The Stillwater Iournal Thursday, April 8 - Page 4
- By Lawrence,Gibbs
' Perhaps you read of the death Earl Newsom has provided a,What s next? How far are they
;~ ~,f Sam Fennema in another pretty good story about Cyclin going to carry this privacy busi-
', ,ewspapcr somewhere. San]. It's on today's front page ness?
!'robably you didn't, and it's recommended. Church bulletins list in alpha-
Don't know the name Sam To local Scouters in the area, betical order members of the
I ennema? You may have you will find of interest the fact congregation who are hospital-
k own him, but not know it. that Sam was an Explorer Post ized. Guess that has just slipped
Arthur Edmundson knew him. leader for years and years and by the do-gooders.
You stayed away from him," went on the 12-day Philmont This group hasn't thought of it
dmundson said one day last Trek, now get this, fbr 29 yet, but what about the loud
week over coffee at Ronald's. years! speaker in the clinic calling for
Bob Hesser knew him. Over a We wouldn't mind getting a the next patient: "Mr. Gibbs."
burger at a local beanery Hesser warning -or even a real cita- We don't want that roomful of
,ecalled how Fennema had tion - from a guy like that! sick strangers knowing it's real-
~,iven him his driving test. His GG ly us waiting in line.
,rod told Fennema he was a Somebody is hiding behindOr the announcement at Joe's
ii rm boy and had to have his the Health Insurance Portability proclaiming "Mr. Gibbs, table
I icense, and Accountability Act for 5." When will that become a
'lte made me drive around (ttlPAA) and that's why we violation of our privacy. All
Ihe block around City ttall," don't know about our friends beaneries will have to get the
I lesser said. When they got and neighbors being in the hos- pagers for waiting clientele.
,ack, he said t-lesser couldn't pital. And they better cut out calling
d, ive, but try it again. And HIPAA does spell out someour name at the airline counter
, ound they went. Hesser got guidelines that go too far, but when a space is available and
iris license, but Fennema said, they don't go all the way to say we get the seats. "Mr. and Mrs.
"" ~nd I can take it away from it is illegal to give out names of Gibbs." What if we were flying
3ou, too." patients period. Granted there with our "niece" that day and
Now you want the rest of the are conditions, but it can be everyone knew Peggy was
,aory? done. home at work.
Sam Fennema, you see, was Why do other newspapers -Mark it down, folks. This
';tillwater's most legendary namely The Daily Oklahoman - wimping on HIPAA is just
motorcycle cop. He was the receive the names and print another example of letting our
"notorious Cyclin' Sam." Inthem'? gummit is going overboard.
l~ter years, his moniker was We took the time to read the What we need is to get the
c,~tended to "'Cyclin" Sam the local hospital's posted guide- City Commission and County
Safety Man" when his interest lines involving HIPAA. It does- Commission to issue a procla-
children's safety was wit- n't mention how a newspaper is marion protesting this HIPAA
,cssed by all. it) get names of patients. We business.
Our first encounter with inquired at the registration GG
~ 'yclin' Sam was in the back- desk. We asked to see the form Sometimes a strong back and
qeat of our family Chevrolet. a, incoming patient can sign to sweat can be better than one of
We were driving up to visit.the get his name in the paper,them high-tech new electronical
! hunilton family of cousins, Our hospital doesn't give the gadgets. We've always been
unt and tmcle and mom's sis- patient that opportunity, we amazed at the On-Star system,
tot. l)ad got sirened over by were told. but this past Friday a motorist
Sam on south Main. In those Remember the days on KSPI let it lie because it would take
,iays, that was the entrance into when Genc Ragsdale would call too much time. (Is lay correct?
town belbre all the changes the local hospital and ask for Lie? My computer suggests
wcrc made and S.H. 51 was the admissions and dismissals lie.)
dressed up. and had there been a baby born Anyway, Nelda Helt was driv-
We don't recall if dad actually since yesterday. And remember ing a cell of Sister Cities dele-
! or a ticket or a warning, but how the person at the hospital gates to Tulsa for an appearance
whatever happened, it became would read them on the air. by the International Director of
part of our family heritage. Has anyone ever complaified Sister Cities. Occupants of her
Sam Fcnnema was replaced about a ItlPAA violation? car included His Highness and
by Ililary l)riggs, now retired Anyone, that is, besides that Yours, the Most Supreme
police chief. |3ul Cyclin" ltilary group that sits around trying to Mayor, Bud Lacy; along with
didn't sound the same. think up ways to ruin America Continued Below
local historian and author D. and our lifestyle.
&T ?:OO&lll
0
"Lo king
fOP
5te!la!"
/
III
By Mac Crank
Are you familiar with the ment? About $3,500.
Stella Awards? They were A contingency fee based
named for Stella Liebeck, a 79 lawyer's dream is to find a
year old who, in 1992, was Stella. It's not just the lawyers
awarded $2.9 million for though Juries share the culpa-
spilling a cup of coffee in her bility. Good intentioned, but
lap. Since then, people have unrealistic views of what out-
been compiling lists of the most landish judgments really end up
outrageous awards granted by costing.
the court system. Hence, the Your insurance premiums
Stella Awards. keep going up because of these
Last week a local car dealer awards. The cost of almost
shared the story of a lawyer in everything you buy takes into
California who discovered consideration the cost of con-
some objectionable wording in ducting business in a litigious
lease agreements used by a society. A good portion of the
national company specializing incredible costs of health care
in financing car leases He goes directly to malpractice
promptly filed a class action insurance and other services
suit without an injured party, cost more due to excesses and
That's right. The only plaintiff abuses of the workman's comp
in the class action is the lawyer, system, meaning that employ-
Bottom line is that the finance ers have to pay higher insur-
company chose to settle out of ance premiums.
court. Our local dealer's assess- These things impact your life
in other ways as
fries that
your eyes on have
they aren't as good
to be. You can't
more. This
who can't control
appetites have
sue for willful ne
inform the public
ing is fattening.
There's case after
your life has been
silly litigation where
correctness dictates
is responsible
decisions.
OK So that's
the week. Don't
thing to change witll
legislation being
especially when
much
Gamboling continued crossed a bridge over on the
Larry Jones, local Sister Cities east end, the front left tire let
director, and assistant city man- go. Nelda drew on her years
ager Mary Rupp and Linda Ely and years of driving experience
a S-S/Swo liaison, and brought the Caddy to a safe
Well, one version of the story stop, but still on the bridge.
goes that they were picking 'em From there she telephoned
up and laying 'em down on the Ken, her husband/photographer.
Cimarron Turnpike and as they He told her to get off the
HOME FOR SALE BY OWNER
719 $. RIDGE S'rlLLWATER
Quality All Brick Home
3 Bedrooms; 2 Baths
2 Car Garage w/openers
Fireplace
Hardwood floors
Lots of Storage
Large yard
372-t074 or
bridge. Knowin an
aided call for
take too long for
His Supreme
up his sleeves and,
assist from Jones
the tire. And
the road
they had no luggagel
before getting
Ken drove their
to Tulsa and
parking areas fotmd
where they were,
and the delegates
make it home on
donut tire. Wasn't
esting story!
II just goes
you've got a mayOr
utized assistant who
up their sleeves,
show or
you'll let us
proves, we'll pass it:
24 Hour Se
1
Towing, Vehicle Lockouts, Pull
