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Pahrump Valley Gazette
Thursday March 6, 1997 Most read newspaper in Nye, Esmeralda, & Death Valley I/ol. XlV, No. 30
Nye hospital declaring bankruptcy
Sudden move puts bills on ice
By Jane Hunter
Gazette Staff
With hope that a nonprofit organization
can establish a viable health care sys-
tem in Tonopah, the county eommis
sioners voted on Tuesday to pull the
plug on the debt-ridden Nye Regional
Medical Center and declare it bankrupt.
The decision followed a stormy, emo-
tional debate by the commissioners act-
ing in their capacity as trustees of the
Nye County Hospital District.
After voting to file for bankruptcy, the
board voted to leave unpaid a thick stack
of bills totaling half a million dollars,
but to continue paying employees.
Whatever cash is left after that is to be
used for immediate, urgent needs _
goods and services that can only be ob-
tained in exchange for cash.
Commissioner Cameron McRae of
Pahrump led off the hospital trustees'
meeting with a surprise move to file for
bankruptcy under the chapter for reor-
ganization. Acknowledging that a dis-
trict attorney's opinion advised that, to
. ! get out from under the district's rapidly mounting debt, the whole county wouldhave to declare bankruptcy, McRae said he objected
"to the notion that Lleeo is, tota, l!y responsible the hospital's bills," He preferred to file and see what the court does: "If the
court says 'no,' I'!! lose that one.
"We're violating the statutes as it is;' added McRae, "because we're going along knowing we can't pay the bills. Any other business
would move to bankruptcy." McRae said he needed a court decision "to be able to go down and tell 58 percent of our constituents that
I've got no choice" but to let the hospital run the county into bankruptcy. McRae said the facility has been losing $250,000 a month-
"$3 million in a year."
Commissioner Richard Carver of Round Mountain, a passionate supporter of the hospital _ he said he was born there _ and the only
one who voted against McRae's motion, warned that going into bankruptcy could open the door for the State Dept. of Taxation to
take control of the hospital. 'Td rather deal with the damn BLM or Forest Service" he said.
"They've already stepped in" said hospital board Chairman Bob Davis. "But they're not running the show yet," responded Carver.
Davis, who represents Tonopah and is a strong advocate for providing health care to the community, agreed to support McRae's
Town says investigate Contunedonpage3
By Jane Hunter
Gazette Staff
Charging that "reasonable people in Nye County are coming to believe and understand that Nye County is run by a rogue government"
the Amargosa Town Advisory Board is asking Governor Bob Miller and other high state officials to investigate some of the actions
of Nye County officials, which, board members believe, are serious violations of state law.
The request is in the form of a letter "pray[ing] for help" that the board approved at its February 28 meeting. The actions that the
board wants Miller _ and Attorney General Frankie Sue Del Papa, the Dept of Taxation and the state Ethics Commission, all of
• Contuned on page 7
Sentimental Sojourn: Viet Vets return for final run
"The Sprit is willing, but the knees are getting weak".
Amargosa Valley-Returning to the scene of their initial 100-mile marathon run for the 15th time, an emotional band of Vietnam
Veterans returned to Death Valley, the scene of their first homecoming since the end of American involvement in the decade long
war that cost more than 50,00 lives and nearly divided the country.
"It would be impossible for me to properly express our appreciation for all the friendships and many courtesies bestowed us over
Contuned on page 7
6:00 - t0:00 tun
