Community Forum: Hospitals can offer VA services

Editor:
There isn't a month that goes by that there is some type of article in our local paper, pleading for a Veterans Hospital to be located here in the Rio Grande Valley and the efforts put forth by the various Veterans organizations. It seems to me as a veteran of World War II that we have about as good a veterans clinic that is possible to have, serving our veterans and the future plans to increase service which will include surgery and other medical activities that eliminate the need for a 50-bed hospital when the number veterans that make the four-hour trip to San Antonio is fairly minimal.

I suggest to those that are pursuing the vet hospital do their homework and determine how many veterans actually have to go to San Antonio for service that can be secured right here, either in a local hospital or at the clinic. I know there is an effort by the VA to arrange local hospitals to extend some needed services and once that is completed, it will or should satisfy the need for the expenditure of another hospital when this areas has as many hospitals of quality as anywhere in the state of Texas.

As far as service goes, to my knowledge no veteran is turned away from the clinic where Dr. Earl Wellington, Chief Medical Officer, leads a competent team of doctors, nurses and administrators headed by Aaron Rodriguez and Larry Alva, Chief Administrator.

It's my suggestion to those pursuing the Veterans Hospital to put their efforts into upgrading any service they feel that is needed along with participation of local hospitals from Brownsville to Rio Grande City and make that a joint service area. There is little likelihood that at any time in the near future, the VA will authorize a hospital.
M. L. Price,
Palm Valley
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‘Protect and Serve' difficult in Harlingen
Editor:
Harlingen P.D. is understaffed, underpaid, overwhelmed, which makes their job "Protect and Serve" difficult. Don't go for the body, go for the head. Who can change this? City commissioners? Mayor? Who? I would like an answer. Respond, anyone who knows more than I do.

Please give them more officers and pay them better; it will attract more officers. Otherwise, Harlingen doesn't have a prayer to stop what we all know is going on.

Who's in charge of Harlingen? So far, I see no one due to the reasons stated. Get going, or Harlingen will go down and you might be next, no matter where you live. Crime is rampant, the world has gone angry, or is it just lazy on the part of the powers-that-be. Do it.

I ask you as a victim myself along with six others at least I know. Show me, Missouri, what you can do - you powers-that-be, or I surely see no one voting for you.
Bonnie Keene,
Harlingen
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DROP US A LINE
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