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VOLUME XCIV
Disapproval Of Oakview Expansion Said Likely
By TOM KIRWAN
The proposed addition of 56 beds at
Oakview Nursing Home may be scuttled
by a state review panel, according to an
area official familiar with the situation.
While the plan has cleared one of
three major reviews and is expected to
pass the second one tonight, the third
and most important hurdle in the review
Erocess may spell trouble for the local
ospital authority, which is proposing to
add two wings at Oakview.
Simply because the authority sees a
need for more nursing expansion, and
can raise the money to pay for it, is not
sufficient for the project to become a
reality. The authority must also have a
state-issued ‘'certificate of need,”” which
in effect certifies that the expansion is
located in an area that needs it.
If a hospital or nursing home in the
state were guilt or expanged without a
certificate of need, the facility would be
unable to be licensed, which is illegal in
Georgia and would subject the facility to
possifile fines. Further, a health facility
that doesn't have a certificate of need
isn't allowed to be reimbursed on a
percentage of Medicaid and Medicare
claims.
The law establishing the certificate
of need came about as a result,
lawmakers said, of empty hospital and
nursing home beds boosting the cost of
health care. They reasoned that if beds
could only be established in com
munities where there is truly a need, the
underutilization problem which drives
up the cost of heafth care could be reduc-
Smelting Company Looks
At Holland Location After
Hassle In Walker County
A local realtor said Tues
day ‘Phoenix Smelting Corp.,
which has all but withdrawn
plans to build a plant in
LaFayette, is looking at a
Chattooga County site as a
possible alternative.
Realtor Hugh Henderson,
who heads tfie Chattooga
County Chamber of Com
merce's industrial develop
ment committee, told
chamber directors Monday
morning that the company is
looking at a site near the
Auto Theft Is Alleged
An Alabama woman re
mained lodged in the county
jail Wednesday afternoon on
auto theft charges.
Authorities identified the
woman as: Tammy Christine
Brown, 19, of Route 1,
Henagar. She is charged with
theft of a motor vehicle and
bringing stolen property into
the state. She is lodged in jail
in lieu of a SIO,OOO bond.
According to a warrant at
the sheriff's department, Ms.
Brown took a 1977 Plymouth
from William Dooley (of Trion
Project To Help
Elderly Cope In
Wintertime Slated
A local volunteer project is
in the works locally aimed at
helping elderly residents
reduce the cost of high power
bills during the wintertime.
Essentially the program
will train a group of local
volunteers to visit selected
homes, helping those
residents to develop
strategies to reduce ener,
consumption, said Gera%
Hosdges, director of the
energy program of Literacy
Action Inc., based in Atlanta.
Volunteers will be using a
special easy-to-read informa
tion packet developed by the
agency.
His agenci is coordinating
the effort with Georgia Power
Co., he said, and t.i‘e firm’s
home economist, Rachel Can
trell has been active in the pro
?ram. Summerville is one of
our pilot sites for the pro
gram, he said, chosen because
its need for such a program
and because it was l};lt com
munity involvement would be
high.
The bifgbest need for the
project, (dubbed ““The Chat
tooga County Energy
Project”) he said, is finding
volunteers.
“We need people high
school age through the senior
citizen brackets, ~ he said.
The Summerville News
One aspect of a federal law passed in
1974 was to establish a networfi of area
wide health system agencies to help
decide, amon(f other duties, which nurs
ing home and hospital proposals served
the needs of the area best. There are
seven such health areas designated in
Georgia: the one which serves this coun
ty and most of northwest Georgia is The
Appalachian Georgia Health Systems
Agency, Inc., whose president this year
is Chattooga High School teacher Ben
Moseley.
Unjer the certificate of need process,
it was announced by the agency last
summer that an additional 210 nursing
homes were needed in the three-county
area of Chattooga, Floyd and Bartow.
With that announcement, the local
nursing home began seriously consider
ing an additional expansion, coming on
the heels of an existing hospital wing be
ing converted to nursing home use, a
move that upped nursing home beds to
90 from 69, and re(%uced licensed
hospital beds in number to 42 from 30.
The hospital authority stipulated that
the beds could be converted back to
hospital use if needed—but that pro
spect seems unlikely now in light of the
fact that the hospital rarely has been
able to keep much better than half its
beds full.
The area and state planning agencies
received seven nursing home proposals,
including Oakview's, after the area
health system agency announced the
210-bed shortage. Two of those
Holland Community as a
possibility for its proposed
aluminum recycling plant.
Phoenix this week in
dicated that it has abandoned
virtually all its plans to build
in Walker County in the wake
of strong protest and the fact
that three Phoenix construc
tion trailers were burned
recently at the site of the pro
posed plant.
