Herald and Review from Decatur, Illinois • Page 3

Decatur, Illinois, Sunday, September 17, 1978 DECATUR SUNDAY HERALD AND REVIEW Ferre: Get tough on jail medical bills Local Ray Gouch thinks he's the only one with abstract brass sculptures. By Judy Tatham County Auditor Richard Ferre says he wants the county to take a tougher stance regarding its liability for medical care of some persons in the custody of law enforcement authorities. "I'd like to see us do some fighting," Ferre said, "because it seems like we are getting stuck with some bills in situations that are farfetched." Giving a sense of urgency to the issue, he says, are the pending medical costs stemming from a fatal accident July 16 at Elwin. The driver of a vehicle involved in the accident, Terry Oglesby, 29, of Clinton, has been charged in Circuit Court with reckless homicide. A 16-year-old girl died in the accident.

Oglesby has remained hospitalized since the accident and hospital authorities have told Ferre expenses totaled at least $9,300 through August. Ferre said hospital officials have advised him Oglesby could require treatment for 12 weeks. Because Oglesby was transported for emergency treatment in the custody of sheriff's deputies, the hospital assumes the county is liable. The hospital has initiated attempts to recover its costs from Oglesby's group insurance plan, yet so far has received no reimbursement, Ferre said. The county could end up liable for all, or at least part of the bills, he added.

Ferre and Sheriff Stephen D. Fisher have differing views on the issue. Three days after the accident, Oglesby was issued a notice to appear in court, an act which Fisher said absolves the county frorfl liability after that time. Ferre said he believes court opinions and an initial inquiry he made to State's Attorney Patrick M. Walsh prove otherwise.

Walsh said he had not extensively researched the issue and the basis of his response to Ferre is an earlier opinion issued in 1975 by his predecessor. With the issuance of the notice to appear to answer the charges, "the county's responsibility is questionable," Walsh said. He said he agrees with Ferre's urging that the county take a hard look at its liability in such instances. "Maybe we should make some noise. This case could end up being a battle of insurance companies." The 1975 opinion has been the basis Staff photos by Herb Slodounik Jacobsen won first place.

artists, something's catch fairgoer's eye 'Shady Stream' by Betty With 110 bound to By Al Stamborski With about 110 artists exhibiting in the 16th annual art fair this weekend in downtown Decatur, there's bound to be something to catch anyone's eye. There are abstract brass sculptures and etched ivory jewelry. Ceramic mugs with mustachioed faces and pen and ink fantasy sketches. There's even hand-painted Christmas ornaments and the inevitable artist's tribute to Elvis Presley. All this in addition to the usual abundance of rural scenes in watercolor and oil, along with pottery, macrame, stained glass and other art fair fare.

Like the art that is on display up and down Landmark Mall and in Central Park, the artists run the gamut. There are the beginners sitting in the hot sun with a handful of sketches. And then there are the veterans of the art fair circuit, with their directors' chairs, sun umbrellas and "We accept VISA and BankAmericard" signs. Among the artists is Charlotte Hawkins of Bloomington, Ind. She is reviving the art of scrimshaw which whalers practiced long ago.

But instead of carving ships on ivory, she carves flowers and art nouveau designs. The jewelry she and her friend Susan Swan fashion from the ivory pieces is popular at the art fair, she said. Ms. Hawkins said people like their work because "it's an art form, and it's Fund increased twice also jewelry." Ray Gouch of Granite City also has an unusual talent to display. "So far as I know, I'm the only one who does this sort of thing," he said, referring to his abstract brass sculptures that glistened in the hot sun Saturday.

Gouch melts brass and pours it on top of piles of fine sand. The end result depends onhow he shapes the sand and what alloys he uses. Some of the thinner abstracts look like lace doilies. Another resembles a relief map from one angle, a ballerina's leg from another. Ed Perry of Mount Zion mixes religion with his art.

"It's a way of preaching," he says of his paintings, some of which illustrate Biblical figures in bold, bright colors. He plans on doing a series of 58 paintings illustrating the Book of Revelations. He also has illustrated some of the characters in the "fiction-fantasy" book he is writing. One of his paintings depicts Coral the Aliquaian, who in his book lives in a lake in Scotland. Those with more traditional tastes might prefer the paintings of someone like Charles L.

Sizemore of Highland, Ind. He specializes in rural scenes be-cuase "they're very restful." Besides, they sell well, he said. Sizemore added that painting pastoral country scenes "is such a nice diver Included on the list is the building at 1200 N. Calhoun St. which formerly housed Hawley's East Side Tap.

The Board of Local Improvements, which is four City Council members, will meet at 7:15 p.m. Monday in coun for the county's paying bills Ferre said he feels are an unfair burden on taxpayers. The state's attorney's view reflected an Illinois Attorney General's opinion that a patient charged with a violation of criminal law is in the custody of the sheriff and the county is responsible for the costs. That means persons arrested by city police are the sheriff's responsibility. Should injuries be sustained, before or after the arrest, the county is liable.

