The Waco Citizen from Waco, Texas • Page 2

PAGE 2, THE WACO CITIZEN, TUESDAY, JULY 15,1986 Alert Congress Creating More Problems For Small Business Owners Small businesses employing IS or more should be alerted to the proposed rule changes in Washington now going on. Supporters of two bills, H.R. 4300 and S. 2278, would mandate new employee benefits for parental leave and medical leave. Under this proposed legislation, employers of IS employees or more would be required to grant 18 weeks of unpaid parental leave and 26 weeks of unpaid medical disability leave.

Employees would be entitled to parental leave for the birth, adoption, or serious illness of a child; and entitled to medical leave in the event he or she is unable to perform a job because of a serious health condition. Both parental and medical leave could be taken with guarantees of protection for jobs and benefits. This means job guarantees. The employer would be required to hold open the same job or make available an equivalent position with equivalent benefits, pay, and other terms and conditions of employment, for the employee upon return from leave. And, as if that enough, employers offering health benefits would be required to expand coverage to include employees during leave periods.

Supporters of H.R. 4300 and S. 2278 do not understand the hardship their bills will cause for smaller firms. Holding a job open for 26 weeks in a 20 employee business reduces the workforce by and will be a tremendous burden on the to mention a significant increase in payroll costs. The legislation also includes new legal rights for enforcement, enforcement by civil action, investigative authority, relief, penalty, and notice inviting an in crease of paperwork, record keeping, and litigation.

With the business community already facing un precedented legal costs due to the liability insurance crisis, this is exceptionally poor policy. And, the proponents of this legislation have even more in mind: these bills would require the establishment of a commission to study and make legislative recommendations for paid leave within two years! H.R. 4300 has been reported out by the House Education and Labor Committee and supporters hope to schedule the bill for House Floor action by the end of July. Moreover, the House Committee has added 18 weeks of leave" to care for a dependent parent! (There is no similar provisoin in the Senate Bill, S. 2278.) As is normal in controversial bills such as this, Congress has exempted itself from its provisions.

In the Senate, S. 2278 is pending; hearings in the appropriate Labor and Human Resources, subcommit tees are being considered by Senators Hawkins and Nickles (R OK). There are rumors on the Hll that this bill could be tacked onto a pass" piece of legislation to speed passage. Employers need the flexibility ot voluntary benefit plans to tailor benefits to their individual work for ces. accommodate the individual circumstances of employees as they arise, and contain costs.

Mandatory benefits increase fixed costs. Small businesses could be forced to eliminate the very jobs proponents seek to protect. Providing for parental and medical disability leaves has struck a sympathetic cord, but let your representatives overlook the impact it will have on employer. This legislation has come out of nowhere and is fast-tracked as a hood and apple pie" issue. House action is eminent and the Senate won't be far behind.

Small business must act now to stop this legislation. Employee benefits should be offered on a voluntary, not mandatory basis. If you are concerned about this legislation, act today. Your Senator and Representative can be contacted by calling 3121 and asking for office. Or, you can write to at the following address.

Honorable Phil Gramm, United States Senate, Washington, D.C. 20510; Honorable Marvin Leath, House of Representatives, Washington, D.C. 20515. Aging Focus DR. JOE LONG LETTER Ranger Museum In The Top Ranks Six New Theatre Screens Open Aug.

1 Cineplex Odeon Corporation, the Toronto-based company that pur chased the Plitt Theatre chain in November, 1985, will open its first new theatre location in Plitt Waco Square Six Fnday, August 1986. The new theatre complex is located at 410 North Valley Mills Drive, between Waco Drive and Franklin Avenue, in Waco. Roy Taylor came back to Waco to be city manager. The spacious new theatre features elegantly designed interiors with marble floors and refreshing pastel- coloured decor. The theatre houses six state-of the art, wide screened auditoriums with plush seating throughout.