According to published
reports this week, the com
pany has already invested
SIOO,OOO in property there for
| Motor Company) on Central
Avenue in Trion around 4:15
p.m. Feb. 2, 1979.
A second warrant at the
sheriff's department said Ms.
Brown brought a 1976 Dodge
van, stolen in Union
Township, Ohio, Jan. 29,
| 1979, into Georgia and left it
at Trion Motor Company in
Trion Feb. 2, 1979.
The incident is still under
investigation by the Chat
tooga County Sheriff's
Department.
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“We'd like to see people turn
out from the churches, and
civic clubs, and individuals,
The chamber directors told
Hodges that the program is
welcome to use the chamber’s
office nu;]nl?er, afidbt:hat othe;
support help wi given i
needed.
“We hope to schedule the
training within the next two
weeks,” Hodges said. “This is
a local project for local people,
and my charge is basically to
raise tf‘l’e issue, assist the local
group in getting started and
oin%l the training, and help
ing them h;}g as needed.”’
Interes volunteers can
call 857-4033 to register for
the three-hour training ses
sion, he said.
SUMMERVILLE, CHATTOOGA COUNTY, GEORGIA 30747, THURSDAY, JANUARY 10. 1980
the plant.
A LaFayette attorney,
Norman Fletcher, t,oiyd
LaFglyetLe community leaders
last Thursday that after exer
cising an option to buy the
Eroperty, the company felt it
ad been ‘‘subjected to at
tacks of all nature, including
this (the Walker County)
Chamber of Commerce. As a
result, there has been damage,
delay and destruction of pro
perty.”
The lawyer said that the
company last month began an
effort to clear the situation
and had sought to be granted
a 90-day extension on the pro
perty closing in order to ex
plore more sites. If another
site is found, Fletcher said,
the company wants to be
relieved of its obligation to
&t]xrchase the property in
alker County.
No extension on the option
has been granted, however, he
said, and at last report the
deal must be closed by Jan.
13.
The Walker Chamber has
failed to withdraw its earlier
criticism of the proposed
facility, but last wee Ethe
chamber voted to meet with
company officials to help
them make some arrangement
in connection with disposing
the property.
According to Fletcher,
Phoenix is not willing to %ive
up its contract rights to buy
the property until another site
is found.
According to Phoenix, it is
hoping to build an aluminum
smelting plant capable of
recycling aluminum dross
from foundry operations.
The state's Environmental
Protection Division has given
the company a draft permit,
but the firm would neeg‘; con
struction permit before con
struction could begin.
Many LaFayette residents
complained about the plant’s
proposed location, and coupl
ed with the burning of three
construction trailers the com
pany has decided that it will
change its plans, if feasible.
No arrests have been made in
connection with the case.
Truck Stolen
‘ The Summerville Police
' Department is investigating
| the theft of a truck from a
| local car lot Monday night.
| According to a report at
| the police department, a
| representative O?Brooks Used
| Cars at 300 N. Commerce St.
| reported to officers early
| Tuesday morning that a 1977
| Ford F 250 pickup truck was
' missing from the lot. The
truck, valued at 84,000, has a
i blue metalic step bumper, said
| the report, and was taken
| sometime between 6 p.m. and
| 9:45 a.m.
| A “very nice blue ’55
{Chevy" was observed at the
| car lot before the truck was
' stolen, said the report.
plans——which proposed a 120-bed home
in Adairsville and a 25-bed expansion in
Rome— gained approval from the state.
Up until a few weeks ago, for a
number of reasons, it appeared that ap
proval on the area and state levels for
the local nursing home expansion was
virtually a cinch. But in the last few
weeks that clear sky has been overcast
with threatening clouds, officials say.
The development that threatens the
plan, they say, is the State Planning
Agency's approval of a 100-bed facility
in LaFayette. Walker County isn't in the
same health system agency as Chat
tooga; Walker County is part of the
hea?th system agency that serves the
metro-Chattanooga area.
The problem is that the statewide
health planners believe that the
LaFayette project will satisfy this part
of the state's need for additional nursing
home beds, while the area planning
agency says that more nursing home
beds are needed in the area.
“We see 60 beds as being needed,”
said David Sweitzer, director of project
review with the area HSA. He explained
that the state determines an area's need
by figuring one nursing home bed is
needed for each 55 people within the
radius of a metropolitan area (such as
Rome), while the area healthy system
agency figures on a need of one bed per
55 persons within a contiguous area (ad
joining counties). The discrepancy most
likely will translate into the state plann
ing agency declining approval for the
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Mr. and Mrs. Richard Bailey of Summerville care for
the first Chattoogan born in 1980, their daughter,
Sabrina Lynn. She was born at Floyd Medical Center
Tuesday, Jan. 1, at 2:40 p.m. She weighed 4 pounds, 10
ounces. The Baileys have another daughter, Heather
Catrina, 15 months old. The grandparents are Mr. and
Mrs. W.M. Loggins of Pennville and Mrs. Evelyn
Cousins of Pennville. Mrs. Bailey is the former Debbie
Loggins.
