SECOND PHASE OF WORK BEGINS ON VETERANS CENTER AT ANNA

ANNA, Ill. -- The first phase of construction on the Anna Veterans Center here has been completed and work is already under way on Phase II.

"Everything is on schedule," said Gary Tinervin, deputy director of the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs. "We're looking for an April or May opening in 1994."

Phase II was added to the original plans to provide a domiciliary care unit.

"This unit will be to house patrons who will not require skilled nursing," said Tinervin. "We'll have six domiciliary units with two beds in each."

Tinervin said that the new units will be in place by early April 1994.

Phase I construction was completed in June," said Tom Kiefner of Kiefner Construction Co. in Cape Girardeau. "Everything went well on the project and it came in on time."

Kiefner is also the contractor for the new domiciliary units. "We have already started work on that phase," said Kiefner. "The completion date is early April."

The overall facility is on a 16-acre tract near the Clyde Choate Mental Health Developmental Center. Phase I plans include a 60-bed facility 50 beds for skilled nursing care and 10 for residential care patients.

"We have 23 two-bed rooms and four single-bed rooms," said Tinervin.

The apartment-type, or residential care units will include beds, small stove, refrigerator, dining area and pantry, bath and small utility room.

Included in the facility are a television room and resident lounge, dining-multipurpose rooms and rooms for physical and rehabilitative therapy, dining and dental care.

"Plans also call for an on-site pharmacy.

The veterans home will provide skilled nursing care for veterans in a modern facility.

The veterans home project has been on the drawing board for several years. Construction started in late 1991 when Illinois Gov. Jim Edgar announced $3.9 million funding for the new facility.

The Anna center has been in the planning stage for more than a decade. It was first suggested that two buildings located at the Choate Center be used, but architects said they were not large enough to hold the programs for the center, and recommended a new building for the proposed veterans care facility.

In announcing the funding, Edgar said the addition of a veterans home in the Southern Illinois area would help care for veterans and eliminate the need for them to travel far from their families and friends for that care.

"It will provide also substantial economic benefits to an area were unemployment is well above the state average," said Edgar.

The new center will provide employment for 60 to 70 persons.

The General Assembly appropriated $3.9 million for the new building in 1991. The state will be reimbursed by the U.S. Department of Veterans of Affairs for 65 percent of the cost about $2.5 million when construction is completed.

The Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs will operate the veterans home.

Statistics show there are more than 71,000 veterans now living in Southern Illinois, and many veterans will be over the age of 70 by the year 2000.

The state currently supports three other veteran homes at Quincy, Manteno and LaSalle.

Officials say that because of the proximity of three major wars World War II, the Korean conflict, and the war in Vietnam the need for nursing care for veterans is expected to increase for the next two decades.

"This (Anna) center will meet the needs of veterans from Southern Illinois who now must travel far distances for care," said Edgar.