To illustrate his contention such cases become farfetched, Ferre cited an example of a family fight. "The people who are involved are mad, hurt one another, but then cool off and don't even want to get involved with making charges through the state's attorney," he said. "They may never be in jail as prisoners, but the minute a police officer puts them in a squad car the county is responsible for their medical costs." He said he believes in cases such as the reckless homicide charge, the arresting officers and investigators could wait until the suspect is released from the hospital to formally make an arrest. This would relieve the county of the medical cost responsibility, he said, i Head of the sheriff's detective divi-son, Lt. Mark J.

Cheviron, said he strongly disagrees with that view. "Objective-type law enforcement can't be compromised by financial burdens to the county." And, he noted, Oglesby was technically under arrest when he was transported. The civil rights of suspects is a factor, Cheviron added, saying successful prosecution could be hampered by making exceptions in the handling of injured suspects. Ferre credits St. Mary's and Decatur Memorial hospitals with trying to alleviate the county's costs "by attempting to collect via insurance companies or agencies such as public aid." "But if they can't recover their costs, we can expect to hear from crease, resulting in a reduction of costs.

Ferre said he has not noted a dramatic decrease, but said "it might be too early to make an evaluation." Sheriff Stephen D. Fisher said he believes there are fewer trips to the hospital, particularly in instances involving suturing of prisoners. In some cases; he said, a return trip to remove sutures is not required because the nurse can handle the procedure. Golfer Goalby to speak at United Way dinner Professional golfer Bob Goalby will be the speaker at the kick-off dinner for the United Way of Decatur and Macon County. The dinner will be 6:30 p.m.

Sept. 28 in the Decatur Holiday Inn. Cost is $5.25 and reservations may be made by calling the United Way office, 422-8537, or writing P.O. Box 1083, Decatur 62525. Goalby won 12 Professional Golf Association tour tourneys, including the 1968 Masters.

His 1961 feat of eight consecutive birdies is a PGA Goalby is now an NBC golf announcer and a golf director at the Springs Club, Palm Springs, Calif. time Staff photos by Doug Gaumon helped director Richard Hoffland with that and "The Messiah." "I would love to be performing somehow," Jordan said, but added, "I enjoy directing almost as much." Though his spare time is at a premium he likes to attend as many concerts as he can, for enjoyment and also for ideas of what other people 'are doing. Twice during the past fiscal year, the county has had to increase its allocation for medical care of jail prisoners by dipping into other jail funds. The Macon County Board allocated $20,000 to the fund for the budget year which began Sept. 1, 1977.

But the fund was depleted in June and $10,000 was transferred from a jail food allocation account. In August, an additional $5,000 was transferred. At mid-August, a total $3,776 remained available with some bills still outstanding. With adoption of this year's county budget, $30,000 has been earmarked for the fund. County Auditor Richard Ferre had recommended an even higher allocation, he said.

He cited rising hospital costs and prisoners' alleged abuse of the county's system for securing care. Ferre said he believes prisoners continue to seek care for minor ailments, including problems they might not have treated at their own expense. In May, the County Board hired a registered nurse to screen prisoners' complaints and help jail personnel with securing medical needs. It was hoped the number of trips to hospital emergency rooms would de Jordan's Mortgage plan set for approval Charlotte Hawkins does scrimshaw. sion" from his hectic job of teaching high school chemistry.

The free art fair, which is being cos-ponsored by the Downtown Decatur Council and Barn Colony Artists started Saturday and will continue today from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Winners of the judging done by Joel Feldman, an art professor at Southern Illinois University, were announced Saturday afternoon. First place and $300 went to Betty Jacobsen of Decatur for "Shady Stream." Ada Brumett of Decatur won second prize and $150 for "Still Life with Pears and Pomegranates." Third prize and $75 went to Vi Van Aken of Decatur for "The Pose." Merit award winners were Gary Nichols of Decatur, Marie Moore of Mat-toon, Mary Alice Bale of Auburn, Ann Bartlettiof Champaign, Lee Benz of East Peoria, Wood Wooderchak of Auburn, Dorothy Schiller of Indianapolis, and Jody dePew McLeane of Ballwin, who also won the Nova Gallery Purchase Award. The two purchase awards from the Macon County Board went to Marjorie Wilson and Donald Gruber, both of Decatur.

There will be a free concert at 2 p.m. today in Central Park by the Millikin-Decatur Civic Symphonette. In addition, some downtown stores will be open today for Old Fashioned Bargain Days. cil chambers to authorize an engineering agreement for the Forest Crest Special Assessment Sewer District. Several residents in the southwest Forest Crest subdivision have requested the district be Dwight Jordan's Jordan also directed the adult choir at Mount Zion United Methodist Church and is a member of a gospel singing group called Radiance.

He has helped the Richard Hofflands and Ken Merwins with a Joyful Voice Music Camp in Wisconsin and with the St. James choir camps. His music career began in his native Blue Mound, where he sang in the high PDL JeF life Music fills much of Ed Perry's paintings Two girls 'critical' after fatal car-bus crash' Two teen-aged girls, injured in a fatal car-bus collision late Friday, remained in critical condition, in the intensive care unit at Springfield's St. John's Hospital late Saturday. Hospitalized were Lisa Chapman, 18, driver of the car, of 3150 N.