'3 Incumbents, Wilson
Victors In Trion Race
The election last Thursday in Trion saw the incumbent
mayor and two councilmen, along with a new councilman,
elected as some 548 residents turned out to vote. Over 71 per
cent of the registered voters voted.
Incumbent Mayor Jake Woods was re-elected to a four-year
term by a 25-vote margin. Woods begins his 17th year as
| mayor. He received 285 votes while councilman Donnie Hayes
- received 260 votes. The councilman’s term ends this month.
} Deck Brewster, a long-time resident of Trion who has been
serving an unexpired term of City Recorder created by the
- death of Tom Grubbs in June, was elected to serve for the next
| two years to complete the term. He received 312 votes and
| challenger Carl “CfiesLy" Ragland received 221 votes.
, The race for the three council seats saw incumbents Hoyt
| Williams and Don Henderson re-elected. Williams received 416
votes and Henderson received 479 votes. The new councilman
" elected was Doug Wilson, who received 329 votes. Also running
in the council race was Steve Dyer, who polled 297 votes.
Williams, Henderson and Wilson will serve four-year terms.
Summerville Police Vow
Crackdown On Drivers
The Summerville Police
Department recently began
cracking down on all types of
traffic violations, according to
Police Chief Arlen Thomas.
Beginning this week,
Thomas said, his officers are
being less lenient on traffic
violations such as running
stop signs, speeding, im-
Emfier turning and improper
acking to name a few. He
urged residents to obey all
traffic laws better and to pay
more attention to their £iv—
ing, said Thomas.
“In checking our records
from July 1, to ?)ec. 31, 1979,
there were 97 accidents inside
First Chattoogan of 1980
local project, Sweitzer said.
"It appears that the state shows no
additional beds being needed in this area
as a result of the approval of 120 beds in
Adairsville, the 25-bed expansion at
Riverview in Rome, and the 100 beds in
LaFayette.
The difference seen in the need for
the area by the two agencies—the Area
Health Planning Agency and the State
Health Planning Agency —results from
the area unit looking at the local need,
while the state agency eyes the
statewide situation, Sweitzer said.
“They use different measuring
sticks,” explained Chattooga County
Hospital Administrator Bob
Throneberry. Throneberry, in a
Lelerhmw interview Friday, said it's dif
ficult to say how the recent state ap
provals granted surrounding counties’
projects will affect the need local nurs
ing home. I don't think it's going to
htfip people who want to stay in Chat
tooga County. The nursing home (to be
constructed) in LaFayette will definitely
take some of the patients that will nor
mally be here. Rith now I don't know {if
the need for the local facility has been
severely diminished). :
In the meantime, the area health
planning agency will consider the pro
posal tonight, following a unanimous
subcommittee approval last week sup
porting the Oakview expansion. Accor
dini to Sweitzer, the entire HSA board
is likely to approve the plan, and send its
recommendations to l,s)\e State Health
Planning Agency.
the city jimite ot
Summerville,”” explained
Thomas. “‘Of the 97 accidents,
there were 22 injuries. The
property damage to the
automobiles invo?ved in the
accidents is estimated at least
$54,450."
The main cause of the ac
cidents was listed as runnin
stop signs, Thomas sai«f
There were 18 charges made
in the accidents in connection
with that violation. Other
causes included: speeding, 15
charges; driving too fast for
conditions, 14 charges: im
(Continued On Page 5)
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TO TAX EXEMPT GROUP
Fabrics America Willing
To Give Away Building
Fabrics America Group,
unable to sell its local plant
since it closed over two years
ago, is prepared to give the
facility away under L%\e right
circumstances. .
That's the word from local
chamber president Henry
Watson, who said this week he
has received a letter from
Meno Schoenbach, Fabrics
America’'s chairman of the
board, saying the company is
ready to take that step.
The only stipulation, Wat
son told chamber directors
Monday morning at their
monthly meeting, is that the
fiift be given to a political sub
ivision which qualifies for In
ternal Revenue Service tax ex
emption— an indication the
gift will be by the firm used as
a tax write-off.
Watson said that only the
fenced-in portion of the pro
fwrty (where the buildings are
ocated) is involved; a nearby
parking lot will not be part of
the gifi. He added that the
company is eager to dispose of
the property by Jan. 31, which
is apparently the end of the
firm's fiscal year, Watson
said.
Watson was iven
chamber approval M(mgay to
approach the newly
reactivated Chattooga In
dustrial Development
Authority to see if that group
would be willing to take
responsibility for the proper
ty. He said yesterday a
meeting has been scheduled
by the authority Monday to
discuss the proposal. The
authority, mage u of
representatives of Yocal
municipalities and the county,
can issue bonds for industrial
development.
