Revenue up, profits down at RMCH
Bill Donovan
Staff Writer
GALLUP — What a difference a year makes.
Rehoboth McKinley Christian Health Care Services saw its profits
drop from $3.5 million in the fiscal year ending Aug. 31, 1999,
to about $268,000 the next year.
The good news was that the organization, which operates Rehoboth
McKinley Christian Hospital (RMCH), saw revenues increase during
this period from $50.2 million to just over $51 million, according
to the 990 form that it submits annually to the federal government.
(See chart on page 2.)
John McMullin, vice president of finance for the organization,
said hospital officials knew going into the year that the profits
that occurred in the 1999 fiscal year would not be duplicated.
The reason stems from the way the state established its Medicaid
program, giving hospitals payment up-front to handle the health
and medical needs of low-income families.
What happened, McMullin said, is that the hospital accepted payment
of about $10.2 million to take care of about 8,500 Medicaid patients.
This turned out to be a financial windfall for the hospital since
most of the Medicaid patients were Native American and many of
them opted to go to the Gallup Indian Medical Center for treatment,
even though RMCH was getting the funds to provide the treatment.
In the second year of the program, however, the state began shifting
many of the Medicaid patients to the unassigned category,
which meant that no one received payment in advance. The state
assigned only 2,500 Medicaid patients to RMCH and provided about
$5.9 million in advance payments.
RMCH officials realized that the smaller advance put the hospital
in a precarious situation and hospital officials realized it was
no longer feasible to continue with the program.
"When the amount that you get monthly gets so low that one
major illness by anyone on the program could wipe out that month's
fees, we thought it was time to reassess our involvement (in the
program)," McMullin said.
The 990s showed that while revenues went up from fiscal year 99
to 00, so did expenses, which went from $46.7 million to $50.7
million.
Part of this, McMullen said, was for physical improvements in
the hospital over and above the $1.1 million that the hospital
received that year from the 2 mil levy approved by county voters.
Another $400,000 came from bonuses that the hospital gave as a
result of the prior year's profits.
Salaries also went up during that year, but it's impossible to
tell from the 990s just how much. That's because top employees
of the hospital not only get a salary but also incentive bonuses
were included in the salaries listed on the form as well as that
one-time bonus because of the financial windfall.
Mullin said that the increase to base salaries in FY 00 was between
3 to 5 percent and was based on performance. Increases to salaries
for doctors was based on patient loads.
In looking at the salaries below, it should be noted that the
windfall bonus played a major portion in most of the increases
and that total salary may not reach that level next year. It should
also be noted that RMCH was required to list only the top five
salaries for administrators and employees.
David Baltzer, president of the organization, saw his total salary
go from $200,051 to $226,236. This includes the $32,000 he received
as part of the windfall bonus package.
Bernice Brewer, vice president of patient care services, went
from $86,501 to $97,423. Susan Macias, vice president of management
services, went from $83,090 to $93,800. Michael Nye, vice president
of professional services, saw his total salary go from $81,420
to $92,530. Dr. John Kamps, vice president of medical services,
went from $151,333 to $172,573.
Herb Mosher, director of development for the hospital, gets half
of his salary from Western Health Foundation as its director.
His total compensation from both sources increased from $99,862
to $116,062.
In the 99 fiscal year, the top five highest paid doctors earned
between $212,522 and $251,168. That amount increased the following
year to between $232,923 and $292,577 and McMullin said that this
was primarily based on increased patient loads.
Western Health Foundation, Inc., which is the organization's fundraising
component, posted very good profits in fiscal year 00, going from
a deficit the year before of just less than $51,000 to a profit
of $343,000.
Mosher, however, pointed out that the year-to-year deficit and
profit statement for the foundation is a little misleading because
funds are held within the foundation until the project is undertaken
for which the money was raised. The years that the foundation
showed a deficit then are years in which money from prior years
was finally spent.
The foundation was established to get donations to help defray
the costs of the hospital's charity care and to help pay for major
capital purchases.
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High-tech clinic to give screenings on
Navajo
WASHINGTON (AP) — A high-tech clinic on wheels aimed at helping
Navajo women detect breast cancer in its early stages is on its way
to the Navajo Indian Reservation.
The equipment was dedicated in Maryland on Friday. It will eventually
be driven to Tuba City, Ariz., to provide mammographies to the Navajo
Nation.
The digital mammograms can be beamed by satellite to Walter Reed Army
Hospital in Washington and Johns Hopkins Medical Center in Baltimore,
Md., for analysis in a matter of minutes, said Samantha Allison, general
manager of women's health care for General Electric, which developed
the digital mammography system.
