SEMC holds open house

Donations

still sought

By FRITZ BUSCH

Journal Staff Writer

SLEEPY EYE -- U.S. Congressman Gil Gutknecht and Minnesota U.S. Department of Agriculture Director Steve Wenzel highlighted a check presentation and ribbon cutting ceremony Thursday celebrating the opening of a new clinic at Sleepy Eye Municipal Hospital.

The $6 million renovation project was made possible in part from a $4.5 million low-interest USDA Rural Development Loan. Area residents donated another $500,000 towards the project that includes a new 12,500 square foot clinic.

Donations are still being sought. A CAT scanning area in the new clinic is yet to be completed.

Amenities include a nurse's station and conference room, pharmacy, radiology and CAT scan equipment, labor and delivery room, operating and emergency rooms, nursery, cafeteria, meeting rooms and a heating and cooling system.

Space is available for a lab, medical records, business offices and a physician clinic.

Sleepy Eye Hospital Board member Charles "Chisey" Hansen was honored for 27 years on the board, 20 as chairman.

Gutknecht said the hospital will help keep young men in Sleepy Eye since their wives can have babies delivered there.

"This is a good day for Sleepy Eye, the area and state economy," Gutknecht said.

He likened it to what Winston Churchill said when he was asked about his leadership during World War II. Churchill said the people were the heart of the lion, he was just lucky enough to give the roar.

Wenzel said more than 80 percent of the 2002 Farm Bill went to farmers and ranchers but 20 percent went to projects like the one at Sleepy Eye Hospital and others in rural America.

The USDA Rural Development mission is to deliver programs in a way that will support increasing economic opportunity and improve the quality of life of rural residents. Examples include home ownership, business development, and critical community and technology infrastructure.

For more information, visit the USDA web site at

http://www.rurdev.usda.gov.

(Fritz Busch can be e-mailed at fbusch@nujournal.com).