Hospital to Be Sold Police & Fire Reports
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They're back! SUPPORT Ilfmr Petitions opposing Paw Paw Armchair Quarterbacks Lake restoration funding pick this weekend's f § plan halt public hearing football game M M Paw Paw Lake SAD proponents sought support winners signatures at the public hearing Saturday. The process... See Page 14 group is still seeking more signatures... see Page 5 Page 11 The Hometown Newspaper for Coloma - Hartford - Watervliet \0*<3 L SOI i'o TRI-CITY RF •iGP'Ji 128th Year Issue #35 Septe.nber 2, 2010 vcmy-iive Cents Hospital to be sold CEO pledges same physicians and convenience; predicts better technology and service for the patients of Community Hospital Watervliet Lakeland Community Hospital would mean business as usual By Lynn Attila Finally, the "Air Handling System" The hcalth-care community and resi- would be replaced, which would im- dents in the Tri-City Area have been a prove the atmosphere in the operating bit jumpy since word came out August room. 26 that Lakeland HealthCare is mak- Cruse said patients would see no Artisfs rendition of "Four Winds North" to be built in Hartford Township in 2011 ing preparations to purchase Commu- change when it came to their general nity Hospital Watervliet for an undis- care. They will continue to be able to Public hears plans for closed amount. see the same physicians, go to the Questions and speculation have been same outpatient facilities, stay at the Police rampant, with all wondering just how hospital of their choice, and use the "Four Winds North" this change will affect health care in ambulance service of their choice. the communities of Watervliet, Colo- None of the people-to-people contacts & Fire ma, and Hartford. that patients now find "enjoyable" casino in Hartford Twp. will change. Special Township Board meeting set for "In the short run, The Lakeland purchase will not affect Reports the jobs of any current employees September 8 to begin local preparations Compiled by Annette Christie it will be business working at Community Hospital Wa- tervliet. By Lynn Attila Ron Sefcik, two resolutions are in the Hang-up call as usual... in the The hospital will continue to maintain The Van Buren Conference Center, works; the first "to consent" to allow a its own volunteers, just as it does now. Lawrence, was packed Wednesday, "Class 111 Gaming Facility within the results in arrest; long run, there will It will maintain its own Board of Dir- August 25, with those interested in boundaries of Hartford Township" be better technology ectors, with the only change being that gaining the newest details about a pro- and the other "to agree entering into meth lab found the CEO and President of Lakeland posed satellite casino the Pokagon an interlocal with the tribe." and better facilities HealthCare, Dr. Loren Hamel, will sit Band has targeted for Hartford Town- Sefcik said the Township's legal Hartford Police Officer Thomas on the Board as an ex-officio member ship. counsel of Peterson, Cullitan & Peter- Simpson was called to 118 Michigan to service our and a Lakeland Board member will An artist's rendition depicting Four son is currently working on the ver- Avenue on August 25 regarding a 911 hang-up call. Upon his arrival investi- patients." cross over to the Community Hospital Winds North was unveiled by tribal biage to be used in the upcoming res- Board. representatives during the special olutions. He pointed out, "Dave Peter- gation, he determined that a domestic Likewise, one or more members of Hartford Township Boiwd meeting. son Sr. has served as a tribal judge and assault had occurred prior to his However, in a candid interview with the Community Hospital Board will followed by a public question-and- worked on other tribal issues, so he is arrival. Subsequently, Officer Simp- the Tri-City Record, Ray Cruse, CEO lit on the Lakeland HealthCare Board answer period that garnered no vocal well versed in these matters " Sefcik son was assisted by Van Buren County of Community Hospital Watervliet, once the change is official. opposition for a project sweetened said the Township Board has the Sheriffs Department deputies and the reassured the community, saying, "In Cruse said another advantage of the with the promise of up to 300 perma- "greatest confidence" in Peterson's Pokagon Tribal Police. the short run, it will be business as integration is that patients would have nent jobs. abilities with this project. While investigating the domestic as- usual ... in the long run, there will be access to a wider selection of special- Pokagon Tribal Chairman Matthew Hartford City Clerk Roxann Rodney- sault, officers observed components of better technology and better facilities ty doctors within "a closer radius" to Wesaw and the General Manager of Isbrecht said the interlocal agreement a methamphetamine lab. to service our patients." the