Lansing State Journal from Lansing, Michigan • Page 8

Metro Editor Betsy Miner 377-1 1 54 E-mail: metrolsj.com Lansing State Journal www.isj Michigan EiMeir pushes MUFamtly plain system can't provide the kind of expansion the administration is talking about." Fleener and other health care advocates heard details of the governor's proposed MIFamily plan Monday during a daylong conference in Lansing. Although they agreed more people need to be covered by health insurance, they said that won't solve all the problems faced by low-income patients. In some areas, people have to drive hours to get to a doctor or dentist who accepts Medicaid patients. "I have friends who have to drive 200 miles for a dentist," said Jerry McDonald, a disabled worker from Harrison, a small Clare County community between Mount Pleasant and Grayling. Dave Vieli, deputy finance di rector for the state Department of Community Health, said the department is working to improve access to health care.

Michigan has 110,000 to 145,000 children and about anything right now who need something," he said. To expand coverage, Engler wants to use $300 million in federal money set aside for children's health insurance to add 220,000 low-income adults to the state's MIChild program, a health insurance program for children. The new MIFamily program would include working adults with disabilities and those making too much money to qualify for Medicaid but not enough to afford health insurance. The poorest of the poor those whose income is no more than half of the federal poverty line get health insurance through Medicaid. About 1.1 million people receive Medicaid in Michigan, including 308,186 children in the Medicaid Healthy Kids program.

Critics claim extending kids' health care program could overload system By Amy Franklin Associated Press Gov. John Engler wants the federal government to let Michigan expand the state's health care system for children to cover low-income families and seniors. However, health care advocates said Monday they're worried the state will expand a system that's already overwhelmed. "It's like putting icing on a crumbling cake," said Yvonne Fleener of the Lansing-based Michigan Protection and Advocacy Service Inc. The Around Michigan Schuette to run for Court of Appeals State Sen.

Bill Schuette, R-Mid-land, announced Monday he's running for the Fourth District state Court of Appeals. Schuette is running for the seat vacated by Donald Holbrook who is prohibited from seeking reelection because he is 70 years old. Schuette kicked offatwo-day, seven-city announcement tour. Appeals court judges serve six-year terms. Their annual salary is $151,441.

The Fourth District includes Ingham, Clinton and Eaton counties as well as northern Michigan. Schuette is ineligible to seek reelection because of term limits. Hospital ordered to pay molested patient FLINT Ajury Monday ordered a hospital to pay $1.25 million to a woman with bipolar disorder after jurors found she had been sexually molested by a nurse's assistant Mary Zsigo, 40, of Flint, sued Hurley Medical Center for battery and intentional infliction of emotional distress in the July 1998 incident Zsigo, who was hospitalized while suffering a severe psychotic episode, was molested twice while her wrists and ankles were restrained with leather straps, her attorney, Glen Lenhoff, said. A hospital spokeswoman said the medical center would appeal the verdict, which came after a weeklong trial in Genesee County Circuit Court. The former nurse's assistant, Lorenzo Powell, is serving a two- to five-year jail term after he pleaded no contest to threatening great bodily harm, Lenhoff said.

Family judge criticized for coin-toss decision TRENTON A Family Court judge is being criticized for flipping a coin to decide where children of a broken marriage would spend Christmas Day. Norman Bresinski, of Trenton, is the children's' grandfather. He is threatening to file a judicial misconduct complaint against Wayne County Circuit Judge Helen Brown for flipping the coin at a Dec. 14 court hearing. The coin toss determined Bresin-ski's granddaughters would spend Christmas with their father, Bres- Second trial set in trooper assault Girls' nights out focus on having a good time Women in U.R rack 'em up each week at billiards hall 21 Tuesday February 5, 2002 MIChild provides benefits including primary care, prescription-drug coverage, hospital stays and vision, hearing and mental health services.

Families pay a premium of $5 a month for coverage. Since MIChild began in 1998, 25,184 children have been enrolled. Michigan provides 31 percent of the funding for MIChild; the federal government provides the rest. Michigan wants to use some of that money to cover adults, but cannot do so without receiving a federal waiver. The health department is expected to apply for the waiver by March 1, said Geralyn Lasher, spokeswoman for the Department of Community Health.

If its successful, MIFamily could be operating as early as October, she said. Reeves, executive director of the Chamber of Commerce in Howell, the county seat "The prosecution is taking it very seriously." Jasen Barker, 22, and Travis Sales, 21, were jailed on ethnic intimidation and assault charges. Their two-week trial in November ended in a deadlock. After the trial, a majority of the jurors asked to meet with Williams and expressed regret that they couldn't reach a unanimous verdict. County Prosecutor David Morse sought a retrial.

Circuit Judge Stanley Latreille again will preside. "I am really pleased that our prosecutor is pursuing this," said Brighton City Councilman Steve Manor, a retired teacher and a co-founder of the racial tolerance advocacy group Livingston 2001. "This behavior will not be tolerated." The defendants' attorneys declined comment Monday, saying it was too close to the trial. Livingston County's reputation for racism stems from its overwhelmingly white makeup, as well as to Ku Klux Klan grand dragon Robert Miles, whose farm near Howell was a hot house for white supremacist activists for decades. birth each year, compared with an average of 337 from 1998 to 2000.

