Top 10 Veterans News from Around the Country 09-17-08

1. Suicide Prevention Coordinators Dispensing Information At VA Hospitals In Oklahoma. 
2. Artist’s Prints Given To Vet Center In Texas.  
3. Golden Age Games Competitor Part Of PTSD Support Group.  
4. VA Doctor From Wisconsin Treating Hurricane Ike Evacuees.  
5. VA Closing One Hospital In Iowa, Expanding Another.  
6. VA Clinic In Alabama Said To Be Helping Many.  
7. County In Pennsylvania To Get New VA Clinic.  
8. VA Employee Wins Service To America Medal.  
9. Woman Pleads Guilty To Stealing VA Benefits.  
10. Canoe Team Working With VA Hospital.

1.      Suicide Prevention Coordinators Dispensing Information At VA Hospitals In Oklahoma.   The Muskogee (OK) Phoenix (9/17) reports the US Department of Veterans Affairs "has hired suicide prevention coordinators at every VA medical center," and this week, they "will provide various types of information to veterans and the community." For example, at the Jack C. Montgomery VA Medical Center in Muskogee and the Ernest Childers VA Outpatient Clinic in Tulsa, "there will be booths set up for veterans, their family members and visitors to view and learn more on the topic." The Phoenix adds that the VA has also "created a national crisis hotline."

2.      Artist’s Prints Given To Vet Center In Texas.   The Killeen (TX) Daily Herald (9/13, Kappes) reported that last Friday, "the Vietnam Veterans of America Fort Hood Chapter 1000 gave two autographed prints by artist Roland Castanie to the Killeen Heights Vet Center" in Harker Heights, Texas. The "prints, titled ‘On Behalf of a Grateful Nation’ and ‘Job Well Done,’ paid tribute to veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan, and Vietnam wars, respectively. The clinic, which opened in January, offers counseling services for soldiers and family members who suffer from post traumatic stress disorder, substance abuse and marital problems."

3.      Golden Age Games Competitor Part Of PTSD Support Group.   In his Rocky Mountain (CO) News (9/17) column, Bill Johnson veteran Ronald Jones Sr., who recently "returned to Denver from Indianapolis, where he competed with more than 650 other veterans in the 22nd Annual National Veterans Golden Age Games." This year Jones’ "third…in the competition," he won two silver medals. Last Thursday, Jones "strolled into the Denver Veterans Center in Lowry," clutching his two medals as he met with a group of "about 25" fellow vets. Each "man suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder," and they get together once a week Thursday to "help each other make it through."

4.      VA Doctor From Wisconsin Treating Hurricane Ike Evacuees.   The Appleton (WI) Post-Crescent (9/17, Espino) reports 35-year-old Dr. Shiloh Ramos, who specializes in family medicine at the John H. Bradley Department of Veterans Affairs Outpatient Clinic in Grand Chute, Wisconsin, "is spending two weeks in San Antonio to provide emergency relief services." Ramos is working at a shelter "housing about 5,000 Texans evacuated" from various places prior to Hurricane Ike’s arrival. Ramos, "one of four doctors at the San Antonio shelter," has "about 130 patients under his care." The Post-Crescent adds, "Volunteer medical teams like Ramos’ were pulled from clinics in upper Michigan and parts of Wisconsin and Illinois who participate in the VA’s Disaster Emergency Medical Personnel System."
      VA Gas Providing Lifeline To Hurricane Survivor.   On its website, KTRK-TV Houston, TX (9/16, Baldwin) reported on Eric May, who suffers from Lou Gherig’s disease. After Hurricane Ike, the generator that powers an oxygen machine May "relies on to breathe" has been in danger of giving out. Currently, the "generator is being powered with 55 gallons of gas delivered" by the Department of Veterans Affairs. Once that supply runs out, Mays and his wife "hope the VA will re-supply them."

5.      VA Closing One Hospital In Iowa, Expanding Another.   On its website, KCCI-TV Des Moines, IA (9/16) reported "a $25 million community living center" is being constructed at the Veterans Affairs hospital in Des Moines. The new facility "will replace the VA hospital" in Knoxville, Iowa. Barney Divine, "with the VA Central Iowa Health Care System," said, "We’re going to be closing the hospital in Knoxville," although there will still be "an outpatient clinic in the Knoxville area." KCCI added, "Another $25 million worth" of expansion "projects is also planned" for the VA hospital in Des Moines.

6.      VA Clinic In Alabama Said To Be Helping Many.   On its website, WTVY-TV Dothan, AL (9/16, Araiza) reported the Fort Rucker Veterans Affairs Clinic "opened its doors" back in March, the "entrance has been a revolving door." Edward Donelly, the clinic’s administrator, said, "The response has been fantastic. The response has been very positive." WTVY added that the clinic "hopes to start on expansion for a full service pharmacy at the beginning of the year."

7.      County In Pennsylvania To Get New VA Clinic.   In continuing coverage, the Shamokin (PA) News-Item (9/17, Carta) reports, "Snyder County has been chosen as the newest location" for a Veterans Affairs clinic, "meaning Northumberland County won’t get one." The news "has disappointed local veterans and others involved in trying to locate one in the eastern end of Northumberland County, while others are praising the notion that at least another regional option for veterans will soon be available" to serve veterans throughout the greater Susquehanna Valley. No "specific location has been chosen, but the clinic could open with a limited staff for two days a week by December."

8.      VA Employee Wins Service To America Medal.   The Washington Post (9/17, A17) reports, "The Service to America Medals – ‘the Sammies’ — were awarded" Tuesday "night to honor exceptional work by civil servants. The gala at the Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium recognized eight winners from around the nation, including" the Department of Veterans Affairs’ Rajiv Jain, who won the Citizen Services medal for introducing "a strategy to reduce life-threatening infections acquired in hospitals, a system that is now being replicated around the world."

9.      Woman Pleads Guilty To Stealing VA Benefits.   The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (9/17, Ward) reports Pittsburgh resident Laurie Davin pleaded guilty Tuesday "to stealing her dead mother’s" Veterans Affairs benefits for over two years. According "to the prosecution, Ms. Davin’s mother, Helen Lang, was receiving the dependency payments on behalf of her husband." But when Lang died on Feb. 3, 2005, the payments "should have stopped." However, under "what is known as the ‘Death Match’ project, investigators with Veterans Affairs inspector general’s office found that money was still being deposited to Ms. Lang’s account." The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review (9/17), which publishes a similar story, reports, "Prosecutors said Davin… withdrew $35,672 in Veterans Affairs benefit payments" from her mother’s account.

10.    Canoe Team Working With VA Hospital.   The Grass Valley (CA) Union (9/17) profiles a "newly formed" outrigger canoe team that "provides an opportunity for disabled and nondisabled paddlers to train and compete together. In "an effort to get more disabled veterans on the water," the founders of "Team Don’t Look Back" have been meeting with the Veterans Affairs hospital in Palo Alto, where they "have been invited to put on a series of educational clinics." The founders "will also be attending the annual National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic in Snowmass, Colo., where they will part of the educational staff and conduct presentations" on outrigger racing.