Allison said that only about 35 percent of American Indian women have
an annual mammogram, compared to nearly 70 percent for the rest of
the country.
"By bringing the technology to the women, we're hoping we can
see a dramatic improvement in having the screening procedures performed,"
she said.
The immediate test results also make it easier for the women to arrange
the appropriate follow-up care before leaving the clinic.
Otherwise, setting up appointments can be difficult on the reservation,
where many homes still don't have telephones.
At first, the bus containing the system will stay put in Tuba City,
because the Food and Drug Administration has not approved it for mobile
use, said Allison.
But if the FDA approves a similar unit, the Navajo van could take
to the road, allowing it to reach more women, she said.
On the Net:
Indian Health Services: http://www.ihs.gov
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Items stolen from Milan motel
Tara Drolma
Staff Writer
MILAN — Milan police are investigating a theft at the Crossroads
Motel in Milan. Two guests apparently took the refrigerator and microwave
when they checked out.
According to the police report, Christine Alvarado, the manager of
the motel, called police on June 5 to report the missing items. She
said she noticed the refrigerator and the microwave were missing when
she went to clean room number 16.
Alvarado told police a young male had rented the room about 4:30 that
morning. He and his traveling companion, another man, checked out
about 12:30 p.m. Alvarado did not get a good look at the other man.
Milan police are still investigating the theft.
In other incidents:
Johnny R. Melonas, 39, of Milan was arrested June 7 for disorderly
conduct. Officers had to arrest him after he became belligerent and
refused to cooperate with them.
Irvin Tsosie, 39, of Prewitt was arrested June 7 on four outstanding
warrants, two from magistrate court and two from district court.
On June 6,officers were called to the scene of an accident after Leroy
Gallegos, 20, of Grants backed his car into a fence.
Police discovered he was driving with a revoked license and he had
two outstanding warrants. He was also cited for careless driving.
Larry Killough, 51, of Milan was arrested June 5 for an outstanding
cash warrant of $1,500 from the Milan Municipal Court.
Rocky Colburn, 41, of Grants was arrested for breaking and entering
his 72-year-old mother's house at 3:34 a.m. June 5.
Colburn had been drinking and his blood alcohol content was .22. Police
had removed Colburn from the house earlier in the evening.
On June 2 an officer on patrol noticed the north window of the Mustang
Gas Station was broken. Someone had tried to enter the station, but
was unable to get in. The suspect is facing charges of breaking and
entering and criminal damage to property. The case is under investigation.
On May 31, Frances Salas, 20, of Milan reported her cell phone was
stolen from her vehicle while it was parked on Ambrosia street.
On May 29, police received a report that a man took two 18 packs of
beer from Love's Truck Stop. The clerk said the man was 5 foot 6 inches
tall and had brown hair that was worn in a "bowl cut." She
gave police a description of the truck and the license plate. Police
traced the pickup truck to a Grants man. The case is still under investigation.
Glen Madrid, 31, of Milan was arrested June 1 for an outstanding warrant
for failure to appear for a probation revocation hearing.
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Byerley finishes strong
N.M. High School Finals Rodeo
Santiago Ramos
Staff Sports Writer
CHURCH ROCK — Chelsee Byerley of Gallup put an exclamation point
on her high school rodeo season during the New Mexico High School
State Finals Rodeo Sunday afternoon.
Even with the barrel racing and pole bending state titles securely
tucked away, Byerley showed her consistent winning style with first
place performances in both events during the short go finals at Red
Rock State Park.
The 15-year-old Byerley, who will be a junior at Gallup High, leads
an area contingent of five national qualifiers who will be heading
to Springfield, Ill. July 22-29.
The Crownpoint team roping duo of Reid and Cauy Francisco, breakaway
roper Jenna Lucero of Grants and steer wrestler Julio Mitchell of
Brimhall will join Byerley in what is billed as the world's largest
rodeo with over 1,300 contestants from 38 states and four Canadian
provinces competing.
Barrel racing
Byerley covered the clover leaf pattern, cruising to a 16.708 second
clocking to win the barrel racing short go that capped her second
consecutive barrel racing state title. Byerley also won the second
go with a 16.405 run, the fastest of the three-day state finals. She
had finished fifth during the opening round with a 16.952.
"I'm real pleased," Byerly said. "My horse Shoo Fly
did really good. He knows when he's supposed to do good. But I didn't
think that I placed first in the short go because it was getting deep
in the ground. Even though I had the state title won, I still wanted
to do good today."
Byerley, who just missed advancing to the short go at nationals by
finishing 22nd during the two go rounds, finished atop the barrel
racing season standings with an insurmountable 63.5 point lead over
her nearest challenger Nancy Velasquez of Blanco, 239 to 175.5.
