Local News
AARP's medicare info
line to be discontinued
WASHINGTON, DC-A pilot pro
gram that provides answers to ques
tions about Medicare will cease oper
ation on February 27, according to
the American Association of Retired
Persons (AARP). AARP has offered
a toll-free number on a trial basis
since November exclusively to resi
dents of North Carolina and Ohio.
The Prospective Payment Info Line,
1-800-527-5226, is open Mondays
through Fridays from 10 a.m. to 5
p.m.
AARP President John Denning, a
resident of Clinton, North Carolina,
said, "We're very pleased with the
. Info Line's success. We've gotten a
lot of calls and we've helped a lot of
people. Our next step is to take some
time and evaluate the calls we got
from both states, and then consider
offering the number nationwide."
Denning urged people across the
state to call now before the service
ends. "You don't need to wait until
, you're facing a hospital stay to call
-tyiis number," he said. "Now is the
best time to call.
, < , Since its inception, more than 2,000
' North Carolinians have called the
Info Line with questins about Medi
care's new Prospective Payment
System. The new system, which was
? .adopted to help control rising health
care costs, has resulted in some
changes in patient care, including
shorter hospital stays and more out
patient surgery. Often, according to
Denning, older Americans don't
know what these changes will mean
for them.
"Older patients and their families
' need to know what to expect during a
Stay in the hospital," Dennig said.
"They need to know their rights as
fU ri. ~ ? ? v
patients. They need to know they can
appeal a hospital's decision to admit
or to discharge them, and the Info
Line can tell them how."
The Info Line is staffed by trained
paralegals who are older Americans.
The operators can explain Medicare
patients' rights under the new sys
tem and send more detailed con
sumer information to callers through
the mail.
Operators cannot handle individual
complaints, offer medical or legal
advice, refer callers to doctors or
hospitals, or anwser questions about
other AARP services. When possible,
they will refer callers with questions
they cannot answer to other services,
medical bureaus, Social Security of
fices or insurances companies.
Anyone in the state can call the
number, regardless of whether they
are a Medicare beneficiary or an
AARP member.
Denning said residents who need
information on patients' rights after
February 27 can write for AARP's
free brochure, "Knowing Your
Rights" at 1909 K Street, N.W., Wash
ington, DC, 20049.
The Info Line is part of AARP's
Health Care Campaign, an ongoing,
national effort to reduce health costs
and maintain quality care for all
Americans,
With more than 24 million mem
bers, AARP is the nation's largest
and oldest organization of retired and
employed Americans age 50 and
over. The nonprofit, nonpartisan
group provides its members rep
resentation in state and federal gov
ernments, educational and commu
nity service programs and direct
membership benefits.
Citizen involvement
critical to estuary
r
(Washington, North Carolina)?
Speaking before hundreds of con
cerned North Carolinians, First Dis
trict Congressman Walter B. Jones
assured them that their participation
was crucial to the success of a 5-year
study of the Albemarle and Pamlico
?estuaries.
"Yours will be a difficult and frus
trating role As citizen advisors,?
you will often feel as if you are on the
outside of the process looking in. But
you have one very important factor
?on your side - you have people
power. If that wasn't clear before to
day, it is very clear now. The combi
nation of sheer numbers and strong
conviction gives you the power to in
fluence the development and direc
tion of this program," stated Con
gressman Jones.
The Congressman was speaking at
a day-long conference at Beaufort
County College sponsored by the Al
bemarle-Pamlico Estuarine Study,
the NC Coastal Federation, the Pam
lico-Tar River Association, the Re
gional Development Institute at East
Carolina University, and the UNC
Sea Grant College Program, in coop
eration with 25 other organizations.
The Albemarle-Pamlico study was
announced by Congressman Jones.
Governor Martin and the US Envi
rpnmental Protection Agency (EPA)
on April 15, 1986. At the urging of the
Congressman, EPA included the Al
bemarle-Pamlico systems in the
agency's new National Estuaries
Program.
Congressman Jones, who is Chair
man of the House Merchant Marine
and Fisheries Committee, added an
amendment to the recently, enacted
Clean Water Act which designates
the Albemarle-Pamlico system as an
"estuary of national significance."
This new law provides a sure future
for the National Estuary Program,
authorizing funding and the imple
mentation of management plans de
veloped through the studies.
In his remarks. Congressman
Jones noted that "the warning sig
nals were heard almost too late" for
the Chesapeake Bay, the nation's
largest estuary, and that now "fed
eral and state governments are in
volved in a masive project to deter
mine what went wrong and begin to
correct the damage."
"Most experts agree that the Albe
marle-Pamlico estuary is far health
ier than the Cheaspeake. Overall, its
water quality is still fairly good.
Nonetheless, many disturbing trends
have been discovered, and we see in
our own areas some of
the problems that have devastated
the Chesapeake: diseased fish; dying
plant life; disappearance of the
striped bass; algae blooms and de
pleted oxygen; fish kills; and closure
of hundreds of acres of once produc
tive shellfish beds. Undoubtedly we
have some corrections to make.
Mostly however, this program is
about prevention," Chairman Jones
stated.