Dolby Stereo Sound is featured in three auditoriums. The Plitt Waco Square Six Cinemas through its unique design, structure and choice of building materials, will recapture the grandeur and ambience of the threatre palaces of the and and will highlight the technical achievements of the Cineplex Odeon Corporation pioneered the multiscreen cinema concept in Canada, with the opening of its first 18 theatre complex in Toronto, in April 1979. Since then, (ineplex Odeon has grown from one STATE REPRESENTATIVE Betty Denton has announced that Texas State Technical Institute of Waco has been awarded a $22,579 federal Energy Conservation Measure grant through the Public Utilities Commission. The grant, which is part of the Institutional Conservation program, provides matching funds to institutions for energy efficiency studies and capital intensive projects recommended by these studies. theatre to its current 1142 screens in 382 locations in North America.

As a result of an aggressive expansion program and the acquisition of the Plitt circuit in November 1985, the Septum circuit of Atlanta, in March 1986, and the Essaness circuit of Chicago in May, 1986, Cineplex Odeon is now the largest film exhibitor in North America. The Cineplex circuit extends across six Canadian provin ces and 16 American states, of which Texas, California, Illinois, North Carolina. South Carolina, Min nesota, Florida, Utah and Georgia are the most significant in terms of number of screens. Cineplex Odeon recently opened two new cinema complexes in Abilene (6 screens), and in Houston (6 screens). A new three screen cinema complex will open in Lake Jackson simultaneously with the opening of the Plitt Waco Square Six Cinemas.

Negotiations are currently underway for further ex pansion in Houston, which together will ensure a significant increase in the Plitt Theatre presence in this state. Cineplex Odeon, through its wholly owned subsidiary, Plitt Theatres currently operates 151 screens in 43 locations in Texas in Abilene. Amarillo, Baytown, Brownwood, College Station, Del Rio, Denton, Houston, Kingsville, Lake Jackson, Richardson, Temple, Tyler, Waco, Wichita Falls and the Rio Grande Valley. The architect for the Plitt Waco Square Six Cinemas is David K. Mesbur and the consulting engineer and project manager is Peter Kof man, both of Toronto.

To the Editor: I am a member of the 322nd military History Detachment (Army Reserve) and have just completed a two-week tour of active training at Ft. Hood. Our unit is located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama and during our two weeks in Texas we were able to visit the Texas Ranger Museum in Waco. What a great opportunity it was to view one of the finest musuems of its kind I have ever seen. I have been to dozens of military and private museums including fifteen different trips to the Smithsonian Institution in Washington and cannot remem ber another museum visit any more interesting and enjoyable than this one.

The city of Waco must surely allocate a lot of financial help for its own Texas Ranger Museum because it is evident to me that a facility of this magnitude requires a lot of help from everyone. Any funds that are spent in the support of this great historical collection is truly an in vestment in the city of Waco itself and in the whole state of Texas as well. The city of Waco can be justifiably proud of the beautiful, spacious buildings and the seemingly unlimited items on display for the public to view. There is no way that a person like myself who is interested in Texas history can absorb all of the historical information and the items on display in an hour or two. It was duly noted that this museum even had original Bowie knives on display for the public to enjoy and this kind almost visit to the of opportunity is existent, jn my Smithsonian, I remember seeing only one original Bowie Knife on display and the Texas Ranger Museum had over a dozen different ones.

The commander of the 322nd M.H.D. is Major Jack Holliman and he and I had planned to spend an hour at the Texas Ranger facility and then drive to Austin to view the museum on the university campus. We spent 8 full enjoyable hours at the Waco museum and part of that time with Gaines de Graffenried, curator. We didn't make it to Austin until the following day and we were glad we How lucky the city of Waco is to have Mr. de Graffenried take such an interest in maintaining and expanding one of the finest museums in the country.

The things that impressed us about the facility was the vast space available, the well-lit display cases, the rare items in those cases and the information that went along with them, to say nothing about all the wonderful western art and artifacts that helps make this museum a total experience. Mr. de Graffenreid obviously knows what doing and loves doing it! My thanks again to the city of Waco for supporting and maintaining the Texas Ranger Museum. I am already making plans for a return trip to Waco, and this time with my wife so that hopefully we can stay longer than one day. Sincerely, Roger D.