Tori Vanderwagon of Gallup placed eighth during the short go with
a 17.173 and finished sixth in the final season standings with 134.5
points.
Also qualifying for nationals were Velasquez, Whitney Robinson of
Mesilla Park and Julie Jones of Bosque.
Pole bending
Byerley turned in a near perfect performance in dominating the pole
bending competition as well with a pair of firsts and one second during
the three go rounds.
"I was a little nervous," Byerley admitted. "But I'm
going to nationals with more confidence and more experience. I'm going
to try to do well in both events (barrels and poles)."
Byerley placed second during the short go with a 20.516 run to finish
behind Julie Jones of Bosque who took first with a 20.240. Byerley
claimed the first two go rounds of competition with a 20.216 second
clocking, the fastest of the rodeo, to win the first go and then came
back with a 20.412 to win the second round.
Byerley finished first in the final season standings with a margin
of 38 points. Jones made a valiant effort with a first and a second
place but posted a no time in the second go round. Grants' Lucero,
who finished fifth in the final standings with 117, turned in a 21.912
for fifth in the short go. Lucero had placed fourth in the first go
and third in the second go.
Sunny Storer of Fort Wingate finished sixth in the second go while
Vanderwagon took ninth.
Also qualifying for nationals were Julie Jones, Lacy Wilson of Artesia,
and Velasquez, last year's state champion.
Team roping
Despite posting no times the first two go rounds and then having a
10-second penalty during the short go, the Crownpoint team of Reid
and Cauy Francisco, a fourth generation team roping duo from the Pablo-Becenti
family, was able to claim a berth to nationals by tying for second
place in the final season standings. Last year the Francisco team
finished far back in the season standings with just 13 points. This
year they showed a dramatic turnaround as they racked up 254 points.
"I feel realy happy and proud to be going to nationals,"
said 17-year-old heeler Cauy Francisco. "We wanted to dedicate
this to my brothers McGarrett and Lyle Pablo who tried for three years
to go to nationals and never made it. They finished third in the state
and at that time only the two top teams went. They helped us out a
lot the whole year. Also my uncle Harrison Pablo who was the first
Navajo to participate in the high school rodeos. We also want to thank
everyboyd that helped us and wished us well."
Heeler Reid Francisco,17, agreed with his older brother.
"It feels pretty good," he said. "We went out and gave
120 percent the whole year. We're very excited about going to nationals."
"We'll take it one step at a time," Cauy said. "We
want to make two clean runs."
The defending team roping state champion duo of Ty Trammell and James
Gililland of Tularosa ran away from the rest of the field, finishing
with 456 points with the Francisco team along with the team of Josh
Brown of Albuquerque and Cooper Wimberley of Moriarty, finishing an
incredible 202 points back tied for second with 254 points.
The team of Sterling Walker and Cody Bulgier won the short go with
a fast run of 6.64 seconds. The Francisco team placed fourth with
a 16.02 that included a 10-second broken barrier penalty. The team
of John Boyd III of Greasewood, Ariz. and Donnie Barney of Sanders,
Ariz. posted a no time.
During the second go, the team of Clayton Curley and Print Walker
took first with an 8.68. The team of Francisco and Francisco and the
team of Boyd III and Barney posted no times.
Also qualifying for nationals were the team of Kenna Armitage and
Chad Gay of Bloomfield.
Breakaway roping
Grants freshman Jenna Lucero, who grabbed the Girls Rookie of the
Year honor, snuck in the top four in the breakaway
standings to earn a trip to Springfield.
"I'm excited about going to nationals," Lucero said. "I
wanted to go (to nationals) real bad. I would like to thank my mom
Veronica Martinez and my dad Pete for encouraging me. And I wouild
like to thank my boyfriend Jessie Bland who is also always encouraging
me."
Lucero jumped two spots from sixth to fourth by placing in each of
the three go rounds during the state finals to advance to nationals
in her first year of high school rodeo competition.
"I was pretty nervous," said Lucero who plans on competing
in a couple of junior rodeos in Silver City and Prewitt next month.
"I just wanted to make a catch and make a nice clean run. I was
so excited when I caught."
Portales cowgirl Kenna Armitage grabbed the state title, finishing
with 160 points. Gallup's Vanderwagon placed seventh with 98 points.
Tonya Bixler of Aztec claimed the short go with a 4.15 second run
with Lucero second with a 4.46. Vanderwagon and Arlita Long of Twin
Lakes, who posted the fastest time of the rodeo with a 3.21 during
the first round, had no times.
