The Pantagraph from Bloomington, Illinois • Page 16

The Pantagraph Tuesday, May 27 1997 Deaths For-profit HMOs now acting to limit the use of Prozac He points to a five-year study just released by the state of Illinois, which was faced with a growing number of schizophrenia patients who couldn't be helped by the older drugs. Building more mental hospitals and mental wings seemed the only solution. But the study showed that earlier and wider use of Clozaril for these patients removed the need for new buildings, emptied many hospital beds used by chronic schizophrenics, and made it possible to "discharge schizophrenic patients to the community as productive citizens." Garcia believes there is more than money behind the HMOs' restrictions on treatment of the mentally ill. "These decisions are based on outdated ideas about mental illness, and on the stigma we still attach to the mentally ill. To be mentally ill in the U.S.

is to be feared. We get our ideas from old movies. "Look at pneumonia," he says. "Medicare will pay 80 percent of the cost of curing it. But Medicare will pay only 50 percent of the cost of curing schizophrenia." The reason, he says, is that we don't really see schizophrenia as a physical disease of the brain.

We see it as something we brought on ourselves, as something our bad upbringing gave us, or even as a punishment from God. effective medications. The disease is debilitating; they lose their jobs and end up on Medicare or state aid." "There are a lot of important new drugs that could reverse the downward drift. But too many HMOs don't list them." Every HMO (health maintenance organization) has a formularya list of the drugs its doctors are allowed to prescribe under the prepaid coverage. Nonprofit HMOs are likely to have a wider choice, while the for-profit firms tend to trim off the more expensive items.

Doctors can sometimes get the verboten drugs for their patients, but it means filing paperwork and getting permission in advance. The red tape is an effective deterrent. Besides, a doctor who describes too many of the nonformu-lary drugs can show up like a sore thumb on the computer list maintained by administration and may be looking for work elsewhere. It isn't hard to see why PacifiCare and other insurers dropped drugs like Clozaril, for severe schizophrenia, and Prozac, the popular antidepressant. They are more expensive than the older drugs they replaced.

"The cost savings in the short run are enormous," Garcia says. "But it's a near-sighted policy." Central Illinois Marie Bostic DANVERS The funeral of Marie W. Bostic, 99, of 109 W. Park Danvers, will be at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday at Otto-Argo Funeral Home, Danvers, with the Rev.

William S. Vincent Jr. officiating. Burial will be in Park Lawn Cemetery, Danvers. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m.

today at the funeral home. Mrs. Bostic died at 4:03 p.m. Sunday (May 25, 1997) at the McLean County Nursing Home, Normal. Memorials may be made to First Presbyterian Church, Danvers, or Danvers Peace Meal.

She was born Oct. 24, 1897, in Danvers, the daughter of Minnie Schultz Hinshaw. She married James Newton Bostic Dec. 24, 1921, in Danvers. He died Feb.

29, 1960. Mrs. Bostic was a retired teacher who taught for 36 years in county grade schools from 1916 to 1952. She was a lifetime member of Dry Grove Home Extension, the Danvers Senior Citizens and First Presbyterian Church of Danvers. Larry R.

Breese Larry R. Breese, 51, of 204 S. Vine Lexington, died at 8:50 p.m. Sat urday (May 24, 1997) at William F. Mid-dleton Memorial V.A.

Hospital, Madison, Wis. His funeral will be 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at Mussel-man-Beck Funeral Home, Lexington. Burial will be in Pleasant Hill Cemetery, Lex- 1 0 Larry Breese ments. He died at 5:30 a.m.

Friday (May 23, 1997) at his residence. He was under a doctor's care. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Covell Community Church. Survivors include his wife, Mary (Stevens) Lowell Sherer Sherer; two sons, Shane Sherer and Jim Sherer, both of Bloomington; a brother, Leroy Sherer, Tomahawk, a sister, Virginia Duncan, Normal; and three grandchildren. Mr.

Sherer was born Oct. 5, 1918, in Bloomington, a son of Roy and Ruth Lawson Sherer. He married Mary Stevens Jan. 17, 1948, in Houston, Texas. He was preceded in death by one brother and one sister.

Mr. Sherer was a member of the Covell Community Church, a member of Arts and Crafts Lodge 1017 A.F. A.M. and the Bloomington Scottish Rite Bodies. He had worked for 23'2 years for the Eureka-Williams retiring in 1983.

In his younger years, he was a catcher for the Flying Lamars Trapeze Act and many other acts from Bloomington. He went on his own with the last trapeze act from Bloomington, known as the Flying Corderos. Mr. Sherer was the catcher, his wife, Mary, and Manuel Cordero were the flyers. He retired from show business in 1963.