Ballard Tuscaloosa, AL Fifty-Plus Single Adults One out of every four Americans age 50 and older is either divorced, widowed or has never been married. Five percent of persons over age 50 have never been married. Ten percent of all men and seven percent of all women who divorce are over 50 years of age. Almost a million Americans are widowed at an average age of 56. It is anticipated the population of single 50-plus adults will increase as more face divorce and widowhood.

To be widowed or divorced at any stage of life is traumatic, but in 4ate life termination of a marriage for any reason becomes even more traumatic and devastating as well as emotionally exhausting. For those who become widowed or divorced in late life tend to adjust quite well after having worked through their grief, feelings of loss, anger, guilt and they come to accept the reality of being single again. How one manages this late life transition depends, to a large extent, upon the individuals basic personality. It has been found that the 50 plus generation of single is generally more youthful and energetic, better traveled, more ac cepting of cultural changes and varying life styles than the generation that proceeds them. Also, this group is more knowledgable and skilled in the management of financial and business affairs.

More single adults are considering different options, new lifestyles, and relationships that meet their personal needs and reaffirms their selfesteem. They discover new interests and become involved in activities that bring self-fullfilment. Whereas in the past such was not permissable or possible for that matter. Single adults are mobilizing their personal resour ces and reshaping their lives and in so doing are feeling more secure in the society they will spend the next 30 40 years. A recent survey reports a significant improvement, after time, in the over all quality of life after the marriage ends.

Other research, con ceming the adjustment of the 50 plus single adults, has found that who form new relationships and nurture existing ones, recover quicker and are healthier than those who isolate For never married adults, midlife and later years can also be a time to reevaluate their identities, relation ships and activities because of the loss of friends and extended family members who have provided emotional support and served significant roles in their lives. Even though, never married persons may have more experience being in dependent and managing their affairs, those without family ties or close and personal friends are more vulnerable as they become older. Daughters Of Charity Form National Health System Child Inc. Program This Week In Waco Child, Inc. of Austin, Texas through its Center for Child Care Research, Training and Development, will be conducting a training program for all child care providers, staff, parents and volunteers throughout the Waco area.

Three sessions will be held at the Columbus Avenue Baptist Church at 13th and Columbus, Waco. Sessions on July 17 and 18, will begin at 8:30 a.m. and end at 5:30 p.m. The final session will be held on July 19, from TEXAS STATE TECHNICAL In stitute has received in scholarship funds from the Aluminum Company of America. The money will be distributed as 25 $500 scholarships to TST1 students in selected instructional programs.

The Waco CiTIZEN THE WACO CITIZEN (USPS 664100) is. published twice work July 4 week and the latt week of the yeai fix $15.00 pet year, 00 pet 2 (add 14 per year for oui of county) plus tax. by Cttuen 25lh. PO Hot J280, Waco, Itnas 76707 Second pottage paid to Waco. Tenat POSTMASTtR Send addrett to Cituen Newspapers, J2H0.

Waco. Teaai 76W MC.raam...........................................................feMkhar C.A. Editor Afcaa Wami Wn 9:00 a.m. to In response to current, glowing concerns of child abuse and inadequate child care programs, this training which is sponsored by the Texas Department of Human Ser vices in addition to meeting licensing requirements, will cover such topic areas as: child ciples and practices; discipline; management techniques; how to reduce and prevent lawsuits; understanding the liability insurance crisis and what to do about it; marketing child care services; and strategies for improving staff competency. There is no charge for this training program.

The Provincials of the five United States Provinces of the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Pbul have announced the establishment of the Daughters of Charity National Health System (DCNHS) to be in corporated in Missouri in mid July. Their action prepares the way for the union of two existing systems. Daughters of Charity Health Systems, now located in St. Louis, and Daughters of Charity Health System East, located in Baltimore.

