The Llano Ledger
Newsletter Text V98
Accessing The Llano Ledger Website Without Generously Providing
Financial Assistance To This Publication Not Only Denies Desperately
Needed Funds For Investigative Expenses, But Amounts To Theft Of This
Writer's Labor.
BANNER AND POP-UP ADVERTISING PAYS ONLY FOR WEBSITE
*****As repeatedly and strongly asserted on both Ledger websites, this
publication receives NO compensation from Maxpages nor the advertisers.
None. Banner and pop-up advertising pays ONLY for the website itself,
-- a "free" website. People still mistakenly think there is
compensation. ... How do I make it any clearer???
Want this publication to continue? Send a financial donation to P.O.
Box 997, Buchanan Dam, Tx. 78609. Ask your friends to do the same.
Otherwise, The Ledger will not survive. ... When will this readership
finally wake up? Think there's an indefinite free ride? Think any
business can survive without compensation? Think it's always the other
guy's responsibility? Think again. The clock is ticking...*****
********************June 25, 2001********************
*****Looting Of Llano Memorial Healthcare System*****
Continuing review of LMHS employee "expense reports" an additional
$15,687.63 was found in seminar expenses (junkets), including one to
South Padre Island. One employee was reimbursed $79.35 for a room in
San Antonio, apparently so she wouldn't have to spend an hour and a
half traveling before taking a test. ... Mighty considerate of Hospital
management, no? Another $78.19 was found in Christmas decoration
expenses.
Former LMHS Administrator/CEO Ernie Parisi was reimbursed an additional
$8,262.68, mostly for seminars and disability insurance. The Hospital
was looted $250.00 so dear Ole' Ernie could pay his dues for membership
in the American College Of Healthcare Professionals. Readers should
understand membership in such professional organizations as well as the
seminars attended provide Hospital management with networking
opportunities useful when seeking new employment. ... Right, Ernie?
An additional $120.00 was found in Special Needs reimbursements
(employee hardship grants). Community Relations Director Mary Rhodes
was reimbursed an additional $144.97, -- including $27.06 for a sports
bra. ... Think this a proper expenditure for Hospital management? ...
Think nursing staff and other employees received such special
treatment? No evidence yet to date. Former Chief Financial Officer
Mindy Smith was reimbursed an additional $874.72, mostly for seminar
expenses including $13 for valet parking service.
During the latest records inspection an additional $36,415.47 was found
in employee "expense reports", bringing the grand total so far to
$206,505.23. -- For a period of time dating back a little over two
years. The Financial Summary and Analysis Statement for the fiscal year
just ended May 31 indicates a cash flow YTD deficit of $378,358.44. As
more information becomes available, it will be posted. The following
e-mail was recently sent to the Hospital Administrator:
Kevin Leeper, Administrator/CEO
Llano Memorial Healthcare System
Llano, Tx. 78643
June 22, 2001
Re: Open Records Request
Dear Mr. Leeper:
As per posted Public Information Act notice on bulletin board in
LMHS Administrative Offices located on 103 W. Lampasas St., Llano, Tx.
78643, this is an e-mailed request for information under the Texas
Public Information Act, Ch.552, Gov't Code, Public Information.
Access to following documents is respectfully requested:
1. Additional time to inspect cellular phone records and employee expense reports.
2. All Hospital Board minutes from April 12, 2001 to present.
As your predecessor, you have dragged your feet on all Open Records
Requests, responding outside time limits set by law and allowing only
one hour's inspection of employee "expense reports" monthly.
Although the original request is months old, your delaying tactics are
quite understandable, since the records indicate enormous waste and
looting by Hospital employees. Equally pointedly, this writer has not,
and will not, attend Hospital Board meetings since nothing of substance
is discussed outside executive session, -- in apparent violation of
Texas Open Meetings requirements.
Interestingly also, recent Board minutes have become even less
substantive than usual. ... Also quite understandable since the
Financial Summary and Analysis Statement released yesterday to this
writer indicates considerable cash flow difficulties for the fiscal
year just ended.
While the Attorney General, District Attorney, and County Attorney
selectively enforce the law and apparently have no interest in
prosecuting offenders looting governmental entities, your intransigence
in releasing public information comes at an enormous price. -- Your
credibility and that of the Hospital.
Worse yet, patient care is apparently beginning to be affected.
This writer has recently received complaints regarding the quality of
services. Until now, they were never in question. Never.
