CAMPUS AND AREA
University Daily Kansan, April 11, 1984
Page 18
VA survey will define needs of women vets
By ERIKA BLACKSHER Staff Reporter
In 1943, U.S. boys were off fighting a war. Wilfa Koehler wanted to join the effort too, but she couldn't become a U.S. Army soldier.
Instead she became a member of the Women's Army Corps.
The 1926 KU graduate said WACs
the men and had to work hard
to handle the new problems.
Most of that inequality is gone now. The WACs dissolved in 1978, becoming a full partner with the Army. Women are the most identical training as male soldiers.
But differences still exist. With a steadily increasing female veteran population, more women vets are needed and nurses unable to accommodate their needs.
The Veterans Administration, recognizing the increasing female veteran population, is now conducting a survey to determine those needs.
Ozzie Garza, VA spokesman in Washington, D.C., said recently that the survey will find a general trend in the female veteran population and then determine what is expected of the VA to meet women veterans' needs.
Robert Pelka, director of the Wichita VA medical and regional office center, said that, as the growing female workforce increases, these needs will increase accordingly.
Koehler. 79. is in the Topeka VA
medical center for foot surgery. Although the services there are accommodating her, female veterans in most of the country may not have such luck.
MARVIN JUDSON, a VA spokesman in Wichita, said female veterans were discriminated against there because Wichita has an old fashioned, standard VA hospital designed specifically for men.
Most of the accommodations lack privacy and gynecology services he provided.
"It has taken time for VA hospitals to convert and provide the privacy needed to house both male and female veterans," he said.
Many of the medical needs of female veterans in Wichita are serviced by consultants from the community because only 1 percent of the Wichita veteran population is female. This small percentage made hiring a full-time gynecologist too expensive, Judson said.
Garza said the survey, which will be completed in 1983, will provide information about making possible changes to assure that all future VA medical centers accommodate needs and provide in-house services.
The percentage of female veterans in the area will determine the amount of medical services the VA hospital provides, Garza said.
In Kansas there are about 3,000 living female veterans who served in World War II.
By ROBIN PALMER Staff Reporter
Use of solar energy heats up
Tax credits attractive
Local interest in solar energy and concern over increasing gas rates have led to an increase in the use of solar energy systems in homes and businesses in Lawrence, a local solar system retailer said yesterday.
Charles Creaden, owner of EC Energy Co. 2301 Ponderosa St., said that his company had installed more than 750 new computers during his two years in Lawrence.
He said that more than 60 systems were working in homes throughout Lawrence.
Statewide interest in solar energy systems is also increasing because of a tax credit that is granted on state and federal income taxes, he said. This credit is available through 1985, he said.
Barbara Clark, with the Kansas Internal Revenue Service in Topeka, said that the statistics for the 1982 tax year showed that 1,706 Kansers filed for tax credits for installing solar energy systems. The number of systems reported in the state was 1,936.
The number of solar energy systems also increased in previous years before 1982, she said.
THE STATE TAX credit for active solar energy systems is 30 percent of the total cost of the system, with a ceiling credit of $1,500.
Federal tax credit for active solar energy systems is 40 percent of the cost of a system that does not exceed $10,000 and is less than $10,000 no credit will be granted.
Active solar energy systems use hardware to collect energy and then distribute it throughout a building. Passive solar energy systems are designed to reflect sunlight on the south side of a building but do not circulate the energy throughout it.
Businesses that install systems can receive 30 percent or a maximum of 60 percent of their total cost.
Creaden said that without the tax credits, the systems would not be economically practical for home owners.
He said that the tax credits and the savings in heating bills made it possible for a system to pay for itself in two to three years. The faster that gas rates increase, the faster the system will pay for itself, he said.
"PEOPLE BASICALLY buy the oysters on the open sea savours." Cresden said.
American Guarantee Services, Inc., Kansas City, Mo., works with Creaden to guarantee 50 percent savings in heating bills. If the system does not cut heating bills in half, the individual can send a check to American Guarantee Services and receive a check from it for the difference.
installed in late December, said, "We wouldn't have done it without the tax credit."
Ellen Wyttenbach, 1640 Cambridge Road, who had a solar energy system
Although she said it was too early to estimate how much money the system would save her family, she could tell her that the solar energy heating system
She said that she and her husband decided to install a solar energy system after seeing one in another home.
Systems range in price from $3,000 to $30,000, but most home owners stay under the $10,000 mark to enjoy the luxury for tax credits, Creedan said.
C&C ENERGY SYSTEMS installs only dry air systems. These systems use air to circulate the heat from solar-energy-collecting panels to all areas of a house. Another type of system uses fluid to circulate the heat.
Creaden said that the dry-air systems were more efficient.
The interest is growing despite the fact that the solar industry is still in development.
Adding insulation to a home can also bring a 15 percent federal tax credit for individuals.
The biggest increases in demand for the systems in Lawrence are in new home construction. Creeden said that drastic changes had taken place in the last two years because work on the systems of installing the systems in new homes.
KU students help residents fill out taxes
Program aimed at assisting elderly and poor
By the Kansan Staff
Law and business students at the University of Kansas are helping people in Lawrence complete their income tax returns through a tax assistance program sponsored by the Internal Revenue Service.
Steve Sherman, a first-year law student who helped organize the student workers, said that the program was free and open to anyone but that it was aimed at helping non-English speaking students, people with low incomes, the handicapped and the elderly.
Tax assistance will be offered 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays at the Kansas Union; 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday at the Ballard Community Center, 708 Elm; 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesdays and Thursdays at the Indian Center, 1910 Haskell; 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays at Penn House, 1035 Pennsylvania.
Sherman said about 40 students were participating in the program. Those students had to attend a three-hour training seminar.
SUNRISE PLACE 9th & Michigan
OPEN HOUSE: 2 p.m.-6 p.m. daily, including weekends
FEATURING:
—townhouse living
—basement & fireplace available
—new swimming pool
Also introducing brand new SUNRISE TERRACE
—studios. 1.bedroom & 2 plus bedrooms
to be complete this August, featuring:
washer and dryer in every unit
Come by to sign up for the fall, or call 841-1287
—adjacent to campus
THE NO BEEF SALE!
20% off New Styles
Papermate & Cross pen sets 25% off
of Jewelry
9 a.m. to 4 p.m.Daily Mon.-Fri. Deadline for orders: Fri., April 20, 1984
paperback books-
--garments
DOORS
½ price
Sale on
Free Software with purchases of HP41 Series Calculators.
Album & Tape
Staedtler
Main Lobby—Booth #1
Sale!
$1.98 to
$8.98
Mechanical Pen Sets
Kansas Union
KU Closeout
50% Off list price
Faculty, Doctorate, Law Master's,Bachelor's:
price
ORDER NOW Cap & Gowns (and/or hoods)
Jayhawk Bookstore
And there's Moooore!
10% Off any purchases
of $10.00 or More!
Patronize Kansan advertisers.
The Great Rib Rush
of
Half Slab Big End
'84
$3.75
Half Slab Small End
$5.25
Full Slab To Go Only $7.95
Served with those fantastic tater curl french fries
Offer Good
Now til April 30
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Downtown Lawrence
No Coupons Accepted With This Offer