Congressman Jones stressed that
the function of the study is to develop
recommendations to restore and
maintain the estuary; to produce a
"blueprint for action."
"Let me make clear what the Albe
marle-Pamlico project is and what it
is not. It is an effort to study the est
uary, analyze its problems, publicize
its needs, and suggest ways of deal
ing with them. It is not a regulatory
program," he concluded.
NC Fisheries Commission
to meet next month
I The N.C. Marine Fisheries Com
. mission conducted a business meet
- ing February 24, at 10:00 a.m., at the
'Sheraton Motel in Greenville.
| Commissioners decided which pro
? posed regulation charges to take to
' public hearings this Spring. The
? meeting is part of the annual regula
ition cycle. Interested citizens will be
notified of the proposed changes so
J they can prepare for the public hear
ings in May.
This was not a meeting where the
Commission seekd public comment;
however, a brief period was allowed
at the start of the business session for
people to speak on any topic.
For further information, contact
the Division of Marine Fisheries by
calling toll free 1-800-682-2632 be
tween the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00
p.m., Monday through Friday.
: Gets rancid
' Sliced packaged bacon tends to go
; rancid faster than slab bacon.
JOHN T. DENNING PRESIDENT, AARP
Duke endowment receives
financial award
The Duke Endowment has
awarded over $3 million in operating
grants to 167 hospitals and 41 child
care institutions in North and South
Carolina.
Ashley H. Gale, Jr., director of the
Endowment's Hospital and Child
Care Divisions, said that the grants
were approved by the Endowment's
trustees at their February meeting.
"Nearly $1.6 millions of the total,"
said Gale, "helps hospital cover costs
of caring for the poor; another
$350,000 is for data-gathering serv
ices used by hospitals. Over $1 mil
lion is also awarded to help child
care institutions meet regular oper
ating expenses."
When James Buchanan Duke es
tablished the Duke Endowment in
1924, he directed that all qualifying
nonprofit hospitals in the two Caroli
nas receive one dollar per day for
each day of free care given to charity
patients. Since the cost of operating a
hospital bed was about $4 per day in
1924, the Duke contribution under
wrote a significant portion of indi
gent care in the Carolinas. With the
advent of government-sponsored
Medicare-Medicaid programs, the
percentage of "free bed" days fell
significantly. Since 1975, however,
the totals have risen steadily until"1
this year.
Hospitals reporting to the Endow
ment indicated that percentages of
"free days" rose from 19.5 percent in
1985 to 19.6 percent in 1986.
While the percentage of charity
care has increased, total usuage of
hospitals is down. Hospitals reported
nearly 1,000 fewer bed in use, as well
as a decrease of 185,783 in total days
of care rendered.
Additional Endowment grants to
hospitals in 1986 totaled over $13 mil
lion, while child-care institutions re
ceived over $820,000.
The Duke Endowment provides as
sistance to nonprofit hospitals and
child-care institutions in North and
South Carolina; rural United Meth
odist churches and retired ministers
in North Carolina ; and four educatio
nal institutions: Duke, Furman, and
Johnson C. Smith universities, and
Davidson College.
One of the nation's largest private
foundations, the 1986 market value of
the Endowment's assets was nearly
$800 million. Since 1924, trustees have
awarded grants totaling approxi
mately $787 million to the beneficia
ries selected by James B. Duke.
Qrants appropriate during 1986 to
taled over $40 million.
Information on USS N.C.
WILMINGTON- Commissioned in
April 1941, the USS NORTH CARO
LINA was considered the greatest
sea weapon in the world at that time.
During World War II, she earned 15
battlestars and participated in every
major naval offensive in the Pacific
from Guadalcanal to Okinawa. A me
morial since 1962, the USS NORTH
CAROLINA is now dedicated to the
men and women of all US military
services who defended our country
during World War II.
Visitors may view a 10-minute
orientation film, and then take a two
hour, self-guided tour which includes
the crew's quarters, galley, sick bay,
engine room, pilot house, guns, King
fisher float plane and museum. In ad
dition, there is a Roll of Honor Room
which memorializes the names of the
10,000 North Carolinians who gave
their lives during World War II.
During the summer (first Friday in
June through Labor Day), the USS
NORTH CAROLINA'S colorful his
tory is brought to life in an outdoor
Sound and Light Spectacular, "The
Immortal Showboat," viewed from
ashore. Visitors sit in a 1,000-seat
grandstand just across from the
ship's port bow. A network of speak
ers provides excellent sound, and
over 400 lights of varying color and
intensity created the Battleship's
many moods. Special effects include
light 20mm and 40mm anti-arcraft
gunfire, the blast and flame of large 5
and 16-inch guns, and a simulated
torpedo explosion.
The USS NORTH CAROLINA Bat
tleship Memorial is open every day of
the year from 8:00 am to approxi
mately sunset. The summer drama is
presented nightly at 9:00 pm.
At H&R Block we know you're Concerned I
how ta\ reform will affect vou. Our new TaN
Fore* aster"* scrvicc provides a written
analvsis of now you d come out under the
new laws mi you'll know whether vour tax
w ould no up or down.
IT'S AVAILABLE
WHETHER WE PREPARE YOUR RETURN OR NOT.