Armitage won the second go with a 4.02 with Lucero third with a 6.39.
Long posted a 12.49 for fourth. Yolanda Nez of Kirtland, Vanderwagon,
Sunny Storer had no times.
Also qualifying for nationals were Billie Jo Herring of Clovis and
Fallon Riley of Datil.
Steer wrestling
Brimhall's Julio Mitchell, who graduated from Tohatchi, placed third
in the bulldogging standings to qualify for nationals.
Mitchell placed fourth in the first go and won the second go but finished
with a no time in the short go.
"It feels good going to nationals," the 19-year-old Mitchell
said. "I had to go since it's my last year."
Bosque Farms' Dusty Chavez dominated the competition, finishing first
with 203 points for the state title and breaking the long domination
of reservation bulldoggers at state with 10 of the last 11 state titles.
Also qualifying for nationals were Anthony Duran of La Jara and Chance
Pettigrew of Clovis.
Lyle Arviso of Navajo, who was sitting in second place and a sure
bet to go to nationals, did not compete due to an injury from a car
accident.
Pettigrew claimed the short go as he wrestled his steer down in 5.77
seconds. Mitchell, Travis Long and Amos Gruber both of Yatahey posted
no times. Mitchell won the second go with a 7.00. Gruber and Long
again posted no times.
Goat tying
Julie Jones of Bosque, who ran away for the girls all-around title
by placing in four events at the state finals, had an easy time claiming
the goat tying state title with 226 points ahead of rival Tonya Bixler
of Aztec who finished second with 189 points.
Lindsay Elkins of Grants finished the year in sixth place with 92.5
points. with Lucero of Grants eighth with 90. Long was 10th (76.5)
and Vanderwagon 12th (61.50).
Tori Koyle of Albuquerque won the short go with an 8.26 with Elkins
fourth (10.10) and Long seventh (13.18). Lucero had a no time. Koyle
also won the second go with an 8.10. Long placed fifth (8.74) with
Elkins eighth (9.04).
Also qualifying for nationals were Tonya Bixler, Tori Koyle of Albuquerque
and Kimberly Howard of Elida.
Calf roping
Deming calf roper Royce Lynch captured his second straight state title
despite failing to place in either of the first two gos.
Lynch, who had the state title locked up prior to the state finals,
claimed the short go with a 9.42.
John Boyd II finished the season in 13th place with 50 points with
team roping partner Barney 15th with 44.5 points.
Kurt Stallings of Clovis won the second go with a 13.63. Barney took
fifth (14.17).
Also qualifying for nationals were Cinco Boone of Elida, James Gililland
Ty Trammell of Tularosa.
Bull riding
Dusty Higgins of Roswell finished first twice to claim the bull riding
state title with 211 points.
Also qualifying for nationals were Tate Stratton of Stanley, Dale
Vickrey of Carlsbad and Stetson Herrera of Marvel, Colo.
Higgins posted the rodeo's top score of 79 in winning the the short
go. Will Morris of Portales won the second go with a 72.
Bareback
Stetson Herrera of Marvel, Colo. captured the bareback state title
with 179.5 points.
Also qualifying for nationals were Dusty Higgins, who won the bull
riding state title, Jesse Townsend of Ruidoso and James Green of Socorro.
There were no scores by the six bareback riders during the short go.
Herrera won the second go with a 66.
Saddle bronc
GB Oliver of La Luz claimed the saddle bronc state title with 185
points with a pair of firsts during the first two go rounds.
Also qualifying for nationals were Jordan Davis of Gila, Roy Littleton
of Hatch and Dusty Higgins, who also qualified in the bareback and
bull riding.
There were no scores posted during the short go. Oliver won the second
go with a 67.
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Former Bengal standout contributes in
North win
James Staley
Staff Writer
FARMINGTON — Former Gallup High standout Roberta Tahe helped
the AAA-AAAAA North All-Stars beat the South 67-56 in the the 21st
Annual North-South Girls' Basketball Classic in Farmington Saturday.
In the A-AA contest, Southerners out-duked Northerners, 58-57, in
a scrappy and exciting A-AA game in front of an estimated 300 fans.
The small-school game was the first of the double header at Farmington
High School which pits the top seniors from the north against those
from the south.
Class AAA-AAAAA
North 67, South 56
Strong front court play and numerous turnovers by the South propelled
the North to the win.
Sandia High's Lindsey Arndt led the northern charge with a 13-point,
10-rebound, 4-assist performance. The 6'1 center was named the North's
MVP...
