DMH Discusses Long-Term Plan
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“Serving DeSoto County since 1887” WEEKEND RANCH RODEO A Ranch Rodeo held in Turner Center takes place Saturday and Sunday, to benefit Tidewell RCIXI)IAN Hospice. See Thursday,A FebruaryRCADIAN 6, 2014 - 24 pages / 50 cents page 14. A section of the Sun DMH discusses long-term plan By STEVE BAUER sees their paychecks going down and system that would make financial that our board’s directive, which is to ARCADIAN ASSISTANT EDITOR employees being sent home on fur- sense. “We’re looking at all possibilities continue as a community hospital, are lough,” she said. “I’d like to know what right now, for example if there is an implemented.” Questions from a concerned DeSoto you are doing to ensure our long-term opportunity we should probably ... Board member Lew Ambler Jr. told Memorial Hospital staff member success.” talk about the Community Health Care the employee because the hospital during DMH’s board of directors meet- DMH CEO Vince Sica addressed System,” he said. received its Municipal Use Funding ing Thursday sparked an impromptu the employee’s questions, saying the Sica made it clear, however, that any recently, there is no need for immedi- discussion on the hospital’s long-term hospital has a plan in place. “Our talk of affiliations is premature, and ate action. “We understand it’s a very plans to secure its financial future. idea has always been to affiliate with the hospital is pursuing other options insecure time for the staff, but because The employee addressed the board another organization,” he responded. as well. “My biggest concern is that we received the MUF we have a during the public comments portion of He continued that the hospital has rumors ruminate quickly, not only buffer,” he said. “The next two or three the meeting and asked if the hospital considered the possibility of teaming among the staff but the community months will be critical. I think today it’s had any specific plans in place to with a business such as HCA Hospitals as well,” he said. “I’d hate to do some- increase its revenue base. “The staff in Naples, or another area health care thing quickly. Our efforts are to ensure DMH | 13 U.S. Highway 17: Progress in plain sight By STEVE BAUER ARCADIAN ASSISTANT EDITOR If you’ve driven south on U.S. 17 in Awl Arcadia the past two weeks, it’s nearly impossible to ignore the first tangible signs of the widening project that has Sol- f ., been slowly making its way through a DeSoto County the past few years. In the span of a week, familiar sights like the Circle K south gas station, Knight’s Inn hotel and the Hi-Way Motel have been closed or torn down. According to Debbie Tower, com- munications director for the Florida Department of Transportation, the moves are part of FDOT’s clearing of The Circle K south was closed up a few weeks ago. This building and the row of shops beyond it in the photo will be torn down in advance of the widening of the highway from Nocatee to the Arcadia city limits. PROGRESS | 22 ARCADIAN PHOTOS BY SUSAN E. HOFFMAN, [email protected] 0 ' 4 . o ' ; ; F 4 f ' T 7C$ , r Y+ , clI , R Z . :I . K. Y L ! ` t1 K'i' - J{' J. e - ] l yy, low ; ' Al - Going ... going ... gone! The Hi-Way Motel on U.S. Highway 17 south was demolished this week to make way for the four-laning of the highway from Nocatee to the city limits. Although construction will not begin on this stretch for several years, Florida Department of Transportation says it likes to clear the right-of-way early in the work. Arcadian 50¢ DESOTO REHAB: New owner has plans for local rehab, therapy facility .................................... 3 ART, ENVIRONMENTAL FEST: Clyde Butcher photos, art displays and environmental fair this week .......... 5 INSIDE SENIOR ABUSE: Woman convicted of defrauding elderly woman ........................................ 8 Editorial ...............4 Family Album ..........7 Obituaries .............9 Sports ...............14 7 @,052521,51621 , 6 Calendar ..............6 Police Beat ............8 Religion ..............10 Agriculture ...........18 Arcadian | Page 2 www.sunnewspapers.net The Sun / Thursday, February 6, 2014 City mulls lease for new sanitation trucks By STEVE BAUER Department said because of the age for $75,000 total. The lease comes with lease terms. “I’m puzzled that a lease ARCADIAN ASSISTANT EDITOR of the current vehicles and frequent a standard three-year warranty, which agreement is almost identical to what breakdowns, resulting in reduced ser- could be extended to five years at a cost it would cost to purchase these trucks Arcadia might soon be the proud vice to residents, he and Interim City of a few thousand dollars per vehicle. outright,” she said. owner of two new sanitation