The Odessa American from Odessa, Texas • 10

28 ODESSA AMERICAN Tuesday, December 18, 1990 1 if Bullock to work in abuse program MCH rector Roger Sanderson said the taxpayers support for a sales tax should serve as a mandate to. provide radiation oncology services. -1." -vV' "I seem to get a ''positive response in general from the public," said Sanderson. "But it's regrettable we can't build that the way we want to. I think we're going to economically deliver these services to the public.

The board also approved an electronic funds transfer agreement allowing Stephans or Chief Financial Officer Ann Pinkerton to electronically purchase hospital investments. Other board members present included: Precinct 1 Director Maty Thompson, Precinct 4 Director R.T. McNeil, at-large Director Mary O'Hearn and at-large Director Jay Poynor Sr. Although financially a cancer treatment center is a "thin deal," Precinct 2 Director Steven Thompson said, "the public gave a mandate to have the finest medical complex in the area." Survey results from medical staff found 19 physicians said MCH should continue with the plan to upgrade radiation therapy services, while 13 voted against the plan. When asked if duplicate services would affect the physician's utilization of services at MCH, 19 answered there would be no change, eight said their utilization at MCH would decrease and eight said they had no opinion.

MCH should develop comprehensive cancer care regardless of current or future competition, said 26 physicians, while six disagreed. Board chairman and at-large di plans to open an oncology cancer center near MCH, a report to the board said." Along with medical oncology services, Texas Oncology will provide radiation services with a Varian 2100C identical to the one MCH committed to purchasing, leading to direct competition, the report said. Precinct 3 Director Johnnie Hooper said the hospital should go along with plans to expand radiation services described during the campaign for the one-cent sales tax approved in May. "I also look at it from the older citizen's point of view. Having to travel so far for treatment; it's not funny.

We need to have something here," Hooper said. AUSTIN (AP) State Comptroller Bob Bullock said Monday that he will work with a privately owned alcohol and drug abuse program while serving as lieutenant governor, a part-time post. Bullock, a recovering alcoholic, said he would work for the Viewpoint Recovery Centers outside his elected job. Viewpoint operates programs in seven Texas cities, including a treatment center in Bullock's hometown of Hillsboro. "I feel I have something to contribute by helping people who are trying to turn their lives around, and this is the kind of work that can be done as time permits," Bullock said.

The Democrat, who has been state comptroller since 1975, was elected lieutenant governor in the November elections. He takes office Jan. IS and will preside over the Texas Senate. In 1981, Bullock became die first statewide elected official in the nation to publicly announce that he was voluntarily undergoing treatment for alcoholism. In a statement, ViewPoint officials said the company was pleased to have Bullock join its staff.

"We're proud and fortunate to have a person of Bob Bullock's character and commitment affiliate with ViewPoint. The courage shown by Bob Bullock in his own life is an inspiration for others. But he brings more than experience, he brings a dedication that is heartfelt," the company said. Bullock said he would do a variety of work for ViewPoint, including working directly with clients and advising the company's management on program strategies. Besides the Hillsboro center, ViewPoint operates centers in Dallas, Houston, Arlington, Lubbock, Jasper and Beaumont, where the company has its headquarters.

Bullock said his salary from Viewpoint and state retirement pay would supplement his $600 a month lieutenant governor's salary. Rafe Greenlee, Bullock's press secretary, said Bullock's state employee retirement pay would total about 58 percent of his $74,500 annual comptroller's salary. To draw his retirement pay, Greenlee said, Bullock will officially "retire" Jan. 1 in the classification of a state employee. He is eligible to retire in the classification of elected official, but he chose not to do so.

The retirement pay of elected officials is tied to the salaries of state district judges, which are set by the Legislature. Bullock said he had considered joining his father-in-law's Austin law firm but decided against it due to the "time constraints imposed by law clients." Insurance board pressures court Cox newspaper sold; publisher named 28. Saxton said he did not know how much the rates would be raised, but noted the board's staff recommended a 19.3 percent increase if the law was not in effect. Employer-paid workers' comp premiums have increased about 200 percent in the past five years. Lawmakers passed the workers' comp overhaul last year after two special sessions that pitted business, interests against labor and attorneys representing injured workers.

