Open Forum

I work at BRHSC. I have done this for 17 years. I have always worked "Direct Care," which means I am always with patients, clients or residents. These human beings are in crisis, and to anyone who has not worked "Direct Care," with those suffering with mental illness there are no words to describe the behavior and mental anguish we see that's inflicted because of the illness. We live daily with the threat of patients hurting themselves. We often times see patients in "states" that physically because of damage, belong in emergency rooms at SJMC, but they always return to us because we understand their illness and accept the responsibilities that go along with that.

We are not the "people" making the most money; in fact, we make the least, but we are the ones with our patients.

Our responsibilities can be awesome as any emergency room. Our patients can become violent as any in jail. We have staff hurt, some permanently injured.

The problem is we have been so conditioned that we did not have a voice with the "State of Minnesota." We are using that voice now; we are trying to place more value on the work that we do and more value on our patients.

We care, and we give everything we can and more to our patients. We need the "State" to support us and place value where it belongs, that is with the patients.

Debbie Halsted

AFSCME 1574

Brainerd

Partiality?

To all those who enjoy Brainerd's Saturday night races at North Central Motor Speedway, have you noticed the partiality to certain drivers? Seems funny how some drivers who make progress are black flagged and others who bump and rub are let by.

Last week, there was a handshake and a comment warning about a missing tailpipe and a possible black flag, although a hood flew through the air that put others in danger, it was let go. This week when the checkered flag fell with a black flag to follow, for pulling up from twelfth place to first, what's the deal? Was it partiality or the previous weekend's handshake?

The end of the season's banquet is meant for celebration. This year it'll be a loss of money and spirit from a lot of family and fans. We've never missed a race, what is going on?

Leonard Kropuenske

Little Falls