Four local residents have expressed interest in a vacant seat on the Powell Hospital District board.The seat was vacated last month by Ken Rochlitz.During a meeting last week, board members reviewed letters of interest from Jim Beukelman, Gerald “Bear” May, David Northrup and Larry Parker.

The board plans to interview all four hopefuls next week. The successful candidate will be appointed during the board's regular monthly meeting on Jan. 25.

Following are highlights from the letters of interest they sent to the board:

Jim Beukelman

Beukelman cited his experience on other boards and the knowledge he gained as owner and president of Nelson Insurance for more than 30 years.

“My desire is fueled by the need to continue the excellent health care and services now provided for the Powell community,” he said.

“I have had previous experience as a member of the Park County School District No. 1 board, president of the Powell Chamber of Commerce and president of the Wyoming Professional Insurance Agents, along with representing Wyoming on a national level. I was president of Powell Kiwanis. I have also served several terms as an elder of the Session of the Union Presbyterian Church ...

“I believe with my business and personal experience, I can serve the public by giving of my time and efforts to the community that has been good to me and my family.”

During a recent interview Beukelman said, “I think with my background in business, especially public business insurance ... I understand what a board is responsible for and what they should not get involved in.

“We've probably got one of the better health care facilities in a regional area for our size community ... I think it's a great organization, and I would like to be involved.”

Gerald ‘Bear' May

May said he has lived all his life in Powell and has served as a volunteer fireman for nearly 11 years.

“Helping people and serving the community is important to me,” he said. “I am an honest, practical person that would take the position on the board seriously with plans to do the best possible job working with the other members and working for our community,” he wrote. “I feel I would be a great asset and addition to this group.”

May said during a telephone interview that his family's experiences with Powell Valley Hospital have been good.

“My wife, my father, everybody in the family goes to the hospital here, and I want to be a part of it.

“Being younger, I want to be part of the community. I'm willing to do anything to help out, in any way, shape or form ... I'm kind of coming into it with both hands open — I'm willing to do what I can do and be what I can be. I'm honest and willing to work. People say I'm a straight shooter.”

David Northrup

Northrup wrote, “Powell Valley Healthcare is important to the community and to my family. I'm interested in increasing my knowledge about the health-care system, especially in this time of change.”

Northrup said his family has had positive experiences with the local health-care system, such as when his oldest sons were triaged and prepared for life flight to the Salt Lake City Burn Center after they were badly burned in an accident.

“The medical staff in Salt Lake told us the boys were very well taken care of in Powell, better than they normally saw from other hospitals,” Northrup wrote.

Northrup said he has been active in public service, and has served on the Park County School District No. 1 Board of Trustees since July 1999.

He would continue to serve on the school board if he were appointed to the Powell Hospital Board, he said.

In addition, he has served on the Willwood Irrigation District Board of Trustees since 2003 and on the Northwest College Agriculture Advisory Board for approximately 10 years, he said.

“As a lifelong community member, business owner, and having worked on boards, I have knowledge of how they should function. I have no axe to grind and no agenda. I would like to learn, help and contribute to the community.

“I think it's just an exciting time to be in the health-care industry,” he said in a telephone interview. “I would really like to learn more about the healthcare industry and thought this would be a good chance.”

Larry Parker

Parker cited years of experience as the owner of several businesses, including 12 years of experience as a contractor and owner of Larry D. Parker Construction of Powell. He also cited his education and his desire to help guide Powell Valley Healthcare through changes that are sure to come in the future.

“I have been closely following the pending health-care legislation being considered by our federal government,” Parker wrote. “No matter what the outcome, the impact on our local health care providers could be dramatic, especially considering the proposed 21 percent decrease in Medicare payments to practitioners. The impact of an additional 30-40 million people to the insured base nationwide presents unique problems to our country's health education system as well as health-care providers nationwide.

“I believe in neighbors helping neighbors, and have supported this philosophy through my volunteerism wherever I have lived,” he said.

That includes providing volunteer service to Habitat for Humanity, the United Way, the Lions Club vision program, the Junior Achievement Program and other organized events.