brighter note, however, Berkshire pointed out that Niles Cesar, executive director of SEARHC, has said SEARHC would not compete directly with Sitka Community Hospital. Board members, agreed to invite Cesar to their next meeting as a result of an offer by Cesar to address board concerns. In addition, said Berkshire, a SEARHC takeover could even allow some joint ventures between the two Sitka hospitals that could not take place with the Mt.

Edgecumbe hospital under federal jurisdiction. "Depending on how it works out, there might be some ways to work together, "he said. Sitka Flight Kept On By Sentinel Staff Alaska Airlines will not cancel its Flight 66, which stops in Sitka on its way to Seattle three nights a week during the winter months, Airline Vice President Jim Johnson announced today. Last month, the airline asked the public to comments on the proposal to discontinue the flight when the winter schedule went into effect Sept. 3.

Tht meant Sitka would have had only one direct southbound flight per day, with another available by flying first to Juneau for the same fare as a direct flight. The airlines will not only restore the winter flight. for Sitka, Johnson reported today, but it will also extend its summer schedule of daily service through Sept. 25. After Sept, 25, the flight will stop in Sitka three nights a week, leaving Juneau at 6:35 p.m., arriving in Sitka at 7:10 p.m., departing at 7:40 p.m.

and arriving in Seattle at 10:45 p.m. Johnson said the airline hopes that the flight will generate more visitor traffic to Sitka during the winter, through conventions and- other activities. By MAUREEN JOHNSON Associated Press Writer JOHANNESBURG, South Africa (AP) Bishop Desmond Tutu lashed out today at President P.W. Botha's long-awaited speech on apartheid, saying the lack of concrete steps to end apartheid made the chance of peaceful change "virtually nil." Tutu, the black Anglican cleric who won the 1984 Nobel Peace Prize, told reporters that he was considering calling for immediate economic sanctions against the white-minority government. lie charge that Botha, who addressed his National Party late Thursday, was.

acting like a "hack politician." think the chances of peaceful change are virtually nil. We are on the brink a catastrophe," Tutu said. "Short of a miracle, short of intervention by the international community, we are for the birds," said tutu. "I don't think Mr. Botha is interested in peaceful negotiation.

He is aware of his military strength," Tutu said. "He is interested in bludgeoning blacks into submission." He castigated President Reagan, Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher of Great Britain, and West German Chancellor Helmut Kohl, saying, "They have decided that blacks 'are dispensable." In nervous trading, the South African rand hit 38.50 cents, well below the its previous 41.90 low in January. South Africa's-mainly white anti-government BlashVSash organization said "the pay" for Botha's "The armed struggle continues," said information officer for the country's main black guerrilla organzation, the African National Council. Botha rejected equal voting rights fpr all races, saying it would be suicidal for "the ruling; whiternrhibrity; He also ended speculation that he might free Nelson Mandela, the jailed black leader of the outlawed ANC. Botha reiterated he would release Mandela only if he denounces violence, which Mandela refuses to do.

The one man, one vote principle for all racial groups "would lead to domination of one over the others, and it would lead to chaos," Botha declared. "I am not prepared to lead white South Africans and other minority groups on a road to abdication and suicide," he said. Under the system of racial segregation called apartheid, 5 million whites rule 24 million voteless blacks. Botha called for consultations with blacks about their future status, he promised more money to improve underdeveloped black communities, and he said a commission was working to change laws restricting the migration of rural blacks to white areas to find work. U.S.

congressional critics said they were disappointed by Botha's failure to move decisively away from apartheid, and President Reagan's national security adviser, Robert McFarlane, said he was unhappy that South Africa had not lifted a state of emergency imposed July 21 in 36 communities. Botha restated his position that blacks living outside 10 tribal homelands set aside by the government "are South African citizens and should be accommodated within political institutions within" South Africa. He repeated the government's willingness to grant citizenship to blacks in the six homelands which are not independent. Chief Gatsha Buthelezi, leader of South Africa's largest tribe, the 6 million Zulus, said in Jerusalem that he welcomed criticism of the pass laws but was displeased that Botha did not propose "the participation of black people in one government" and agree to release Mandela unconditionally. 12 Senators Help Wife of Black Leader WASHINGTON (AP) Personal checks from 12 U.S.