DAR to hold conference
North Carolina Society Daughters
of the American Revolution will hold
its 87th State Conference March 9 to
11 at Pinehurst Hotel, Pinehurst,
according to Mrs. Joseph K. Show
fety, Hickory, State Regent. Several
hndred memers representing the 111
DAR chapters throughout the state
are expected to attend. Distinguished
guests will include the President
General of DAR, Mrs. Raymond
Fleck who will be the keynote
speaker, and five State Regents as
follows: Mrs. Howard F. Lee, Illi
nois; Mrs. Marion H. Miller, In
diana; Mrs. David S. Hawkins,
Maryland; Mrs. Billie Joe Lovett,
Texas; and Mrs. Frederick W. Brig
ance, Tennessee, all of whom will
bring greetings.
The eleven chapters in District
VIII, headed by Mrs. Dewitt Gaddy,
Morven, will serve as hosts for the
Conference. Opening business ses
sion will convene at 2 o'clock p.m. on
Monday, March 9, a memorial serv
ice will be held at 4:30 with State
Chaplain Miss Anne Catherine Bland
presiding. A reception honoring Na
tional and State Officers and guests
will be held at 6:30. The banquet at
7:30 will feature a film "The Portrait
of a Daughter" and the State's Out
standing Junior Member will be hon
ored.
Tuesday morning's business ses
sion will be followed by the awards
luncheon at which time state winners
of the DAR Good Citizen Award, the
American History Month Essay
Awards, the American History Schol
arship Award, the Outstanding His
tory Teacher, and Constitution Week
Awards will be announced. Following
dinner on Tuesday night, President
General, Mrs. Raymond Fleck will
speak on "We, the People" and the
82nd Airborne Band will present a
concert.
Final session on Wednesday morn
ing will be concerned with District
Directors' reports, the passing of res
olutions and the announcement of the
new nominating committee.
Business activity rises
in state of North Carolina
The level of business activity in the
southeastern United States increased
0.5 percent in December, according
to the First Wachovia Southeast
Business Index.
The Index tracks the pace of eco
nomic activity in Alabama, Arkan
sas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky,
Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi,
North Carolina, South Carolina, Ten
nessee, Virginia, West Virginia and
the District of Columbia.
Eleven states registered gains in
business activity, one experienced a
decline and one was unchanged dur
ing the month.
Two of the Index components for
the Southeast improved in Decem
ber, while one was off from the pre
vious month and one was unchanged.
Nonagricultural employment was
up 0.4 percent, and initial claims for
unemployment insurance declined
3.9 percent. Residential building per
mit values, which reflect plans for fu
ture construction, were down 1.6 per
cent. The average workweek in
manufacturing was unchanged from
November at 40.6 hurs.
Higher nonagricultural employ
ment was reported in 11 of the south
eastern states and the District of Co
lumbia in December. The most rapid
rate of nonagricultural employment
growth occurred in Maryland,
Georgia, Tennessee and Virginia.
Over the past 12 months, job
growth in the Southeast has led the
growth of national employment. Non
agricultural employment has in
creased 2.4 percent in the Southeast
since December 1985, while nation
ally it has grown 2.3 percent
The seasonally adjusted unemploy
ment rate in the Southeast was 6.9
percent in December, down 0.3 per
centage points from the rate in No
vember. At the national level, the un
employment rate was 6.7 percent,
down 0.2 percentage points from No
vember. Over the past 12 months, the
rate for Southeast has remained un
changed, while the national rate has
decreased 0.2 percentage points.
The rate of unemployment was be
low the national average in six of the
13 states in December. The lowest un
employment rate was reported in
Florida and Maryland at 4.7 percent.
Louisiana with 14.4 percent and Mis
sissippi with 12.7 percent had the
highest rates.
Data are adjusted to smooth the ef
fects of historical seasonal factors
and certain statistical aberrations.
Building permit data have been de
flated by the Consumer Price Index
to reflect planned construction ex
penditures in constant 1967 dollars.
Because the economic environment
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426-5843
in the District of of Columbia lacks
sufficient comparability with the
states, an individual business index
is not calculated.
Also, the average manfacturing
workweek is not reported due to the
small size of the District's manufac
turing sector.
First Wachovia Corporation is a
major regional interstate bank hold
ing company which offers personal,
corporate, personal trust and institu
tional banking services throughout
the Southeast, the nation and the
world.
I ?
"Herefc a NEW
TAX LAW tip"
The new tax law does not
affect most 1986 tax returns.
If you have any questions on
1986 changes, check your tax
package, or order Publication
553, "Highlights of the 1986
Tax Law Changes." Call
1 -800-424-FORM (3676) or the
IRS Forms number in your
phone book to get a copy.
...Until the floodwaters
of a hurricane rip through,
town, leaving hundreds
homeless. If you carit spare
even a few dollars
to help. . .you ought to be
ashamed.
American K?d CroM
? V4 LB. HAMBURGERS
? HAMBURGER STEAKS 8 oz.
? HOMEMADE BEEF SOUP
? CHICKEN SALAD
? FRESH FISH DAILY
Catch off the day