Last month, the Insurance Board voted to freeze workers' comp rates for another year because of estimated cost savings from the new law; On Nov. 30, tiie Texas AFL-CIO, filed its lawsuit, saying the workers' comp reforms would deny workers of basic rights, lower disability benefits to most injured workers, and restrict employees access to court. AUSTIN (AP) The State Board of Insurance said Monday it will increase workers' compensation premiums if a state district court knocks out the new law. But Joe Gunn, president of the Texas AFL-CIO, said the Insurance Board was trying to pressure the Maverick County 'court, which is scheduled to consider Tuesday whether the new workers' comp law is constitutional. "That's just another one of those carpetbagger statements.

The insurance companies and Insurance Board, you can't tell the difference between them," Gunn said. Insurance Board chairman James Saxton Jr. said the panel wanted to alert businesses that it will reverse its earlier decision to freeze rates if the court prevents the new law from taking effect Jan. 1. "Our decision will depend on the outcome of the lawsuit, said.

If the workers' comp overhaul is sidelined, he said the board will increase rates at a special meeting Dec. publisher for 18 months. Rinehart will remain with Cox Enterprises. Plummer has 40 years of experience in the printing industry and comes to Port Arthur from where he had been editor and publisher of the Crookston Daily Times since 1974. Prior to that, he worked in the family-owned Beaumont Printing Lithographing Co.

until 1972 when he joined the Galveston Daily News in the retail and classified advertising department. In Port Arthur, he will supervise the Port Arthur News, Orange Leader, Triangle Press printing and two free-distribution in addition to papers in Minnesota-and North Dakota. PORT ARTHUR (AP) The sale of the Port Arthur News and Orange Leader has been completed and a Beaumont native, Wes Plummer has been named publisher of the Port Arthur newspaper. Announcement of the sale was made jointly by American Publishing Co. and Cox Inc.

Cox had owned the Port Arthur News since 1976 and the Orange Leader since 1985. Cox, which put the publications up for sale in June, announced in October that it had signed a letter of intent to sell them to American Publishing. No purchase price was disclosed. Plummer's appointment is effective immediately. He replaces Charles Rinehart, wfio had been News Grant helps, doesn't cure, hospital's ailments Montford reform law, according to a recent letter.

In the letter, the Association said special interest groups "who want to weaken consumer rights in Texas product safety laws" have wrongly assessed that failing to pass tort reform measures has negatively impacted me Texas economy. A study presented by the association determines that if such reforms are responsive to the liability "explosion," then a reduction of product liability cost and an increase in economic growth should result. However, the study indicates that other states with tort reform have experienced increased negligible economic growth. However, "we don't want to take away relief from the court," said Ralph Wayne, executive vice president of the League. Montford was the key player in a bill that modified' the Deceptive Trade Practices Act, Wayne said.

The first attempts at civil justice reform came in 1986, Wayne said "when people got fed up" with high jury rewards and high liability insurance premiums. "We think it's gotten completely out of hand," Wayne said. However, the Texas Trial Lawyers Association takes a different view to the introduction of tort beginning to work on ways to raise the remainder, he said." If the challenge grant is successfully met, the Medical Center will be able to pay off more than $300,000 in past-due accounts, Ballew said. David Moore, chairman of the hospital's Board of Directors, said the funds will retire almost all of the hospital's accounts payable. But Moore noted that while the hospital's accounts payable will soon be cleared up, the facility's money problems are not solved.

He said that if the hospital does not receive financial support from the surrounding counties it serves, the Medical Center faces the same problems it had before. The American ALPINE The Big Bend Regional Medical Center here has received a $100,000 grant and qualifies for another, but hospital officials said it's not the end of financial troubles for the facility. A $100,000 grant from the Meadows Foundation of Dallas will allow Big Bend Regional Medical Center in Alpine to qualify for the $100,000 challenge grant issued in June by the Abell-Hanger Foundation of Midland, said RMC Administrator Ron Ballew. Ballew said the Dallas foundation added a 2-for-l challenge grant which will provide an additional $100,000 "if we can raise $50,000. We have more than half of that amount in the bank, and we are 3 Council mmm program, as have local individuals, she said.