senators totaling $6,000 were presented to State Department officials today to help the wife of a jailed South African civil rights leader rebuild her badly burned home. Sen. Howard Metzenbaum, DOhio, gave the checks to Frank Wisner, deputy assistant secretary of state for African affairs, for delivery to Winnie Mandela, the wife of Nelson Mandela. "This is, a statement of personal concern and caring on the part of a broad range of members of the U.S. Senate," Metzenbauni said.

Last Tuesday, Mrs. Mandela's home and clinic she runs in a black township outside Brandport; South Africa, were severely damaged in a fire. Mrs. Mandela has blamed government security forces for the blaze. Nelson Mandela, 67, is the leader of the outlawed African National Congress, the main guerrilla organization fighting apartheid, South Africa's system of racial separation.

Mandela has been in prison since 1964 after being convicted on a count of plotting sabotage. Wisner accepted the checks and assured Metzenbaum that the "very generous gift" would be dispatched to Mrs. Mandela. Senators contributing to the fund included Metzenbaum, Rudy Boschwitz, Alan Dennis DeConcini, John Glenn, DOhio, Daniel Inouye, DHawaii, Nancy Kassebaum, Edward Kennedy, Frank Lautenberg, DN.J., Claibome Pell, DR.L, John Warner, and Lowell Weicker, RConn. SENSORS CHECKED: Only 16 Days to Register to vote in the October 1 Municipal Election.

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) -Space shuttle Discpvery will have better heat sensors when it blasts off Aug. 24 than those that cut off one of Challenger's engines last month, almost aborting the flight, NASA says. Shuttle managers gave the go-ahead Thursday after examining the status of the shuttle and all mission aspects during a four-hour meeting. Aug.

24 had been the tentative target. Liftoff was set for 8:38 a.m. EOT, Discovery's crew of five is to release three communications satellites and then track down and try to repair a Syncom communications satellite that failed to activate after beirig deployed by another shuttle crew in April. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration said it had tested and certified the improved heat sensors and that six would be installed today on Discovery, two on each of the three main engines. The devices, worth $3,800 each, record and send fuel pump temperatures to a computer.

Two of the sensors indicated the pump in one engine was overheating, and the computer shut it down. A third sensor showed a pump in a second engine was starting to overheat, but Mission Control, believing the signal false, disabled the sensor before the computer could act on its message. If the second engine had cut off, the astronauts would have attempted an emergency landing on the island of Crete, a risky maneuver that might have forced them to ditch in the Mediterranean Sea, officials said. Challenger reached a lower-than- planned orbit on the two remaining engines, and the seven-man crew completed its science mission. Examination back on Earth disclosed all three sensors were broken.

The problem was traced to the way in which the wire elements in the sensors and the tubes in which they operate were twisted and bent during manufacture before being-subjected to heat to make them uniform. The Rocketdyne Division of Rockwell International, which builds the shuttle engines, said sensors produced under a new process were subjected to extensive testing and proved to be much better. Mailott Elected Fund Chairman SITKA (AP) Byron Mallott, who; heads the Sealaska a regional native corporation, has been elected chairman of the Alaska Permanent Fund, the state's oil wealth savings account. Clyde Sherwood, senior partner in an Anchorage accounting firm, as elected vice-chairman at the board meeting this week in Sitka. Mallott has been a member of the Permanent Fund board since August 1982, and was vice-chairman last year He replaces Arne Espe as chairman; Espe will remain as a trustee.

Other board members include former Kenai lawmaker High Malone Department of Revenue Commissioner Mary Nordale and Department of Community and Regional Affairs Commissioner Emil Notti..