An average of 108 Lansing mothers, or 4 percent, did not get adequate prenatal care each year from 1990 to 1992. That number dropped by more than half to 40 mothers, or 1.8 percent, from 1998 to 2000. Kids Count is a national initiative of the Annie E. Casey Foundation in Baltimore to track the status of children. On the national report, The Right Start: Conditions of Babies and Their Families in America's Largest Cities," Michigan made improvements on six of the eight measures, but made no substantial gains.

"We're just not making the level of improvement we need to improve the fives of kids," Zehnder-Merrell said. Infants' health at birth is a key indicator of their future development and educational success, she said. "The school systems are struggling with the numbers of kids coming in that need special help, and what these numbers are saying is that's not going to change," Zehnder-Merrell said. Contact Lori Hayes at 267-1348 or lhayeslsj.com. for mothers Lansing 33-city average Percent change in rate between 1990-92 and 1998-2000 Local leaders pleased that Livingston County men face further prosecution By David Goodman Associated Press Two white men accused of beating a black Michigan State trooper for dancing with a white former assistant prosecutor at a bar face a second trial starting Wednesday in largely white Livingston County.

Local leaders sav they would like nothing better than ridding themselves of the racist image that has clung to the once-rural area, now a fast-growing part of suburban Detroit's outer fringe. The case grows out of an April 20 attack on off-duty Trooper Arthur Williams HI on the dance floor of the Metropolis Bar Grill in Brighton. Authorities say two cousins, angry at seeing a black man dancing with a white woman, shouted racial slurs, punched Williams and smashed his face with a bottle. He had surgery to rebuild an eye socket. "It's a painful thing when something like this happens," said Lee Members of pool league have a ball while trying to get through the winter ByA.M.Kelley Associated Press MARQUETTE These Yooper girls just wanna have fun.

There's not a lot of social life on cold winter nights in Gwinn. But there are pool tables, and 75 of the finest cutters and bankers this side of Calamity Jane get together every Thursday night to shoot it out. It's the Gwinn Area Women's Pool League, and they chalked their first cue sticks more than 25 years ago. President Nancy Bengry said the best part of the game is getting together with friends once a week from September through April. "If you win or lose, it's OK It's just fun getting out with the girls," she said.

"We catch up on the week's gossip and play pool at the same time." Bengry, 54, said she first picked up a cue when she lived in Marquette. In fact, she and her husband met around a pool table. "But we don't play each other much anymore," Bengry said. "He complains that I beat him too much." She joined her first league in 1975 while raising their four now-grown children. "It was my one night out to regain my sanity.

Then I could go back to my kids and be a good mom" Bengry has been president of the league for five years. It's her job, along with vice president Terri Hocking and secretary Danielle Roberts, to settle disputes during games. "We don't have too many, but believe it or not, we travel with cell phones on play night," she said. Advice about a shot can be given to a player only by another member of the team, never by bystanders, and a situation like this was the latest dispute Bengry was called to mediate. Sharp shooter Jamie Heikkinen, a member of the Up North No.

1 team, concentrates on her billiards shot during a recent outing to the VFW hall in Gwinn. The first members of the Gwinn Area Women's Pool League chalked up their first cue sticks more than 25 years ago. 625,000 adults not covered by health insurance, said Gerry Polverento, senior researcher for the Lansing-based Collaborative Research and Health Outcomes in Policy. Engler Vieli said it's im portant to extend benefits to individuals such as pregnant women, disabled workers and single people who don't have coverage. These are people who don't have AARON PETERSONAssociated Press a year ago from Menze Construction, where she was secretary for 32 years.

She has been in the Gwinn league for 12 years. The women's ages run from 60 to the 20s. Another regular league player, Sally Searle, 43, is part of Up North No. 1. She and the rest of the women playing at VFW Post 5670 stress the social aspect of the game, hot the competition.

They all agree it's a worry-free and inexpensive night out, away from husbands and kids. Tou need to make your own fun in the U.R," she said. "You definitely have to think of things to do or you'd go crazy." Smoking would be prohibited: In municipal buildings, government buildings, service lines, places where bingo games are held, restrooms, lobbies, reception areas, hallways, all common-use areas of public and private workplaces, buses, taxicabs, transit depots, retail stores, art galleries, libraries, museums, sports arenas, convention halls, areas used by the general public, all businesses and nonprofit entities patronized by the public, public and private meeting facilities, waiting rooms, hallways, wards and semi-private rooms of all health facilities, and all other common areas In hotels and motels, multiple-tenant office buildings, malls, apartment buildings, condominiums, trailer parks, retirement facilities, nursing homes and other multiple-unit residential facilities. 71 Births: Report tracks kids' health inski's former son-in-law. Brown, 53, a Family Court division judge, wouldn't discuss the incident.