While EMS is continuing to have serious problems and Llano County
taxpayers are now tapped to make up the deficit, paramedics continue to
loot the Hospital in reimbursed meals at the fanciest establishments as
indicated in the ongoing records examination. Considering the dire
financial difficulties currently experienced by LMHS, don't you think
it's time to cut back on frivolous spending?
There is no question the Hospital must survive. Should you and both
Boards, however, sincerely want support and understanding from the
public you allegedly serve, it is time to indeed become more responsive
and forthcoming with information.
This e-mailed request is in keeping with the policy posted on your
bulletin board and will certainly save time and effort for all. Thank
you in advance for your cooperation in a matter that is of great
concern to my readers.
Sincerely,
Tim Chorney, Publisher
The Llano Ledger
http://maxpages.com/llanoledger
http://maxpages.com/llanoledger2
P.O. Box 997
Buchanan Dam, Tx. 78609
cc: Llano Ledger website
cc by e-mail: John Cornyn, Attorney General, State of Texas;
Katherine Minter Cary, Chief, Open Records Division; June B. Harden,
Assistant Attorney General, Open Records Division; David Mendoza, Legal
Assistant, Open Records Division; David Short, Investigator, Open
Records Division; State Sen. Troy Fraser
*****No Greater Courage.....*****
Three New York City firemen lost their lives on Father's Day
fighting a fire started by teenagers "horsing around". ... See the
videotape of the sons of the firemen carrying and/or wearing their
dads' helmets at the funerals? Volunteer firefighters in this area have
always done an exceptional job. Always. This publication has posted all
fundraising releases received and has encouraged these fine men and
women to send letters regarding any problems not being addressed by
government authorities. Coming from them, it would certainly carry far
greater weight than from this writer. All have been extraordinarily
modest and have chosen not to.
The needs, however, of these volunteers are great. They absolutely
require adequate reimbursement for personal vehicles used. In addition,
emergency rescue divers have not been compensated for maintenance costs
on personally owned diving equipment. ... Most pointedly, Llano County
officials have been far too busy lining their pockets with taxpayer
money rather than spending funds on what truly matters. Right, J.P.?
Recruitment of volunteers is a never ending problem and will continue
to be until officials finally wake up.
... Almost forgot. -- Hey, J.P.? Never see contractors' vehicles
parked around the Courthouse. ... Despite the expenditure of
considerable funds. Care to comment, "Judge"?
*****Patients' Rights*****
Not surprisingly, Republicans are dragging their feet on patients'
rights. After all, the GOP is the party of big business and the rich,
including greedy healthcare providers. Republican fascists in the
Senate are determined to deny citizens the right to effectively and
easily sue HMOs. What about constitutional due process requirements?
The GOP could care less as long as the cash continues to flow from the
healthcare lobby. ... If Republicans were truly concerned about
"frivolous" lawsuits, they would aggressively pursue caps on attorneys'
fees, rather than prevent aggrieved victims from suing negligent HMOs
and other medical providers.
Equally pointedly, the "President" and his cronies do not want the
people to have the right to sue medical practitioners at the state
level, -- only in federal courts where it is much harder to prevail and
takes far longer. Whatever the hell happened to states' rights, a
familiar mantra of the Fascist Right? ... Hypocrisy at its worst, no?
Republican obfuscation and stonewalling of healthcare reform will only
accelerate national health insurance at the very least. At worst, it
could lead to socialized medicine.
The Democrats are no better. Why aren't they aggressively pursuing
reform of the entire healthcare industry? Why aren't hearings being
called to investigate price gouging by providers who have a truly
captive audience literally by the gonads? After all, people are easily
looted by the greedy when in pain or suffering from life-threatening
illness. Friends, it's time to wake up.
*****Abusive Police Officers Granted Additional Protection*****
That's right. A fascist Supreme Court on June 18 made it even more
difficult to sue abusive officers. Justice Anthony M. Kennedy wrote
police should be given immunity even when force is used as a result of
"reasonable, but mistaken beliefs" about the situation in question.
Clearly, we're living in a fascist police state where constitutional
rights are systematically stripped on a daily basis by corrupt and
abusive courts, who have no respect or regard for the Bill of Rights.
According to University of Pennsylvania law professor David Rudovsky
who argued the case, Saucier vs. Katz, 99-1977: "In our view, the
decision rests on the illogical proposition that police officers can
reasonably believe they are entitled to use unreasonable
force......Even if a judge said you didn't have to use that much force,
this allows the judge to say, 'Even though it was excessive, I'm
finding immunity because the officer could have thought it was
reasonable."' ... Nothing quite like the good Ole' Catch 22, is there?