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South takes three-game series 2-1
North-South All-Star Classic
Michael Peretti
Staff Sports Writer
LAS CRUCES — A ten-run third inning in the third game lifted
the South to the series victory in the North-South All-Star Baseball
Classic over the weekend.
The North had tied the series with a 7-5 victory in the second game,
before the South rallied for a 10-5 win in the final contest Saturday
at Apodaca Field in Las Cruces.
The South had led 13-4 in the sixth inning of Friday's first game
when it was called because of rain. Initially, the game was to be
completed Saturday, but it was determined that since it had gone past
the required five innings which constitutes a complete game during
the regular season, the South would get the victory.
Area athletes Victor Patel and Wade Pynes from Grants went a combined
0-for-1 drawing four walks. Patel walked twice and grounded out, scoring
in the big third inning for the South. Pynes walked twice and was
replaced by a pinch runner both times, but both of his walks resulted
in scores for the South, both in the third inning of the third game...
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Tigers place fourth in Silver Bullet tourney
Staff report
GALLUP — The Rico Motor Tigers were the top local team in the
15th Annual Silverbullet Men's Fastpitch Classic this past weekend.
The Tigers finished fourth in the 17-team tournament that was won
by the Peoria Scorpions late Sunday night.
Peoria defeated Albuquerque Affordable Signs 13-1 and 5-4 in the
championship round to capture the title.
The Tigers won three straight games before losing to Affordable
Signs 8-3 Sunday afternoon. They stayed alive with a 14-2 pounding
of the Belen Bulls to reach the third place game...
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Marketplace features Hopi artists
Staff Report
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. — Nearly 60 Hopi artists will bring their
artwork to the 68th Annual Hopi Marketplace from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Saturday, June 30, and Sunday, July 1.
The Marketplace honors centuries-old traditions of handmade pottery,
katsinas, baskets, weaving, silverwork and other arts from the Hopi
Nation. Visitors will have the opportunity to purchase artwork directly
from Hopi artists, meet arts and crafts demonstrators, see social
dance performances, taste traditional Hopi foods, and enter the
second annual Nuvatukya'ovi 5K Foot Race.
Victor Masayesva will offer a twist on the annual artist demonstrations.
He is teaching a group of artists a jewelry technique new to Hopi
artwork tufa casting. He and his students will design, carve and
tufa cast a piece throughout the weekend, which will be given away
in a drawing to a Marketplace visitor on Sunday afternoon. Also
scheduled are demonstrators making pottery, yucca sifters, coil
baskets, wicker baskets, silverwork and weaving...
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Co-op gives artists tools, not handouts
Heather Armstrong
Staff Writer
THOREAU — There is an adage that touts the lasting benefits
of teaching someone to fish rather than just giving him the fish.
The former allows him to take care of himself; the latter creates
dependency.
The Navajo Nation doesn't need fishing tips, but the point applies.
By giving people tools in the form of life skills people can then
take care of themselves. The age-old quest to find a magic recipe
that will wake up a sleepy economic area and create self-sufficiency
for the residents endures today and sparks many political debates.
The Gathering Place in Thoreau provides its own recipe. Its ingredients:
job skills, literacy programs and health care.
"For people who are motivated and interested, we'll provide
the tools to get them there," Eric Younger, executive director
of the Gathering Place, said in a recent interview...
Five states help battle Cibola fire
Tom Purdom
Staff Writer
ZUNI MOUNTAINS — Taking absolutely no chances in the crackling-dry
forest here, hotshot firefighing crews from five states came to
battle the Diener Fire, ignited by a bolt of lightning Friday morning
deep in the Cibola National Forest.
Dick Fleishman, a firefighter from Arizona, said the fire was contained
at 9 p.m. Friday and was expected to be called under control at
6 p.m. today.
Just 20 acres in size, the fire burned in a rugged area far from
any roads. It was so remote that tanker trucks could not get to
it and firefighters had to haul water on their backs in self-contained
units called bladder bags. Friday night the fire was thought to
be twice as large, but with the use of global positioning satellite
devices a more exact figure was determined.
Though not large, the forest is very dry and fires can easily spread,
especially when the blaze is fanned by strong winds. Such was the
case Friday with the Diener Fire, located south of Forest Road 480,
north of Cibola County Road 50, east of Forest Road 548 and about
two and one-half miles west of the La Jara Subdivision...
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Deaths
Ella Morgan Bates
NAHODISHGISH — Services for Ella Bates, 90, will be announced
at a later date.
Bates died June 8 in Gallup. She was born Oct. 10, 1910.
Cope Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements.
Vernadine B. Hanson
TOHATCHI — Services for Vernadine Hanson, 25, have changed from
10 a.m., June 11 to June 12 at 10 a.m.
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