"The Urban Main Street Program is designed to revitalize downtown business districts. The city's $50,000 contribution would bring the available funds for the program to about $107,000. The money would be used to pay salaries for the program manager and an office assistant, Watson said, noting that the city has set a $36,000 to $40,000 annual salary range for the manager and a $15,000 to $18,000 annual salary range for the office assistant. Funds for the city's contribution to the program would come from block grant funds this year, Watson said. The City Council would have decide funding sources each year for the next two years.

return, the city would receive 7 percent of the monthly gross receipts Taylor brings in at the batting cages, according to city documents. In other business, the council is scheduled to. consider a resolution committing $50,000 a year for three years to the Urban Main Street program. Vicki Watson, director of the city action center, said the money would pay the administrative costs of the program. The city has agreed in the past to commit money to the program, Watson said.

Already, the county and the hospital district have donated money to the lengthy illness. He was born Sept. 18, 1911, in Loraine. He married Judith E. Kyees Oct.

26, 1936, in Fort Davis. Mr. Irwin had lived in Odessa since 1957. He was a driller for Holiday Drilling Co. He was a Baptist.

Survivors include his wife; a son, Bill Irwin of Alpine; two daughters, Cassie Stidham of Midland and.Darlene Howell of Oessa; a brother, Glenn Irwin of Alexendria, Egypt; a sister, Helen Ellsworth of Riverside, Calif; eight grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren. Hubbard-Kelly Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Court Gwendolyn Stiefvater al Academic Health Center and the Panhellenic Organization of Odessa for a program aimed at Improving the health of indigent children. Hearing a report from the State Department of Highways and Public Transportation about a joint landscaping project at the intersection of Andrews Highway and Yukon Road. Hearing a report concerning a state grant for a sewer system in North Ranchito.

Approving a permit for an -airport inspection and restoration business, which is also subject to approval by the Federal Aviation Administration. Meeting in executive session to consider raising the 1990-91 salary of Precinct 4 Constable Joe Hill, an item that relates to litigation brought by HiO and former constable Martin Stringer against Ector County. The American The Ector County Commissioners Court meets Wednesday at 10 a.m. in the Ector County Courthouse Administration Building, 1010 E. Eighth St.

The court Is expected to consider: Issuing certificates of obligation worth about $5 million to fund construction of the Ector County Coliseum, and any other matters relating to the possible issuing of certificates. Establishing a policy to regulate advertisements in the parking lot and on the grounds of the Ector County Courthouse Administration Building. Funding a new $700,000 Ector County Correctional Center. Approving a services agreement between the County Hearth Department, the Texas Tech Region Agapito Lujan Mass for Agapito Dominguez Lujan, 82, of Odessa will be said at I la.m. Wednesday at St.

'Joseph; Catholic Church with the Rev. John Waldron officiating. Rosary will be said at 7:30 p.m. today at Martinez Funeral Home Chapel. Burial will be in Rose Hill Cemetery.

Mr. Lujan died Sunday at Medical Center Hospital after a short illness. He was born March 24, 1908, in San Carlos, Chihuahua, Mexico. He married Paula Lopez in 1935, in Ter-lingua. Survivors include his wife; five sons, Agapito Lujan Roman Lujan, Miguel Lujan and Ismael Lujan, all of Odessa, and Ruben Lujan of Crane; four daughters, Maria Gonzales, Susana Lujan, Rosario Navarrete and Rosaelva Sauceda, all of Odessa; four sisters, Patricia Jacquez of Artesia, N.M., Francis Wilson, Isabel Penruni, and Manuela Mendez, all of Sacramento, 25 grandchildren; and 17 great-grandchildren.

Martinez Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Elmer Carr kinds of repairs and improvements are needed at the Permian Basin's biggest events arena. "We'd probably start workshops with the court and determine some definite prices," he said. Commissioners also are scheduled to consider a proposed policy to regulate advertising in the parking lot and on the grounds of the County Courthouse Administration Building. County Engineer Don Bonifay and Assistant County Attorney Jim Jordan hadn't formulated a policy by early Monday because they still were studying the legal liabilities the policy would pose, Bonifay said.

