To the Editor:

Since the death of our daughter five years ago from untreated mental illness, we have worked to improve mental health care in Chippewa, Mackinac, and Schoolcraft counties. Those efforts focus on how Hiawatha Behavioral Health (HBH) spends tax dollars.

We have expressed our views at every monthly HBH board meeting in the 60 months since Karen died. We have circulated petitions, written letters, testified before legislative committees, and talked to governmental officials. Those efforts have accomplished little except the Chippewa County Commission has appointed two new public members to the HBH Board. We believe, during those same 60 months, a number of area residents have died in hospitals, jails, and back alleys because they did not receive appropriate care and treatment.

An increase in inpatient treatment has caused budget problems. To address this budget problem, the board canceled last year’s bonuses, changed their Christmas party to a potluck, and eliminated the successful Take Five Alzheimer’s respite program. HBH, then, approved a garage for the Sault, purchased vehicles, including a plow truck for Manistique, and solicited bids for a study regarding an addition to the Manistique office.

We agree with canceling bonuses and changing the Christmas party but disagree with eliminating the Take Five program while buying more vehicles. We also disagree with plans to expand the Manistique office. It appears HBH could save money by moving the administrative offices to St. Ignace or the Sault. Both are more centrally located; 65 percent of the population resides in Chippewa County and 20 percent reside in Mackinac County. A management office in St. Ignace or the Sault could reduce the 250-plus overnight trips HBH management made last year, saving the cost of motels, meals, gas, and lost travel time.

Recently, HBH management made a $70,000 mistake to a Physicians Assistant contract. It took two meetings for management to acknowledge the error and admit, even with the correction, the $178,000 Physician Assistant was the highest paid in the United States. The CEO claimed the salary was justified because of difficulties getting professionals to locate in the Upper Peninsula. Moving management offices to St. Ignace or the Sault would make recruitment of employees easier as both are closer to medical, educational, travel, cultural, and entertainment opportunities.

Money saved by moving the offices could restore programs like Take Five, meet inpatient costs, and improve services to the residents of all three counties. We need to join together to provide the best care and treatment for those suffering with mental difficulties.

The next HBH meeting is Monday, February 20, at 6:30 p.m. in the Sault. We urge people to talk to HBH board members, county commissioners, and to attend the meeting and see where your dollars go.

Donald and Christine McLean

Brimley

To the Editor:

The Bush Administration plans to sell 200,000 acres of national forest land.

The sale is part of a National Forest Service plan to raise $800 million over the next five years. The Forest Service plans to sell about 175,000 to 200,000 acres, according to Forest Service spokeswoman Heidi Valetkevitch; they could be from every national forest.

The president's new fiscal 2007 federal budget calls for the bureau to raise $1 million in 2007 land sales, $28 million in 2008, $40 million in 2009, $42 million in 2010, and $71 million in 2011.

From 2000 to 2004, the bureau sold 13,160 acres for an average price of $320 an acre. At that rate, the government would have to sell more than half a million acres to total $182 million.

Rural schools get 25 percent of federal forest timber sale proceeds, but those funds have fallen, so the idea is to sell forest land to make up for that. Of course it follows that proceeds from timber sales will be even less after selling of these public lands.

Does it really make sense to cut taxes ($8 billion just for the Energy Industries), and then make up for the shortfall by selling our National Forests?

The only hope of stopping this wholesale sell off of our public lands is for Congress to put a stop to it. Contact Congressman Bart Stupak and ask him to protect our public lands.

Daniel G Fenlon

St. Ignace

Contact Congressman To Protect

National Forests From Sale Attend the HBH Meetings and See Where Your Dollars Go