>io''UT,0/y A!! THE STATE PORT PILOT 7^6-l9^ Volume 40 Number 11 September 29, 1976 Southport, iV. C. 22 Pages Today 10 Cents By ED HARPER News Editor Sixty “little old sweet women who wear tennis shoes” and about 1,000 other persons gathered at the Courthouse, Friday night, to demonstrate that the August 17 vote in favor of Dosher hospital was no fluke. The “little old women” Margaret Connaughton referred to are the Dosher Volunteers, who have created a flea market and gift shop to raise thousands of dollars for the benefit of the hospital. And that, according to Bill Smalley of Yaupon Beach, characterizes the spirit of the community. “I hope the rest of the United States has the quality and caliber of people I have seen in this (SoutHport-Oak Island) community,” Smalley said. “You stand up for what you believe in.” If there were 1,000 people in and around the courthouse Friday night, 990 of them were “standing up” for Dosher hospital. It was an over-whelming and near unanimous show of support. The Pilot could count only ten persons who were anti Dosher, and only three of them spoke to the packed courtroom audience. It was an orderly meeting in that no one got very ob scene. There was frequent cheering when Dosher was spoken kindly of, there was booing when one opponent said Dosher would send you home to die, and there were frequent snide remarks about the whole hospital affair — about the same number from each side. But generally for 99 per cent of the crowd it was an exercise in support. Lawrence Burwell, repre senting the State Health Planning and Development Agency which called the hearing, said during the two hour session he was “becoming convinced this is more of a religious revival than a public hearing.” Eugene Tomlinson, mayor of Southport and chairman of the Dosher board of trustees, introduced Burwell, who said the purpose of the hearing was “more than to determine interest” in keeping Dosher. His agency must report to the federal government on the “need” of the facility; if the report is positive then the project “can claim re imbursement in certain elements of financing,” he said. Public Hearing Comments . . . HAROLD CRAIN, Long Beach Mayor Crain emphasized that he was not speaking for the town because “there are certain dissident elements” who object to having Dosher con tinued. (The Pilot has been told at least three of the six other board members besides Crain -*« %. opposed the referendum.) Crain said he was speaking as a taxpayer and a 12-year veteran of the Watts Hospital board of trustees. He served six years as president of the Durham facility and chairman of the board. He said hospitals that are not self-supporting suffer either from poor management or the lack of doctors. Dosher problems started, he said, only when the two-hospital controversy arose. Two doctors moved away and Dosher was left with a staff insufficient for the hospital to profit. But now, he said, Dosher is operating “in the black,” with a Friday patient census of 41. Of the 41 patients, he said, 19 were from the Southport-Oak Island area. “Nine are from your area, sir,” he told one of the three "men who spoke against the facility Friday night. Crain, also a retired construction executive, said the area is facing a period of “very dynamic growth,” with another major industry soon to announce plans to locate here. He said there is “no question” about the necessity for two hospitals. WALTER JOHNSON, Long Beach Rescue Squad Johnson said there were two important points to consider as far as the rescue squad was concerned — the time to transport patients, and the cost of operating rescue vehicles. Both benefit from the proximity to Dosher. He said that during the past year there have been four people who he could name “who would be dead” without the hospital being so close-by. DR. NORMAN HORNSTEIN, Dosher physician Hornstein, who said he had seen hundreds of lives saved during his 22 years on the Dosher staff, listed summertime beach population, Sunny Point Army terminal, CP&L and Pfizer as .evidence of the need to keep the hospital. “These four overwhelmingly overshadow the rest of the industry in Brunswick County,” he said. He also pointed out that Ocean Trail Con valescent Center, almost adjacent to Dosher, “needs to be in close proximity to the hospital,” and said injured and sick seamen are often brought here off ships. It would be “un conscionable” to close Dosher — “as certain politicians in the western part of the county are trying to do.” Later, Hornstein had the floor again and said “one of the essentials” of a successful hospital is doctors, adding that the Southport - Oak Island area is very much able to attract physicians. “This hospital is viable,” he said of Dosher, while the new hospital will have “a great deal of trouble out in the country” attracting doctors. MARVIN WATSON, Yaupon Beach mayor Watson said that although he has many friends in other areas of the county he “put all the cards on the table” and the answer “came out pro Dosher.” He said it was “inconceivable” to not have a hospital in the area. “I don’t think any other kind of bond issue could have passed in the last election” other than the hospital referen dum. RAY WALTON, Southport Lions Club Walton pointed out that although industry has moved into the area Dosher was here before, (Continued on page 2) He said it would not affect either the hospital im provements being made, or the re-imbursement for patients. Burwell said later in the meeting that the federal concern is based on court rulings that hospitals are “free enterprise” and can compete. He said that if the federal government is going to re-imburse money, then it wants to be satisfied of the need for the facility. The review is supposed to be done by the Cardinal Health Agency, a federal overseer of projects in this part of North Carolina. The involvement of his agency, Burwell said, is an “inept process,” but necessary. Hospital Consultant Maurice W. Perreault said there are different ways of interpreting the law under which the hearing was called. The purpose, he said, is to overcome “mal-distribution” of medical facilities. According to Perreault, Dosher was “a working model of the legislation before it was written.” He explained that if Dosher were closed, this section of the county would qualify as an ‘ ‘under-served area. ” Perreault reviewed the planned Dosher project, which he said is “not a new hospital” but one which follows the directives issued annually by the state. Renovations have been made in accordance with the directives, he said, “to conform with health care delivery standards.” The Dosher project, according to Perreault, is “categorically a renovation replacement project.” Perreault said the Dosher project is “a vital need.” The improvement is in response to the “steady, sturdy growth of the community,” he declared. The expressions of support were expected from South port-Oak Island residents, but what everyone was in terested in was the opinion of those in opposition. The first in-order statement against Dosher was, “This hospital will take funds from the other hospital.” Burwell said the Dosher facility will have “no effect” on. funding for the western area hospital. Tomlinson said that during visits to Raleigh represen tatives of the Southport-Oak (Continued on page 22) REDSKIN HALFBACK Robbie Howard (44) moves on Oak Island defenders during first-week action Saturday night in the Brunswick County Little League football program. The Southport squad beat the Dolphins 19-0 after Bolivia defeated Boiling Springs Lakes 21-0 in the opening game. Doubleheaders are played each Saturday night at Taylor Field. Brunswick Jobless Rate Ranked Second In State By BILL ALLEN Staff Writer Brunswick County has the second highest unem ployment rate in North Carolina at the present time. David Holden, manager of the Employment Security Commission branch office in Southport, said the July preliminary survey shows that the unemployment rate in Brunswick County is 12.5 per cent. “We have just recently received the July preliminary report,” Holden pointed out. “The report, which provides employment information in the state, usually is about two to three months behind.” The 12.5 - per cent figure gives Brunswick County the second highest unem ployment rate in North Carolina. Only Martin County, which stood at 12.8 per cent, had a higher per centage of unemployment in July. Holden said he could offer no explanation why the Brunswick County unem ployment rate was so high at a time when it should have been lower based on seasonal factors. “The July rate should be lower since it includes vacation-and farm-related seasonal employment in the county,” he pointed out. Based on the July report, Holden said the county could have the dubious distinction of topping the state in unemployment percentages in the fall and winter months unless something happens. Brunswick County’s unemployment rate tops the national and state averages. National unemployment increased from 7.8 per cent in July to 7.9 per cent in August. It was the third consecutive monthly increase and the highest level of unem ployment in the nation this year. Unemployment in North Carolina increased from 6.2 to 6.7 per cent in July, the third consecutive monthly rise. Holden noted that the state research bureau considers the monthly employment - unemployment reports preliminary and subject to later revision when more information becomes available. Economists, however, question the accuracy of the statistics since only people receiving jobless benefits are counted as unemployed. They believe a “good rule of thumb” is to double the number which would cover all the people seeking em ployment. Brunswick County’s July, 1976, rate is one percentage point lower than the 13.5 per cent recorded in the summer of 1975. The Bureau of Employment Security Research reported thaf Brunswick County had 14,630 people in the work force thi£ July. A total of 12,800 hel