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The Lucknow Sentinel, 1983-10-05, Page 2news Lucknow Sentinel, Wednesday, October 5, 1483—Page 2 The Dungannon Kinsmen 194 executive was installed Friday evening, Front row, left to right, the new executive members are Wayne Bauer, president; John McKenzie, director; and Mike Redmond past president; and back row, left to right, ore tlerry Paella, secretary Joe Phillips, Zone K deputyo veraor who performed the installation; Doug Halbert vice-president; and &mord Hoyle director, A�sent for photo were glen McNeil, bulletin editor; Stu Steenstra, registrar; and Ambrose Redmond, treasurer, (Photo by Joanne Buchanan) The Dungannon K1nettes MOM executive was installed Friday evening, Lett to right, the nerl* executive ntettibers are Kathy Olson, regiotrar, Sharon Haltzer, bulletin editor; Karen Redmond, president; and Alison Paolin, vice-president. Absent for photo were Doreen McNeil, pant preoident; Melba Park, sceeretary; Vanda McNeil, treasurer; and Dianne Armstrong, Zone K Co=ordinator, ( Photo by Joanne Buchanan) Hospital activity declines... atom page 1 activity, After achieving levels as high as 86 pet cent seven of eight years ago, when the hospital had 100 beds, it dropped to 75 pet cent last year and currently is running at about 72 pet cent, (A 100 percent activity level would requite every hospital bed being filled all the time.) In presenting the monthly statistical report, Treasurer Gordon Hayter told the board the reason activity is down to 72 per cent is that the average length of patient stay in the hospital is down to 6.5 days, while the hospital had budgeted on 1.5 days. Noting that admissions were up a little from last year, as were operations, lab tests and cancer clinic visits, Hatter concluded, "it seems we're moving mote patients through quicker. " Newly appointed chief of staff, Dt. Brian Hanlon. added that doctors are probably seeing more day cases and doting fewer geriatric admissions. Pike objected that, on the basis of the Statistics, the total number of patients treated at the hospital is not up. "If anything, it's down a little." Overall, he said, the hospital is treating fewer patients and they are not staying as long in his financial report. Pike told the hoard that every one per cent drop in activity represents a savings of about $S(),fti() for the hospital. largely because it does not have to bring in as many nurses. Under the 90ND (business oriented new development) pro- gram introduced last year by former Ontario health minister (now treasurer) Larry Grossman, hospitals ate permitted to keep any money left over at the end of the year, as an incentive to efficiency. Previously the money had to be returned to the provincial purse. When questioned previously whether the drop in activity signals a continuing trend, Hayes told the board it is difficult to accurately forecast activity levels, particul- arly in a small hospital, since a few patients one way at the other can create a significant fluctuation. He also said the health ministry is aware of these swings and has given assurances it will not penalize a hospital ort the basis of a temporary drop in activity. Oppose French •from page 1 phone students as "undemocratic and discriminatory." The proposal could also create "a a potential fob divisiveness." says the hoard. Competition could also create "a potential for divisiveness." says the hoard. "(ompetition for dollars may indeed spark many controversies that could he detrimental fo mutual understanding and respect as segregation hyianguage becomes a reality in many school systems where a has previously not heen a problem -Owen Sound Sun Times Beginning farmer assistance program is implemented The details of Ontario's beginning Farm- er Assistance Program (HEAP) were an- nounced recently by Agriculture and Food Minister Dennis Timbrell. Timbrell said, "The beginning farmer program is one to which 1 have a strong commlttment. It will help bring as many as 1,000 new people into farming every year for the next five years. We need agressive new people to bring a new vitalizing force to our agricultural industry." Ontario will rebate interest charges on loans in excess of eight per cent, to a maximum of five percentage points, based on the Farm Credit Corporation rate, currently 131/2 per cent. At present, approved lenders are the federal Farm Credit Corporation, the Hank of Montreal, the Toronto Dominion bank and the Canadian Imperial Hank of Commerce. A individual may receive the rebate on loans up to $350,000. The rebate will apply to loans made to cover transactions which were finalized on or after May 10, 1983. beginning farmers may enter the program at any time during a five year period which began on that date. To be eligible, an applicant must never have owned a viable farm, must qualify for a loan from a lending institution and must become a full time farmer, operating a viable farm and earning the majority of his/her income from farming. In addition, applicants must be able to demonstrate competence as a farm manager through having either sufficient agriculture experience or an agricultural education.' A farmers's eligibility for the program will be determined by the ministry. Security, terms, interest rates and loan amount, however, will be subject to normal credit negotiations between the lender and the beginning farmer. Loans from banks and other financial institutions must be made at a fixed rate for a period of not less than five years. "The program will run for five years, with $135 million being made available for interest rebates over the five years," Timbrell said. "This program clearly demonstrates the Ontario government's long term commitment to agriculture." The rebates are available on that part of the loan used to purchase land, fixed improvements, breeding stock, quota and machinery, or to make permanent farm improvements. The request to enrol in . the Ontario Beginning Farmer Assistance Program should be made when the applicant files a request for a loan. A review committee including representa- tives from the farming community appointed by the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food will make the final decision on eligibility for SPAP in any disputed cases. Full details of the program are available from the ministry's local offices, participat- ing lenders and from the Farm Assistance Program branch, Ontario Ministry of Agri- culture and Food, Queen's Park, Toronto, M7A 282. Application forms are available from the approved lenders. To everything there Is a season and a time to every purpose under the heaven A Time For THANKSGIVING John W. Henderson LUMBER LIMITED HOME CARE BUILD'NVG CENTRE LUCKNOW