Golda Weber Golda L. (Arnett) Glass Weber, 86, of 1315 S. Oak Bloomington, died at 8:40 a.m. Sunday (May 25, 1997) at the McLean County Nursing Home, Normal. Her funeral will be at 10:30 a.m.

Thursday at East Lawn Funeral Home, Bloomington, with the Rev. Richard Mick officiating. Burial will be in rarKnuiueme- Goda tery, Blooming- ton. Visitation weDer will be from 9 to 10:30 a.m. Thursday at the funeral home.

Memorials may be Park United Methodist Church, Bloomington. Survivors include her husband, Harley Weber, 1315 S. Oak Bloomington; five stepchildren; two sisters, Louisa Ohm, Bloomington, and Anna Mae Parck, Normal; a brother, Albert Arnett, Townsted, 10 stepgrandchil-dren; and three step-great grandchildren. She was born May 4, 1911, in Colfax. She was a member of Park United Methodist Church, Bloomington.

Fire at rural FORREST A fire at a hog barn in rural Forrest killed about 150 pigs early Monday morning. Firefighters were at the site for seven hours Monday morning, said Sam Schmidgall, Forrest fire chief. The pigs were killed when fire Show time ft By Scripps Howard News Service The for-profit HMOs plunge on through heavy seas, even as new shots are being fired over their bows. A while back the warnings were from new mothers arbitrarily booted out of maternity wards after 18 or 24 hours. Next, the victims of drive-through mastectomies threatened heavy action, This time the alarm is being raised by mental patients and their advocates.

The warning shots carry a simple message: Stop limiting your doctors' use of the best and most widely prescribed psychiatric medications. Your attempts to save money are causing misery and death. The National Alliance for the Mentally 111 (NAMI) targeted the HMOs with full-page newspaper ads: "Caution: Your HMO may be dangerous to your health." The ads were triggered when PacifiCare, California's second-largest HMO, removed such drugs as Prozac and Clozaril from the list of medications it would pay for. Dr. Ramon Garcia, a psychiatrist who has been working with schizophrenics in Sacramento for 12 years, says the result of the cutback can be severe.

"I see a downward drift for many patients when they go off the most Education Hughes top-ranked Joyce Hughes, Normal, was recognized as the academically top-ranked bachelor of arts degree recipient during commencement exercises May 11 at Beloit College in Hughes received a B.A. in anthropology (cultural) and music, with departmental honors in each major. She graduated summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa. The college has awarded her a tuition-free Honors Semester for the fall semester. She will be conducting curriculum research in ethnomusicology (music in world cultures) for Beloit's music and anthropology departments.

The 1993 graduate of University High School, Normal, is the daughter of Roger Hughes, Normal, and Linda Hughes, Bloomington. Book Awards CHAMPAIGN Mothers Association Book Awards have been given to University of Illinois freshmen who earned a 4.0 grade-point average (on a 4-point scale) during the fall semester, while taking at least 14 hours of credit. Among those receiving awards are local students: Stephanie Snyder, 7 Cobblestone Court, Bloomington; Patrick Kane, Cullom; Alison Carpenter, Dwight; and Heidi Ott, rural Roanoke. Pontiac native awarded PONTIAC Jill Perring, daughter of John and Betsy Perring, Pontiac, who is studying at Dartmouth Forrest barn gutted a barn at the Orley D. Plen-ert Farms in rural Forrest, said Livingston County sheriffs police.

The fire was reported about 12:35 a.m. at County Road 600 east, which is west of Illinois 47. When police arrived, the barn was fully engulfed in flames. A deputy and members of the The PanlagraphMAURtEN or Society, newspaper journalist, class secretary, musical dance captain, basketball statistician, member of Student Congress Senate, 1997 prom queen, member of marching, concert, and pep bands, and volunteered as a peer tutor. This fall she plans to attend Van-derbilt University to study communications.

ISU grad nominated Phi Delta Kappa, a professional education fraternity, has selected the Illinois State University chapter candidate for the Excellence in Student Teaching Award. Stephanie Cummins of Gibson City is an ISU graduate in elementary education. She completed her student teaching in third grade while at Schneider Elementary in the Blue Ridge Unit No. 18, Farmer City. After nomination from her university supervisor, Cummins submitted evidence from her student teaching experience along with four essays related to the learningteaching experience.

A second nominated candidate is Michael Votava of Princeton, an Illinois Wesleyan University graduate in mathematics and secondary education. He completed his student teaching while at Normal Community High School. Phi Delta Kappa International recognizes one outstanding student teacher from each state. Recipients will receive a certificate, a subscription to the Kappan journal, a set of fastback education topics and a $100 award. 150 hogs Sibley.