The policy was spurred by numerous complaints from people about politicking at the administration building, including large signs in the parking lot, numerous signs punched in the lawn and the distribution of campaign materials. Bonifay also will try to get a recommendation from the county's Airport Advisory Board in an early Wednesday meeting in time for a scheduled vote on a possible name change for Schlemeyer Field Airport. The advisory board tabled, an -agenda item calling for a name change in a recent meeting, but several pilots nave said they'd prefer that the airfield's name be changed to reflect its location. Once simply called the Ector County "Airport, the county renamed it Schlemeyer Field in 1977 in honor of the late L.B. "Roy" Schlemeyer.

An Odessa resident, he was one of the nation's first commercial pilots. In other business Wednesday, commissioners will be asked to approve $700,000 in funding for a county correctional center also known as a work farm Chief Adult; Probation Officer Mike' Services for Gwendolyn H. Stiefvater, 68, of Odessa are scheduled for 2 p.m. today at Hubbard-Kelly Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. James Hanson Burial will be in Sunset Memorial Gardens.

Mrs. Stiefvater died Saturday at Medical Center Hospital. She was born July 6, 1922, in Snyder. She married Herbert Stiefvater June 8, 1949, in Hobbs, N.M. Mrs.

Stiefvater was a home- maker and a member of the American Contract Bridge -League Senior Master, She was also a member of the Lutheran Church of the Risen Lord. Survivors include her husband; two stepsons, Bob Stiefvater of Natchitoches, La. and Dan Stiefvater of Tyler; four brothers, Sam Head of Del Rio, Kenneth Head of Kermit, Bob Head of Snyder and Zach Head of Plains; three sisters, Billie Sterns of Fort Worth, Jean Kennedy and Gayle Hargrove, both of Arlington. Hubbard-Kelly Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Bobby Jackson Services for Bobby Evans Jackson, 75, of Odessa are pending -with Hubbard-Kelly Funeral Home.

She died Monday at Medical Center Hospital. Malcom McPhail Services for Malcom McPhail are pending with Hubbard-Kelly Funeral Home. He died Monday in Siloam Springs, Ark. Services for Elmer Earl "Bo Chump" Carr, 46, of Odessa are scheduled for 2 p.m. Wednes-day at Martinez Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev, W.M.

Tatum officiating. Burial will be in Rose Hill Cemetery. Mr. Carr died Monday at Medical Center Hospital after a short illness. He was born Sept.

28, 1944, in Coolidge. Mr. Carr worked as a custodian for the Ector County dent School District. expand existing jail facilities or build new ones. The program is in response to a state limit on the number of prisoners that can be sent to the state's correctional facility in Huntsville.

Ector County is allowed to send only 20 prisoners to Huntsville per month under the new law. Neeley said the council will regroup to come up with another plan should commissioners refuse the funding request. "There are other things we might use that (state) money for," he said. "Our primary objective right now is to get money for a work farm. We would have to meet with the Community Justice Council to figure out what other alternatives to use that money Commissioners Wednesday also are slated to meet in executive session to discuss a request from Precinct 4 Constable Joe Hill for a salary increase.

p- The item relates to pending litigation a suit brought by Hill and former constable Martin Stringer against the county. The suit alleges inadequate wages. Neeley said. Neeley heads the Community Justice Council, a county committee assigned to plan ways to alleviate overcrowding at the Ector County Jail. -Neeley would not discuss pos- sible locations for the center, although Precinct 1 Commissioner Jack Crider has said he and Neeley have discussed a possible site on South Dixie Boulevard.

The correctional center would house about 70 people convicted of Class A and misdemeanors and third-degree felonies, Neeley has said. The center would require inmates to work during the day within the confines of a security -fence. They would receive counseling at night and sleep in military-style he said. v. The county: received a $366,000 state allocation from a $50 million statewide fund created to help counties handle escalating numbers of prisoners.

New state legislation requires counties to create a Community Justice Council to submit a plan specifying how the county would MP. Irwin Services for M.P. Irwin, 79, of Odessa are scheduled for 2 p.m. Wednesday at Hubbard-Kelly Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Robert L.

Bratcher officiating, Burial will be in Sunset Memorial Gardens. Mr. Irwin died Monday at Medical Center Hospital after a Survivors include a daughter, Ragenia Davenport of Odessa; mother, Berlena McQueen of Odessa; a brother, Bobby Carr of Houston; and two sisters, Evelyn Willis Landerth and Faye McCowan, both of Odessa. Martinez Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements..