Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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Page 2 Horace Rog Mini-Farm A Horace Rogers retired several years ago from Plant No. 2 Weaving. "I retired from Clinton Mills, but not work," remarked Rogers, who completed almost 25 years with the company. Known as Georgia Boy by a host ot friends, Rogers spends many long and hard hours plowing two of his five horses. "I've worked around horses all my life," stated Rogers, as he turned up sweet potatoes in a plot of ground behind his home. Rogers has a real taste for the soil and is quick to admit hard work, a good attitude, and being kind to your friends are all necessary ingredients for a happy life. On week days. Rogers can be found tilling the soil around his home. When there is no plowing to be done, he can be seen hauling compost, saw-dust and other organic materials to enrich the earth. "I'll bet this is some of the best soil in Laurens County." smiled Rogers. "I've spent years building it up." His success in enriching the earth is evident by the abundant crops he produces. This past summer his supply of butter UP Sh ~ *n v~ m " >it3sB aS^Bv -*y*teSb3?jr^ w. - ,^B*JK^n^^r ..^R* RICHEST SOIL? "I've spent years b around."? Horace Rogers. Lowe In this day and time of rapidly advancing medical technology, it is only logical to assume that the cost of health care services will increase For example an ultra modern X ray unit may cost in excess of $ 1 million. Obviously, the patients using the unit will help pay for it. but the majority of the cost is recovered trom all the patients that are tre ated in the hospital whether they use it or not. So. some of the increase in health care costs can be accounted for by new equip ment and technology. Where does the rest of it come from? Much of it comes from the fact that everything has simply been going up in ers Enjoys activities beans, green beans, okra and tomatoes seemed endless. As The Ciothmaker observed the "backyard" farmer, he was turning up sweet potatoes by the bushel as he and a team of horses went up and down the 16 fifty-foot potato rows. On weekends. Rogers loads two of his registered quarter horses into a special trailer and heads for one or more area horse shows. "We like barrel racing and pole bending," says Rogers. "My quarter horses are regular winners and that makes them worth keeping." "These horses are worth $1,200-1,500 each, but that's only if I wanted to sell them. Once you get attached to them, you cannot consider selling at any price." Recalling his pleasant association with Clinton Mills, Rogers recalled how he found his way from the hills of Clayton, Ga., to Clinton in the late 1940s. "Times were beginning to improve and when I got the Clinton job, I decided I'd be here until retirement... and I was." it" 5M? ?t - **' uilding up this soil to make it the best ring M< price, salaries of doctors, nurses, and other hospital personnel; supplies which are necessary for the care of the sick and injured; utilities (gas, oil, electricity) which are iiccucu IU uprraic me nu^piidi diiu IUUU to feed the patients. In short, just about everything associated with providing health care services has increased dramatically over the years. And who do you think pays the bills? All of us pay for these costs through premiums we pay. What can we do to reduce cost? There are several things that can be done For ex ample: 1. Encourage your physician to schedule you for pre admission testing when you are POTATOES IN ABUNDANCE? Jame ton Old Timers, pick up 25 bushels of s< LJk B - PRIZE HORSES? Horace Roge sdical ( having surgery. This means you would have all necessary tests done as an outpatient, or even in the doctor's office, prior to going into the hospital If everyone at Clinton Mills hav ing surgery requested pre-admission testing, it could save thousands of dollars each year. 2. Many surgical procedures are now being done on an outpatient basis. Discuss this possibility with your doctor when surgery is necessary. If such is possible, you may be able to save room and board charges for a day or two. or if the procedure can be done in the doctor's office, there will be no hospital charge. . SHI il flf Pi K K^ Mmff* RES V<* iill^l!!* s Craine and Horace Rogers, both Clinweet potatoes grown by Horace Rogers. rs with two prize quarter horses. 5osts 3. When your physician prescribes medication, ask if the drug has a "generic substitute." While only a minority of drugs do have substitutes, a significant savings can be realized on those that do. It has been esti mated that this savings can run as high as 40 percent. These three suggestions, along with a few uuierb mil Oj qucbuuiiin^ yuur pnybiuidii about his costs before services are rendered, using hospital emergency facilities only for emergency situations and checking your bills to make sure you received the services for which you were charged, can all result in lower medical fees.