The investigation is continuing, but family members told police they believe a heat lamp may have caused the blaze. The fire chief said the cause of the blaze remains undetermined, and no damage estimate was available. May 27, 1997 Bennet, Beulah, graveside service at 11 a.m. at Clayton Township Cemetery, Benson. Folkers-Froelich Memorial Home, Minonk, is in charge of arrangements.

Kunart, Luther 11 a.m. at Park Hill Mausoleum, Blooming-ton. Entombment will be in Park Hill Mausoleum. Beck Memorial Home, Bloomington, is in charge of arrangements. Tornow, Sandra graveside service at 11 a.m.

at Evergreen Cemetery, El Paso. Froelich Memorial Home, El Paso, is in charge of arrangements. Watson, Roy graveside service at 1 p.m. at Evergreen Cemetery, El Paso. Froelich Memorial Home, El Paso, is in charge of arrangements.

death Dec. 6, 1947. Mrs. Pease was a member of Central Christian Church, Decatur. She was a former member of the Boyton Mennonite Church, Hope-dale.

She was a 1924 graduate of the Mennonite School of Nursing in Bloomington. She served as superintendent of nursing in Bloomington, Sterling and Lincoln. George W. Stimler Jr. FARMER CITY The funeral of George William Stimler 70, of Havana, formerly of Fanner City, will be at 1 p.m.

Thursday at Calvert-Belangee-Bruce Funeral Home, Farmer City, with the Rev. William E. Henry officiating. Burial will be in Maple Grove Cemetery, Farmer City, with graveside military rites accorded by Joe Williams American Legion Post 55, Farmer City. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m.

Wednesday at the funeral home with a Masonic service at 7:45 p.m. by Farmer City Masonic Lodge 710. Mr. Stimler died at 4:35 p.m. Saturday- (May 24, 1997) at McDo-nough District Hospital, Macomb.

Memorials may be made to the George William Stimler Jr. Memorial Fund. Survivors include his wife, Elizabeth Ann Stimler, Havana; and two brothers, Richard W. Stimler, Havana, and Donald E. Stimler, Decatur.

He was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers. He was born May 28, 1926, in Fort Wayne, the son of George W. and Cora D. Wheeler Stimler. He married Elizabeth Ann Jones Tomes May 4, 1992, in Farmer City.

Mr. Stimler was a retired construction worker and worked on the Clinton power station. He was a U.S. Army veteran of the Korean conflict. He was a member of the Fanner City Masonic Lodge 710; Good-brake Chapter 59 RAM, Clinton; Mecca Chapter 901, Order of the Eastern Star, Mahomet; Joe Williams American Legion Post 55, Farmer City; and Laborers International Union of North America Local 703, Urbana.

Roy L. Watson EL PASO The graveside service of Roy L. Watson, 88, of 251 W. Lincoln El Paso, will be at 1 p.m. today at Evergreen Cemetery, El Paso, the Rev.

Cheri Grizzard officiating. There will be no visitation. Froelich Memorial Home, El Paso, is in charge of arrangements. Mr. Watson died at 1:58 p.m.

Sunday (May 25, 1997) at BroMenn Regional Medical Center, Normal. Memorials may be made to El Paso Rescue Squad. Survivors include his wife, Leona; one son, Edwin Watson, Springfield; two brothers, Edwin Watson and Donald Watson, both of Cincinnati, Ohio; two grandsons; one great-grandson; and one great-granddaughter. Mr. Watson was born April 20, 1909, in Grayson County, the son of Noah and Peralee Watson.

He married Leona Lock June 20, 1930, in Streator. He was preceded in death by two brothers and two sisters. He farmed in the Leonore area for several years and later operated. City service station in El Paso. Bloomington-Normal John Deterts John Deterts, 64, of 802 Rheinthaler Bloomington, died at 7:25 p.m.

Monday (May 26, 1997) at OSF St. Joseph Medical Center, Bloomington. Kibler-Smith Memorial Home, Bloomington, has charge of arrangements. Roberta Ropp Roberta L. Ropp, 62, R.R.

8, Normal, died at 10:15 a.m. Monday (May 26, 1997) at her residence. Beck Memorial Home, Bloomington, is in charge of arrangements. Lowell W. Sherer The graveside service of Lowell W.

Sherer, 78, of 1910 E. Croxton Bloomington, will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at Evergreen Memorial Cemetery, Bloomington, with the Rev. Dean L. Benton officiating.

