PENN STATE IFEI Harrisburg 18 5 5 Vol. 24 No. 3 Paramedics prepare the Life Lion for it's next mission Life Lion: Saving time and saving lives Jim Donnelly Capital Times Staff A technological wonder flies out of Dauphin County every day. Life Lion, a medically equipped helicopter designed to carry ill or injured persons, is based at Hershey Medical Center's University Hospital. This airborne ambulance service has been credited with saving lives and easing the discomfort of acutely ill patients who must be moved. The service was first conceived of by the boards of directors of hospitals in an eight county area of south-central Pennsylvania. They saw an immediate need for the fast, reliable transportation of critically injured accident victims and patients from other hospitals in need of specialized care available at University Hospital. Because of the lack of funding, however, the plans were shelved. In 1985, Penn State stepped into the picture. Our school saw the needs and the problems and pledged to underwrite the project. Planning resumed and money was allocated. CAPITAL TIMES Pennsylvania State University at Harrisburg In July, 1986, ground crews and support staff 'were hired. New flight crews began training to deal with the unique situations encountered daily in an aeromedical service. Life Lion flew its first mission in December, 1986. Since then, 1500 hours of flight time have been logged, all without incident. In the almost three years of continuous 24 hour service, the number of missions has steadily risen. The increase in flights from 530 in 1987 to nearly 700 already in 1989 demonstrates the need for this service. One of the goals of the Life Lion program is to expand operations. In fact, this is inevitable. Samuel Martin, Administrative Co ordinator of Life Lion feels that the purchase of another helicopter is possible. "With the completion of the seven story addition at University Hospital, more specialized-care beds will become available and more patients will be coming in," he says. The number of flights is expected to increase to around 1,000 per year. This More Life Lion on 2 Two nabbed in campus thefts Detrick Stokes Capital Times Staff Police arrested two Middletown men on campus and charged them with theft, receiving stolen property and underage drinking. George P. Metzler and Dennis M. Boorse, both 20, were arrested at the scene of the crime on Mars Avenue in Meade Heights September 26 at approximately 11 p.m., police said. According to Chief Charles Aleksy of Police Services, Metzler and Boorse were caught burglarizing cars in Meade Heights. SGA budget method questioned by clubs Mary Lee Schnable Capital Times Staff Words flew and tears rolled in Olmsted 216 recently as the Student Government Association and its finance committee fielded questions and criticisms about its method of handling student activity funds. About two dozen people, in addition to SGA members, attended the Open Forum on Sept. 18. Prior to the Forum, clubs on campus had been notified of the funding they could expect from the SGA, and in many cases the requested amounts were drastically cut. "I can't allot funds that I haven't received," finance committee member Carol Kilko said in defending the committee's newly established policy of notifying club* of funding only as the money is received. "I can't work that way," said Nathan Lee Gadsden, Capital Times editor. "I have a whole year of newspapers to plan for." Gadsden said that the finance committee is refusing to do what they require all the campus clubs to do -- make a budget. Kilco and committee member Judy Farina said they were worried about promising clubs money and then not receiving as much as they planned for. As they discussed the budgeting process, Amy Killeen, of Church Hall, said her 1980 Volkswagon Rabbit was burglarized on September 26. Killeen said thieves broke the vent window on the driver side and entered her car. She said two cassette tapes were stolen. "We think they're involved in thefts (from) other vehicles," said Aleksy. "We are going to file more charges." He said police will continue their investigation. Metzler and Boorse were arraigned by District Justice Robert Yanich and released on their own recognizance. The suspects are not affiliated with Penn State Harrisburg. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for later this month. Argots they noted that they are not business majors. "I can understand that," Gadsden said. "But making a budget is not the same as writing a check." The funds for student activities are received from University Park and are allocated by the SGA on the Crash fatal to PSH student John J. Garvey Capital Times Staff A Penn State Harrisburg student was killed October 1 in a one-car accident one mile north of Saltsburg, Westmoreland County. John Kaito, 21, an EET major, was thrown from the passenger seat when the car failed to negotiate a turn. According to state police at Apollo, the car was traveling west on route 981 when it struck a tree. Both driver and passenger were not wearing seatbelts. Ray Weiple Jr., 20, of Saltsburg, was the driver of the car. Weiple suffered minor injuries, police said. Peg O'Hara, Directer of Student October 4,1989 More SGA on 3 More Crash on 2
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