But her boss said she was wrong. "Tossing a coin to resolve a parenting time dispute is unacceptable," Wayne County Circuit Co-Chief Judge Mary Beth Kelly said. Suspect to stand trial despite officer error HOWELL A drunken driving suspect must stand trial despite the fact that a police officer arrested him across the city limit, the Michigan Supreme Court said. Reversing the Livingston Circuit Court and state appeals court, the high court ordered Donald Hamilton to stand trial for drunken driving third offense. He faces up to five years in prison if found guilty.

On Nov. 21, 1999, Howell police Officer Darren Lockhart pulled Hamilton over in neighboring Howell Township after he saw Lockh art's car weaving and without tail lights. Michigan law prohibits police officers who are not in hot pursuit of a suspect from arresting someone on suspicion of a misdemeanor. The officer could not know that Hamilton was a repeat offender facing a felony charge. A three-judge appeals panel unanimously threw out the case, saying the arrest was unconstitutional.

Attorney General Jennifer Gra-nholm and the county prosecutor's office appealed to the Supreme Court. From staff and wire reports Capitol Question: Driver's license reform The state House could vote this week to approve legislation requiring driver's license applicants to prove they are in Michigan legally. The bill, part of an extensive anti-terrorism package, is aimed at keeping illegal aliens from getting state ID cards. Critics say it hurts farmers who depend on migrant workers, and could create problems for Secretary of State employees. What do you think? Please respond by noon Thursday and include a telephone number for verification.

All responses must be verified in order to run. Results are published Sunday. You can: Call 485-5463 and press 8978 to leave a voice-mail message. Mail it to Capitol Question, 120 E. Lenawee Lansing, Ml 48919.

Fax to 377-1298. E-mail candrewslsj.com. Smoking: Board will vote on proposed ban Feb. 12 Abystander called a shot, and the player took it. Bengry got a call on her cell phone the teams play all over town and listened to both sides.

She ruled that the player who made the shot had to forfeit the game. They play 8-ball league rules "with lots of variations." And each team has its own system of collecting quarters and dimes in a kitty for scratching. They use the money at the end of each season for parties. Janet Demarest, 60, is on the VFW No. 1 team along with her daughter, Tina Hakkola, and niece Candia Contois.

Demarest retired it was too controversial, Celentino, D-Lansing Township, said. "We are taking a bold step on the issue of tobacco use," he said. "We have done it in a very thorough way." Other county locations where smoking will be permitted include: private residences, hotel and motel rooms, tobacco specialty stores, and hotel and motel meeting rooms or assembly halls when being used for private parties. Smoking rooms would be allowed except in governmental or recreational facilities for employees if they are separately ventilated. If a smoking room is set up, a nonsmoking room the same size would also have to be provided as a break room.

Curtis Hertel, D-East Lansing, chairman of the Human Services Committee, said the restrictions are to help Ingham County become a healthier place. "It fulfills a need without harming anyone economically," he said. "It's not anti-business. It's pro-health for the community." Committee member Michael Sev-erino, R-Holt, who voted against the recommendation, said he would reconsider if they tweak the ban. Contact Katie Matvias at 267-1301 or kmatviaslsj.com.

Continued FROM 1B area schools, and the health center's Teen Parenting Network offers home-based support for teen parents and promotes prenatal care. "There's been lots of communi-tywide attention to this issue, and that's trickling down to influence youth," Way said. The Ingham County Health Department also has been aggressive in getting low-income mothers proper health care, Zehnder-Merrell said. Other Lansing findings: The number of births to teenagers who were already mothers fell 17 percent. The percentage of babies born preterm, fewer than 37 weeks, increased 8 percent.

The percentage of births to unmarried mothers rose nearly 4 percent. The percentage of births to mothers with fewer than 12 years of education dropped about 5 percent. The percent changes are based on a comparison of three-year averages from the beginning and the end of the decade. For example, from 1990 to 1992, an average of 442 teenagers gave Trends in conditions and their babies Category Births to teens under age 20 Repeat births to teens (ages 15-19) Births to unmarried women Less than 1 2 years education Late or no prenatel care Smoked during pregnancy Low-birthweight babies Preterm (less than 37 weeks) Source: Michigan Dept. of Community Health Continued FR0M1B works.

He hopes the new ordinance will stop people from smoking on the job. "Partaking in second-hand smoke should not be a prerequisite for work," he told the committee. Elizabeth Clarke, 18, a senior at St. Johns High School, commended the committee for its efforts. Clarke, the president of her school's Students Against Destructive Decisions, said she plans to encourage Clinton County to make the same decision.

"We've challenged our school to be smoke free," she said. "We support this because many of us use restaurants in Ingham County and many of our parents work here." The task force combined the efforts of three commissioners, representatives from the hospitality and labor industries, health officials, Lansing Chamber of Commerce, the local Tobacco Coalition, and county residents. It was created to work on the recommendations originally offered by the Ingham County Board of Health almost two years ago. One of the first things the task force did was separate the restaurant and bar ban from the proposal because 8U 7 14 15 51 5i 51 17 26KBBa S1 17 8 7 Lansing State Journal.