Watson said a number of
possibilities could be opened
on the industrial development
front if the industrial authori
ty is willing to take over
responsibility for the proper
ty, estimated at roughly 8
acres in area.
Watson said, for example:
* The site's warehouse
could be rented until such
time as a decision as to what
to do with the property is
made, which in turn would
help offset any expenses in
curred,
* The site could be split in
to several “‘condo’’ units for
two or more smaller industrial
operations.
* Using possible grant
funds or money generated
from other sources, the pro
perty could renovated so that
a new industry could be lured
here.
Watson said the property
could help the county sur
mount a major stumbling
block— not having an already
developed site that a prospec
tive industry could move into
within a few days. Nowadays,
he said, a community virtually
must have an existing site
before it will be successful in
bringing new industry to an
area.
In other chamber news:
* |t was announced that
the law firm Cook & Palmour
has been awarded the
chamber’'s improvement pla
que in recognition of its at
tractive addition to the front
of its building.
* Watson said member
ship growth must be concen-
6 Are Arrested In
Undercover Cases
A three-week undercover
operation in Chattooga Coun
ty resulted in six lu('afmun be
ing arrested this week and
charged on drug or alcohol
related violations.
A spokesman for the
sheriff's department said at
various times during the past
three weeks the six men
allegedly sold marijuana or
whiskey to an undercover
afiem, working with the
sheriff's department.
Those arrested and their
charges include:
* Bobby 'l'hompson, 41, of
the Gore community, charged
with party to a crime of selling
non-tax paid whiskey. He has
been released on a SSOO bond.
* Calvin McMichael, 20,
(address unavailable) charged
with violation of the Georgia
Controlled Substance Act. He
has been released on a SSOO
bond.
* Joe Willie Loveless (age
unavailable) of Seventh
Street, Summerville, charged
with party to a crime of selling
marijuana and violation of the
Georgia Controlled Substance
Act, he has been released on a
SIO,OOO bond.
* W. .. McWhorter, 53, of
1007 Dickeyville Road, charg-
Motorcyclist Is
Hurt In Chase
A high-speed chase last
Thursday resulted in an acci
dent am{a Summerville man
heing treated at Floyd
Medical Center. He was as;()
charged with five traffic viola
tions by the Summerville
Police Department.
Authorities identified the
man as Terry Floyd Bryant,
23, of Route 1. He was cKarg
ed with driving on suspended
license, failure to stop }())t blue
light and siren, speeding, at
u:m;]ning to elude officers and
reckless driving.
According to a report at
the police department, Bryant
was taken to Floyd Medical
Center in Rome with a broken
arm and other injuries. He
was later released.
Officers attempted to stop
Bryant, driver ofpa motorcy
cle, on a traffic violation, said
a report. Bryani fled, said the
report, and officers gave pur
suit. The chase continueé) to
Spring Creek Road, where
Blryant wrecked his motorcy
oy,
{PRICE 20c
trated on as the chamber’s No.
1 priority in 1980,
* The possibility of
establishing offices for the
chamber in the old railroad
depot “were discussed, but
nothing has been finalized.
ed with two counts of party to
a crime of selling whis?wy. He
has been released on a SI,OOO
bond.
* Barl Bramlett, 64, of
Route 1, Lyerly, charged with
two counts of selling whiskey
without a license. He has been
released on a SI,OOO bond.
* Paul Faulkner, 54, of
Route 1, Summerville, charg
ed with selling non-tax paid
whiskey. He has been released
on a SSOO bond.
County Water
District Will
Boost Rates
Customers of the Chat
tooga County Water District
will soon see an increase in
their water bills.
“Due to increased costs of
operations and the Board of
Director's desire to continue
to provide the best possible
gervice to the customers,” a
soon-to-be-released notice
would read ''‘a new rate
schedule has been adopted, ef
fective March 3."
The new rate is as follows:
the first 2,000 gallons, $6
minimum; the next 50,000
gallons, $1.30 per 1,000
gallons; and all over 50,000
gallons, $1 per 1,000 gallons.
Berry Plans
Program For
Aging Adults
Berry Collefie will par
ticipate in the national
““Elderhostel’’ program, a
summer educational ex
perience for adults 60 years of
age and older, according to
Gene B. Clark, director ofthe
college’s Office of Continuing
Education and Community
Services.
Approximately 20 par
ticipants will come to Berry
during the week of July 13
through July 19, 1980. %,‘hey
will take LKree college-level
non-credit courses and spend
a week of learning, sharing
and socializing.
Current plans are to house
the students in the guest cot
tages and gve them meals at
Krannert Center for a total
cost of $l3O.