REGION & STATE

No Rest For The Wicked
by Terri Fulton

The Alabama Citizens for Constitution Reform (ACCR) mounted the biggest campaign yet, to drastically rewrite, recommend, and surely participate in a Constitutional Convention. The ACCR has compiled a commission that is supposed to collect information from citizens. The commission met with citizens for the first time Monday July 15 at 830am in Huntsville. (They are to meet in Birmingham, September 9; Mobile, October 21; and Auburn-Opelika, December 9.) They plan to have their 'do it or else' recommendation to the legislature by January 2003.) Yet, what came first was 3 and 1/2 hours of ACCR facilators "pushing" education funding and Home Rule to the board as well as to the citizens in attendance.

The last 2 1/2 hours were spent with area citizens speaking of their concerns. About 26 people spoke and most of the speakers were in favor of Home Rule. One speaker, however, referenced what the board and audience were told in the first part of this meeting regarding attributes of the new Constitutions of Georgia, Michigan, and Illinois, and how home rule devastated their communities and standard of living. It was related that several couples from Georgia, where a new constitution has already brought Home Rule, were thinking of moving to Alabama because Georgia was too far gone with rules and regulations. It was related to the audience that in Blount County (AL), with limited Home Rule, that the County Commission voted to raise property tax and the gasoline tax without a vote of the people. It was also related that in Illinois a convention of the people was promised, but in fact, was controlled by special interest groups and how home rule resulted in 23 new taxing bodies, each taxing separately, in one county. Property tax went from $600 to $1,400 in two years. When a medium range home sold, the 23 taxing bodies charged a $14,000 tax on the sale, and the elderly citizens on fixed incomes had to leave their homes because they could not pay the increased taxes. It was also related that in Michigan, where state boundaries were abolished, that jurisdictions were also abolished and that State Troopers were crossing several miles over the old state lines.

The ACCR speaker, Howard Walthall (Professor Cumberland School of Law, Sanford University), shamed the Senate for not passing six bills that would re-write several Articles of the existing Constitution. The board was told that the Senate did not pass the bills because one-third of our enumerated Constitutional rights had been deleted (one being "Power of The People", deletion of our state boundaries, and drastic changes to eminent domain so that a limited partnership or corporation could forcibly take private property.

The most telling part of the whole commission meeting was made after the meeting was closed and people were leaving. Justice Gorman Houston yelled down to the Chairman (Jim Bennett; Secretary of State) and asked about facilitators. Facilitators (by way of the Delphi Technique) are trained to manipulate persons/groups into a particular outcome and making the groups honestly believe they came up with the ideas and that the ideas are good.

This newly formed commission is just a thinly veiled extension of the ACCR which formed the commission. The ACCR advocates a drastic rewrite, which includes home rule to raise taxes, or a Constitutional Convention.

The Beacon urges you to become informed and get involved - or get your wallet out and also risk losing your personal property rights. You can contact this author through The Beacon for more information and how to get involved in protecting your Constitutional Rights and your pocketbook.

Chilton Medical Center: Compassionate And Caring

In today’s world of managed care, often an administrator in an office far removed from a clinical setting, will make the decision that directly effects your medical treatment.

As you sit, waiting for the doctor to arrive, shivering in the slip of paper given you to cover yourself, after removing your clothes, you think back in time. A medical professional may actually have come into the room and had a conversation with you that lasted longer than two minutes.

It may have been the nurse taking your blood pressure and temperature while chatting about the most recent church event. Or when the doctor arrives, he or she was someone you knew – someone you saw regularly at the baseball game or in the grocery store. Your doctor knew you had bad veins and often drew the blood sample, or asked about extended family members by name.

In Clanton, Alabama, you can experience a time gone by with the staff at Health Access Center.

The physicians, nurses and office staff have worked diligently to insure that you receive the best treatment in a compassionate, caring environment. Many procedures that required travel out of the county in the past are now available locally.

Adjacent to the hospital (Chilton Medical Center), on Lay Dam Road, Health Access Center physicians have the option of testing and treatment right here in Clanton.

Chilton Medical Center CEO, Terry Frech, chose to come to Chilton County to provide quality service to people in Clanton and surrounding areas.

Mr. Frech is involved in many community-related activities. He has the tough job of providing service despite the rising costs of health care.

If you would like information about Chilton Medical Center, phone 205-755-2500. To find out about the many services available through the Health Access Center, phone Carolyn at 205- 280-3360.

Dr. Charles Brentnail is a member of staff at Health Access Center in Clanton. He is certified in Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat and is well-liked for his easy rapport with patients, young or not so young. He has offices in Sylacauga and Anniston. You may make an appointment by calling 205-280-3360.