Oakland and Leslie Cogan, 16, of 240 Cambridge Drive. A second passenger, Wendy S. Willis, 19, of 2055 N. Charles St. was killed in the accident.

Miss Willis died at 12:21 a.m. Saturday in Decatur Memorial Hospital. Eleven other persons were injured in the accident, but none required hospitalization. According to Macon County sheriff deputies, the Chapman car attempted a left turn in the path of a charter bus returning from the Eisenhower High School football game in Normal. The bus, headed southbound on U.S.

51 near the new Hickory Point Mall in Forsyth, struck the car broadside. A teacher and students were reportedly among 38 persons on the bus. 4 The driver of the Soy City charter bus was 45-year-old Alice Henderson, who was among the 11 persons on the bus treated for minor injuries at St. Mary's Hospital. The others were Angela D.

Alley, 15, of 19 Medial Drive; Lynna S. Glosser, 17, of 337 S. Birch Cynthia L. Prust, 15, of 2404 Angle Court; Charles Oldag 15, of 1200 E. Johns and Karen Lynn Morton, 15, of 2519 Redlich Court.

Also, Michelle L. Dulik, 16, of 58 Glen-view Court; Sherry Lynn Hedgpeth, 14, of 525 S. 23rd Place; Sally J. Schwent, 17, of 1621 S. 32nd Susan Patricia Blake, 15, of 408 Timber Drive; and Jeanette A.

Kaptain, 15, of 3259 Fields Court. Obituary on page 32 Briefly Speaking In DecaturMacon County Lightning suspected A fire believed started by lightning during Saturday morning's thunderstorms caused light structural damage and minimal damage to beer stocks at Cole Distributing 701 N. Van Dyke after 8 a.m. Saturday. Firefighters reported the fire was in an upper loft area which was insulated by a heavy lining of cork.

Woman treated A 50-year-old Decatur woman was treated at Decatur Memorial Hospital Saturday for injuries received when her car hit a second vehicle at Pershing Road and 22nd Street at 12:05 a.m. Saturday. Hilda South of 2422 E. Geddes Ave. was cited for failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident after her car struck a pickup driven by Jose Cabrera, 32, of Stockbridge, Mich.

A memorandum of agreement with Millikin National Bank to be the lending institution for a home mortgage revenue bond financing program is scheduled for approval at Monday's Decatur City Council meeting. The council will meet at 7:30 p.m. in council chambers, 355 E. Wood St. The council informally agreed- last week that an initial bond issue would be for $15 million.

About 80 to 85 percent of that figure would actually be available for mortgages, the rest going to reserve funds and to pay the costs of selling the bonds. It has been estimated loan applications could be taken around six to eight weeks following the council's action Monday. Under the program, the city would sell tax-exempt bonds which would provide mortgage money at interest rates lower than those now offered. Other action scheduled Monday night includes: Authorizing a joint agreement with Macon County for a feasibility study on a city-county law enforcement building. The contract to do the study is with Dennis E.

Roby and Associates, with the not to exceed $40,000. The' County Board OK'd county participation last week. Placement of 35 structures on the city's spot demolition program. The resolution also will allow the city staff to initiate legal action to demolish the buildings if the property owners do not demolish or rehabilitate them themselves. This is the first time the city is trying a new system of going to the City Council only once for action on the spot demolition program.

The move is an effort to spejed up the removal of blighted property. Ploodmobile to be held three days at Caterpillar The September Red Cross Blood-mobile will be held Monday through Wednesday at the Caterpillar Tractor Co. plant on North 27th Street. The Bloodmobile will be 6 to 10 p.m. Monday and 11 a.m.

to 3 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday. $Sh 'ijW yr By Lois Moore Dwight Jordan doesn't have to worry about what to do in his spare time. He doesn't have much of that. The rest of his time comes under the heading of music vocal and instrumental, school age and adult.

Jordan is band director at Mount Zion Junior High School, which includes two concert bands and a jazz band. The latter was second runnerup at last year's Oak Lawn festival. Last year, he also helped with the swing choir. He didn't get paid for it, but he enjoyed it so much in fact, Behind the news that the idea of an all-county swing choir developed from an idea to reality during the summer. He approached the Decatur Area Alts Council and received partial funding, held auditions and rehearsed the selected 28 twice a week.

It was a serious business for Jordan, who admits going home after rehearsal and "usually thinking about it all night." It was challenging, but things did jell and Jordan looks with pride at the results and the group's performances. He found it different from directing a group as a teacher during school. For one thing, students were in the group because they wanted to be. On the other hand, they only worked twice a week so it took time for that finished product. Why did he choose a swing choir? "I think it is more qf a show for the audience," Jordan said.

"They see not just singing or dancing, but both." And personally, he said, "I find it more exciting and I think the kids can be more expressive too." hands add emphasis to his band directing. school choir and played in the band and jazz band. During his four years a music education major at Millikin University, he was a member of all the instrumental organizations at one time or another and member of the jazz lab band all four years. Jordan was also one of the Madrigal Singers. During his senior year he.