Petition Circulating To Establish Local VA Clinic

A petition drive is underway to establish a veterans medical clinic in Cheboygan for the benefit of veterans in northern lower Michigan and the Eastern Upper Peninsula, said Bernie Sorrels of St. Ignace January 28. People may sign the petition at Moose Lodge 999, the St. Ignace VFW Post, or by contacting Mr. Sorrels, who will also deliver the petition for a signature, upon request.

"Mackinac County veterans could really use this," Mr. Sorrels said of the proposed local clinic. "The closest service we have now is to go to Gaylord or Kinross. From there, those who need any kind of surgical procedure are sent to Milwaukee. The benefit for Mackinac County residents would be rather than spend two days going to Milwaukee for surgery, they could go to Cheboygan."

Petitions have been circulating for two weeks, Mr. Sorrels said, but the idea to establish a local clinic has been in the works for almost two years. A committee of volunteers meets regularly to further the plan, and is working to secure the help of Senator Carl Levin and the Veterans Administration. A Cheboygan site has not yet been determined.

People don't have to be military veterans to sign the petition, just registered voters. People who would like to sign may stop by the Moose Lodge, VFW Post, or call Mr. Sorrels at 643-0025.

There are 1,200 military veterans in Mackinac County.