The new system will serve the Daughters' 43 healthcare facilities (15,000 beds) and a number of other health corporations affilated with the Daughters of Charity in 17 states and the District of Columbia. Providence Hospital of Waco was founded in 1904, will be part of the system. DCNHS will be the largest Catholic not-for profit health system in the country. Initially, the national office will be St. Louis.

Regional management offices will be located in Baltimore, Maryland; Evansville, In diana; St. Louis, Missouri and Los Altos Hills, California. The Daughters of Charity National Purchasing Service, consolidated in St. Louis in 1982, will become a subsidiary. The Daughters of Charity have been in healthcare since their foun dation in 1633 in Paris, France.

Elizabeth Ann Seton established the Maryland in 1809. The Daughters of Charity began their health work in this country in 1823 by staffing the Baltimore Infirmary, now the University of Maryland Hospital. The Daughters of Charity today number approximately 32,000 mem bers worldwide, with ministries in health, education, social services and pastoral care. community in the United States in If YOU MOVE pieaae notify ut at won at pottiblc to we can chance your addrett and you can avoid mitting any iwuet It tavet chatte by the US om al Service (Any erroneous reflection against the reputation, character or standing ol any individual, firm or corporation in thit paper will be cotractad if callcd to the attention of the publither We reterve right to rejact or caned any ad at any time and to edit letteti to the editor People helping people he people affiliated with the Compton funeral homes are like most other people. They have families, friends; good days and bad; responsibilities and special talents.

It is only because of these similarities that they can relate to families feeling sorrow. The people were chosen because their special talents are in comforting others and acting responsibly on their behalf. At time of loss, your confidence in Compton is justified. Funeral Flowers Available CONNALLY Funeral Directors Downtown Chapel: 1000 Washington 752-3407 Citizen Seeking Ideas, Suggestions Do you have any ideas or suggestions on how Waco can overcome this temporary economic crisis? How can we help local industries expand? How can we attract new ones? What type should we go after? Anything new on the horizon that would be an exclusive with us? How about tourism? It is now the number two industry in Texas. How can Waco and surrounding cities better get their share of this expanding industry? What should be goals for the future? What can we do to encourage more leaJership in Waco? Should we elect our Mayor? Where can the cities rut in order to stay within their budgets? Where can the State cut? Where can the federal government cut? How can we finance the improvements needed for our parks? How can we finance a new Zoo in Cameron Park? Write us a letter and give us your thoughts on these or any other thing that is on your mind.

Try to be positive, because we want to print the let ters in our annual Progress 86 edition, which is scheduled to come out in August. Send to: Progress Editor The Waco Citizen P.O. Box 3280 Waco, Texas 76707 Or bring it by the Citizen Drive in Office, 26th and Cole. JAMES W. DOAK, former Dallas police officer and law enforcement officer for Southern Methodist University, has been named the new director of public safety for Baylor University.

Doak, 39, served in several positions at SMU, including watch commander for the daytime patrol division, supervisor of the communications division and super visor of the criminal investigations division. He also served five years at the Dallas Police Department and said the experience was invaluable. have had experience in just about every area of law he said. experiences will help me and others in the department when a difficult situation arises." FIRST CENTRAL CREDIT Union has announced the ground breaking for its new main office at Sanger and 62nd St. The new facility will include 3,750 square feet of office space and three drive-in lanes.

First Center was formerly Waco Teco, is in its 50th year of operation and serves 54 com panies in the Waco area. Currently serving 4900 members the firm has assets of $9.7 million. The new building is expected to be completed by December 1. The Alford Co. is general contractor on the project.

The GUARDIAN PLAN MM (.) 4 Wk m. Wes Chapel; 4400 W. Waco Drive 772-7440 1601 North Interstate 35 799-4921 AMERICAN NATIONAL BANK Loop 340 and Highway 84 776-8200 Member FDIC.