stories from the past

50 years ago

Murray L. Harvey, the administrative assistant at the County Hospital resigned today with a blast at hospital administrator Victor Barioni and the whole “top county management.”

Barioni — who had not yet received a copy of the letter of resignation — said this morning that Harvey was fired as of 2 p.m. yesterday when he apparently walked off his job.

Harvey, according to Barioni, was hired Aug. 29 and was still on a trial period.

In his letter of resignation to county Personnel Manager William Weizenecker, Harvey charged that — among other things — “I could never conscientiously support the psychology of degradation to patients of Mexican ancestry that appears to be the established policy of Mr. Barioni and Mrs. Jones (Frances Jones, hospital office manager), nor their selfish personnel policies.”

Barioni replied this morning that Harvey was “all wet” and that “he had better watch his step.”

“I was born and raised in this county,” Barioni said, “and I’ve got a good reputation. I don’t want somebody walking on it.”

40 years ago

Just what the state Department of Corporations intends to do about the continued operation of the Imperial County Health Care Services Foundation remains uncertain.

Mark Rechelson, senior corporation counsel in the department’s enforcement division, said the department’s stand is confidential until action is taken.

But he said, “I think the department’s position should be obvious. What more can the department do than to deny the (foundation’s) application (for a license), revoke a provisional license and beat a writ of mandamus in court?” The writ had been sought in vain by the foundation last month.

He said it is unlawful for a health maintenance organization to operate without a license. And there are several administrative and judicial options the department can use to shut down an organization that operates without a license.

However, both Rechelson and Michael Zablocki, another department counsel, said there are some indications the foundation may wind down its operation without further intervention from the state.

30 years ago

The number of campers in the Imperial Dunes Recreation Area was reported up by 10 percent this Thanksgiving weekend over the same period last year, but all-terrain vehicle accidents were reported down slightly, and there were no fatalities.

Bureau of Reclamation officials, after flying over the area Saturday, estimated there were 26,500 campers. That compares to about 24,000 campers one year ago.