There will be no visitation. Mr. Sherer was cremated. Metzler-Froelich Memorial Home, Bloomington, is in charge of arrange- College, has been accepted into the Presidential Scholars program. For this program, Perring will work under professor Mary Lou Guerinot in biology beginning in June and continue through March 1998.

This internship will involve genetic experiments using Ara-bidopsis plants. The Presidential Scholar program will progress to the completion of an honors thesis during her senior year (1998-99). To be named as a Presidential Scholar at Dartmouth, the student must have a minimum grade point average of 3.4, be nominated by a professor and approved by the selection committee. Perring is majoring in cell biology and genetics. Heyworth student awarded HEYWORTH Competing against more than 12,000 students from throughout the United States, Sarah McElvain, a Heyworth High School senior, has won a National Honor Society scholarship, sponsored by the National Association of Secondary School Principals.

Mike Lynch, principal of Heyworth High School, announced the award, which includes a $1,000 college scholarship, during the recent Academic Awards Night. While at Heyworth High School, McElvain has been co-captain of the varsity volleyball team her senior year, captain of the track team for the past two years and named co-captain of the school's speech team this season. She was vice president of CAPTAINS, a member of National Hon kills about Plenert family tried to get as many animals out of the barn as possible. But when neighbors and family members rounded up the livestock from the surrounding fields, only 82 were saved. Firefighters from Forrest were joined by their counterparts from Chatsworth, Fairbury, Strawn and O'CONNOR MY" il s.

ington. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. today at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to the American Heart Association or Lexington Ambulance Association. Surviving are his parents, Robert and Margel (Pampel) Breese, R.R.

2, Towanda; one daughter, Julie (Dave) Wtorek, Lexington; two sons, Jesse Breese, 204 S. Vine Lexington; and Justin Breese, Sibley; one sister, Myrna Breese, Lexington; and one brother, Mark Breese, Columbia, Also surviving is one granddaughter, Lauren Wtorek. Mr. Breese was born July 4, 1945, in Bloomington. He was a member of Baptist Church of Lexington.

Mr. Breese was a maintenance worker for the McLean County Highway Department for 19 years, retiring in 1991. He was a 1964 graduate of Lexington High School. Mr. Breese was a Navy veteran of the Vietnam War.

Mae Deertz LEXINGTON Mae Deertz, 91, of the Berkshire Healthcare Center, 301 S. Vine Lexington, died at 12:28 p.m. Monday, (May 26, 1997) at the center. Musselman-Beck Funeral Home, Lexington, has charge of arrangements. Donna Jo Hammer FARMER CITY Donna Jo Hammer, 70, of Farmer City died at 3 p.m.

Monday (May 26, 1997) at her residence. Calvert-Belangee-Bruce Funeral Home, Farmer City, has charge of arrangements. Edith Pease HOPEDALE Edith V. (Litwiller) Pease, 93, of Latham, a native of Hopedale, died at 2:15 a.m. Monday (May 26, 1997) at the home of her daughter, Mary Albert of Warrensburg.

Her funeral will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at Central Christian Church, 650 W. William Street, Decatur. Burial will be in Illini Cemetery, rural Warrensburg. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m.

Wednesday at Brintlinger's Funeral Home, Decatur, and one hour before the funeral at the church Thursday. Memorials may be made to Central Christian Church or a charity of the donor's choice. Survivors include her daughter, Mary Edith (E. Forrest) Albert, Warrensburg; a son, Frank Judson (Jean) Pease, Decatur; two sisters, Mildred Nafziger, Normal, and Ar-line Banta, LaGrange; and a brother, Orville Litwiller, Lena. Also surviving are four grandchildren, Frank Curtis Albert and his wife, Debra, King George, Mary Elizabeth Albert, Manchester, Paul Judson Pease, Atlanta, and Pamela Jean Pease Wood and her husband, Matthew, Decatur; three great-grandchildren, Curtis and Christopher Albert and Collin Wood; and several nieces and nephews.

Her parents, three brothers and a sister preceded her in death: She was born in Hopedale, the daughter of John William and Mary Ann Roth Litwiller. She married Frank C. Pease June 5, 1935, in the Boyton Mennonite Church, Hopedale. He preceded her in i A K. I ffwh Above, with the competition over, Hindy, a miniature pinscher, performed for Kayla Gropp, 4, left, and her sister, Tanya, 7, under the direction of Doris Penn of Hudson.

Kayla and Tanya are the daughters of Andy and Michelle Gropp, Bloomington. Right, Pat Allin, Colfax, dried off her dog, Frannie, a Bernese mountain dog at the last day of the dog show at the Interstate Center on Illinois 9 west of the Twin Cities. i.