vehicles, Administrator Tom Slaughter believed At the end of the lease term, the city Councilman Joe Fink said the fre- as the City Council mulls a lease agree- leasing two new vehicles was in the could then purchase the vehicles for $1 quent repairs being made to the city’s ment that would significantly upgrade city’s best interest. each. current vehicles is an unnecessary waste the city’s aging fleet. Underwood said the city could lease Mayor Alice Frierson was concerned of time and energy of city staff, and liked The city had previously budgeted the two vehicles for five years, with a with the lease amount considering the the idea of having a warranty in place $110,000 to purchase two rear-loader total cost of approximately $335,000. city’s current budget situation, and for any repairs. “I think the lease option sanitation boxes. However, Steve As part of the move, the city would also was puzzled why the purchase price of Underwood of the Sanitation sell four obsolete sanitation vehicles each vehicle was nearly identical to the CITY | 21 Homeless advocacy group raises questions, lacks answers By CRAIG GARRETT and citizen advocates trying to help Grants used by the Homeless Coalition The Mission, has handed out coats and ARCADIAN CORRESPONDENT the homeless with temporary shelter, in past years have evaporated as fund- blankets to Arcadia’s homeless as the meals, hygiene, storage and other daily ing priorities shifted and the economy temperature dipped to near freezing. A group of community leaders orga- living issues that most non-homeless slowed. The cutbacks limit the services She said surveys and studies mean well, nized to address issue of homelessness take for granted. Issues raised by mer- the Coalition offers, leaving many but the key to helping the less fortunate in DeSoto County met again on Jan. chants about the behavior of some area homeless fending for themselves. is simple. “Ask them,” she said. “Find 30, but no conclusions were reached or homeless individuals underscore the Volunteers surveying the homeless in out what they want, because it may be clear actions taken. The group agreed need to find a permanent and satisfac- the last three weeks counted more than different from what we think they want. to hold a third meeting, probably at the tory solution. 100 in and around Arcadia. Reportedly, You can only do so much with a person offices of the DeSoto County Homeless “The responsibility of being home- many of those individuals told volun- who doesn’t need or want your help.” Coalition, but a date has not yet been less is often thrust upon (them),” said teers they prefer living outdoors to the Bruce Neveau co-owns Mary set. Councilman Joe Fink. pressures of work, family and obliga- Margaret Tea and Biscuit in downtown Issues related to homelessness took As a merchant himself, Fink support- tions. Some wash with river water, camp Arcadia. He said a minority of homeless center stage in Arcadia recently when ed rules prohibiting panhandling,He in isolation, finding meals at pantries give others a tarnished image they may the five-member City Council passed an has asked people not to sleep on the and churches. Some are veterans; others not deserve. “One woman was very ordinance to prohibit aggressive pan- bench outside his Oak Street shop. have a troubled history that prohibit aggressive,” Neveau said. “Most (home- handling and lewdness. Some down- But he also stresses compassion over them from finding a place to live. less) are struggling, and you have to be town merchants had complained that forced removal from private property or But advocates also say that many compassionate; we understand that. homeless individuals were aggressively ticketing. “And if someone is unable to homeless suffer from mental health and There is a line, however.” panhandling and annoying or scaring address the issue, for whatever reason,” dependency issues, especially as state In his shop, Fink greets a homeless customers, and had been exhibiting he said, “it is up to us as a society to and federal mental health treatment man he has known for several years. behavior deemed lewd. step in.” disappeared over the last decade. Some “How are you today?” he asks. The The group formed late last year, The advocacy group’s biggest problem of the homeless wander city streets, man talks of quitting cigarettes and a consisting of church, housing, nonprofit in helping the less fortunate is funding. pushing carts of belongings, riding bicy- mental health unit he had been placed cles or just walking. There is a tempo- in decades ago. “This country has been rary place to sit under a wilted umbrella dumping people into the streets since downtown, but it can’t address the more the 1980s,” Fink said, watching the man serious needs, advocates said.