Tri-City Area; so family doctors Four Winds, New Buffalo, Matthew between the City and the Pokagons The Van Buren County Narcotics Cruse dispelled the notion that the can make referrals closer to home. Harkness, informed the crowd of has "not begun to be discussed" and Unit assisted in collecting evidence hospital was "closing its doors if a Plus, the staff at Community Hospital about 150 the new facility will be sim- would "need to be passed by resolu- from the residence. buyer wasn't found." would have access to specialty train- ilar to the New Buffalo casino in de- tion." She said there were no plans to Billy Jack Erskine, 30, of Hartford, was He said Community Hospital had ing and education opportunities they sign, features and amenities. have this project on the City's Sep- nested and lodged at the Van shown financial gain this year after now lack. Four Winds North will open to the tember agenda at this time. Buren County Jail. He was charged making some cutbacks in certain areas public with 500 slot machines, nine Audience members did voice con- with maintaining a methamphetamine and "using a management company" Any medical insurance that has been gaming tables, and have an on-site cerns Wednesday night about in- lab and domestic violence. to recruit patients for certain programs accepted at Community Hospital will 100-seat capacity casual dining res- creased traffic on Red Arrow High- Stellar police sponsored by the hospital. be accepted with the new partnership, taurant. The one-story building and way, especially during the winter However, the hospital does lack the he pointed out. accompanying campus will occupy months and during "times of need ... work halts financial support to move forward An advantage, though, is that the approximately 25 of the 297 acres of when 1-94 closes down and reroutes to with technical improvements and Lakeland PHO, which a number of tribal land held in trust along the Red Arrow." home invasion other desperately-needed renovations local business and small corporations northwest side of Red Arrow High- Sefcik said, in a phone interview, that A two-week investigation into day- at the facility, he stressed. insure their employees with, has not way, about two miles west of Hart- Red Arrow Highway "is the sole re- time home invasions ended on August By "integrating" with another larger been accepted by Community Hospi- ford. sponsibility of the Van Buren Road 27 with the arrest of two Cass County corporation, these types of improve- tal in the past and will be acceptable The pair said engineers are at work Commission and is in no way the re- individuals. ments can be offered to Tri-City Area once the integration is complete. preparing construction plans that will sponsibility of Hartford Township." Detectives from the Berrien County patients and their families. Cruse commented, "Dr. Hamel and 1 detail square footage of the building In response to community concerns Sheriffs Office received information Cruse said the Community Hospital are committed to seeing current physi- and other points of interest currently about increased traffic and future road that three subjects were planning on Board of Directors looked for three cians continue at Community Hospital not available. Also, interlocal agree- conditions, he commented, "It is my breaking into a residence off Buffalo specific things when choosing a cor- ... people develop a close bond with ments between the City and Township understanding they (Pokagons) are ac- Road in Galien Township. poration to partner with: maintaining their doctor and it is important to of Hartford and the Pokagons, map- cepting bids from firms for a future With the permission of the owner of current jobs; maintaining community maintain that bond. Dr. Hamel and I ping out sewer and water lines pre- traffic study on the area." the residence, detectives waited in- services; and, finally, achieving sig- are also committed to see significant sumably to originate from the City of David Gutierrez, Senior Vice Presi- side. At approximately 10:30 a.m., nificant capital investment. improvements done within the first Hartford, are needed before any build- dent, Dresner Corporate Services, subjects arrived and made entry into Lakeland HealthCare has offered year." ing can begin. Chicago, IL, whose firm will be work- the home. Items being sought were Community Hospital Watervliet all of Ray Cruse said negotiations are in the Getting these agreements in motion ing closely with the campus logistics flat-screen TVs, money, weapons, and future as to whether or not he will con- will begin in earnest with a special of the project, said after the meeting these and more. quads. Currently, both corporations are in the tinue on as CEO of the newly integrat- Hartford Board meeting Wednesday, the rural setting planned for the new Detectives and deputies from the process of drawing up paperwork of ed facility.