Terry Will Be Back Soon!

**Terry Newton** · 08-12-2009, 05:31 PM

WoW. I just logged on and am blushing over the many kind sentiments that have been expressed towards me here. I am truly grateful for all of the thoughts and support.

I have been averaging about twelve hour work days for the last several months. We are slated to lose 180 million dollars for mental health and substance abuse disorders in Michigan. This will cause cost shifting as the working poor will end up in emergency rooms, increased crime, local incarcerations, etc. which will add to local costs.

I am working on revamping our website which is Harbor Hall Treatment Center Petoskey Michigan, I have been working to develop more self pay referrals, attending many conferences where we can set up a booth to display our services, meeting with lawmakers to keep our funding viable, working with marketing people to brand our services and get the word out, plus being involved in many volunteer activities. I am involved in Rotary, Anglefood Ministries, Human Services Coordinating Body for Charlevoix and Emmet County, Opiate Replacement task Force, two grass root organizations to quell underage tobacco, drug and alcohol use, a transportation committee to get mass transit services in our area, and a suicide prevention work group. I am also involved in ALSAO which is a provider alliance whose dues support a lobbyist to represent our concerns in Lansing. I also do the books for my wife's gift store, garden and ride a bicycle.

I think I am nuts.

Something had to give as I find myself going home most nights and dying in an easy chair. I only have a hair over 1,000 miles on my bicycle this season as the weather has been cold and nasty for the summer.

I am humbled by the support from everyone here and, please know that all of you are in my thoughts and prayers. I am very thankful to God for my life back as, it has been almost three years post-op and, I would not be accomplishing all of the things I do, with my spine being the way it was, before four artificial discs were put in at Stenum Hospital in November 2006.

I hope to have everything resolved with the State prior to the start of the new fiscal year which comes up October 1st. I will be coming back to the group then and am hopeful that our program will be still in practice.

Take care all.

Love,

**Justin** · 08-12-2009, 07:32 PM

Terry,

Thanks for popping in. I wish you the very best with everything you have going on. We will be keeping you in prayer. BTW, the website looks great!

**Dave** · 08-12-2009, 07:45 PM

Terry,

Thanks for the update my friend. It has been a cool summer in Michigan but in my line of work that is a good thing.

Peace out my Michigander friend.

**KBear** · 08-12-2009, 08:40 PM

Terry, I was just thinking about you today. Happy to hear you are doing so well. Just reading your activities makes me tired!

Can't wait to hav you back here.

Quick question, what kind of injections did you have to get post-ADR? I believe you had said that you had to get them every few months for a year or two? I ask, because I am seeing my surgeon on Monday and going to suggest we try some injections to take care of the rest of my pain.

Thanks for popping in, miss you,
Kathy

**Cindylou** · 08-12-2009, 10:35 PM

It's not the same here without you Terry. But glad you did pop in to give us an update of your current situation. Wow, you have really been on a roller coaster few months. I sure hope and pray you get the backing and support necessary for the treatment facility. Can't wait to have you back for good. You maniac volunteer you!!! Egad!!!

**Terry Newton** · 09-23-2009, 11:00 PM

Just a quick update all. We are in the final throes of having a budget or a shut-down in the State of Michigan. If we do not have a budget by October 1st we may have a continuation budget that is still not effective. The latest budget possibility is that the Democrats may go along with the Senate Republican plan just to avoid a shut-down which would be a re-enactment of what happened two years ago. The cuts in the Senate proposal are another 1.2 billion dollars out of our State budget with no revenue enhancements at all to shore up the bleeding in our state. For a unbiased opinion about the true story about what is going on in Michigan, read Michigan Tax Truth. I say this because, the failed policies of our state may be being entertained by some of the states that some of you live in and, you need to see first hand what our failed policies are doing to a state that led the country in making the middle class. The middle class were made by high paying manufacturing jobs that are now being sent overseas and providing wealth to a select few in our country rather than distributing the wealth more evenly. If the cost of labor is driven downward, we place our state in a position where, only shareholders wealth continues to climb while the middle class is further eroded to the ranks of the poor. Our term limited legislators are continuing to avoid the true picture in our state where our policies have provided tax cuts for over a decade and this still has not brought our state in to any prosperity. The beer tax has not been touched since 1966 in which case the tax was lowered. Our state is being driven by powerful lobbying and special interest groups, which is the same in the country, where the lies and misinformation continue to go out daily on health care reform. I am still working un-Godly hours trying to save what I have put my heart and soul into for the last twenty years of my life. Please check out my website which I am counting on to attract more self pay clientele as the state has gotten to be such a poor payer of treatment services. Michigan Drug Rehab Centers.

My intentions are to still come back after the first part of October and I miss all of you and wish you well.

Hang in there.

**Justin** · 09-24-2009, 12:19 AM

Originally Posted by Terry Newton

I am still working un-Godly hours trying to save what I have put my heart and soul into for the last twenty years of my life.

My intentions are to still come back after the first part of October and I miss all of you and wish you well.

Hang in there.

Terry,

I wish you the very best and I do hope that everything is resolved by October 1st.

I know your hard work will pay off.