Again, friends, it's time to wake up before it's too late.
*****Civil Rights Enforcement?*****
Think the "President" gives a damn about civil rights? Remember the
Abner Louima case back in the summer of 1997? Two of New York's
"finest" rammed a broken broomstick into the rectum of Mr. Louima.
While both were convicted for the crime as well as other "officers" who
covered it up, federal prosecutors had indeed found after investigation
the New York Police Department systematically covers up civil rights
abuses and encourages brutality by allowing rogue "officers" to go
unpunished. Now, Ole' George "The Tush" Bush is quietly allowing the
case to wither away and die. Why??? ... Could it be the "President" is
a closet bigot???
*****Free Market Not So "Free"?*****
Apparently, Mr. Bush is beginning to learn the "free" market is not
quite as free as he may have assumed. ... Especially when Big Oil has
consumers by the gonads. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has
imposed "soft" caps on the price of energy, although the
"Administration" is disingenuously spinning the issue. White House
spokesman Ari Fleischer asserted: "This is not a price control. This is
a market-based mitigation plan that now will extend to 11 Western
states." Is that right, Mr. Fleischer? ... If you can't dazzle 'em with
brilliance, baffle 'em with bullshit...
*****Rancor In The Boy Scouts*****
A fascist Supreme Court last year ruled the Boy Scouts may indeed
discriminate against gays. Since then, money has dried up, especially
from the United Way. The Right is furious. Tough, isn't it? What in
hell did these extremists expect? Who are they to impose their jaded
moral and/or religious views on others? The House and Senate are
considering legislation that will force schools receiving federal
funding to allow the Boy Scouts in the schools. ... Think our "fine"
homophobic lawmakers would allow groups espousing discrimination of
blacks if there were no civil rights statutes? -- Makes you wonder,
doesn't it?
*****Tobacco To Be Let Off Hook*****
The "President" has ordered Attorney General John Ashcroft to
settle all tobacco litigation. Apparently; Ole' George needs to repay
Big Tobacco for campaign contributions. While smokers indeed shoulder
part of the blame for smoking-related illnesses, cigarette
manufacturers added additional nicotine to their product to more
effectively addict users. That must be remedied through the process of
litigation. Otherwise, these companies will never receive what they so
richly deserve. The "President", however, is apparently moving to aid
his embattled cronies. Interesting, isn't it?
*****Perfection*****
Typographical errors drive you nuts? Been a problem for many area
publications, including this one. ... Especially since there is no
spell check function in the software provided by Maxpages. Being a
speed reader, it is also extremely difficult to proof-read one's own
material. Compounding the problem is the limitation of the software
itself. After over two years of effort looking for a way around this
perpetually nagging problem however, a solution has finally been found.
... A round-about way of finding most errors without use of a
proof-reader.
Some of you may have noticed earlier editions being updated. Only
typographical errors are being corrected, however. -- Not substance.
Fortunately, there were far fewer errors than expected. Usually one or
two per edition so far. ... Extremely painful though, for a
perfectionist. All joking aside, typographical accuracy is important
and every effort is made to ensure it.
*****Unbridled Fear*****
As strongly asserted in the last eight Newsletters, gut-wrenching fear
generated by the Narcotics Enforcement Team is quite impressive. After
all, these Nazi stormtroopers not only outrageously intimidate
defendants and their gutless attorneys, but even innocent third parties
who have suffered at their corrupt and abusive hands.
Recently, a source came forward with allegations regarding the
death of a loved one under exceptionally curious circumstances. Sadly,
the survivor got cold feet. Most pointedly and quite publicly, how in
hell do you expect these abuses to end if you don't have the guts to
stand up and expose them to the light of day?
Every time a source cowardly runs the other way, the corrupt and
abusive sons of bitches win. Every g-ddamned time. Worse yet, another
nail is driven into the coffin of liberty. If you don't have the
courage to stand up and do the right thing, why should this writer
continue to place himself in physical and legal jeopardy trying to
expose the outrageous corruption and abuse?
Despite the lack of financial assistance from a cowardly and
selfish community, the Llano Ledger and Llano Ledger 2 visitor count
stands in excess of 121,400. ... Over two years, now. For what?
Tim Chorney, Publisher
The Llano Ledger
Tim Chorney, Publisher
P.O. Box 997
Buchanan Dam Tx. 78609
llanoledger@mailcity.com
Page Updated Mon Jun 25, 2001 12:26pm EDT