European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - September 02, 1977, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Friday september 2, 1977 the stars and stripes Page 9 some who lose champs can sign up special medicare enrolment time scheduled by John Hart Washington Bureau chief Washington is a special med icare enrolment period has been set up for those who will lose their champs eligibility at the end of the year a Pentagon spokesman said tuesday. According to the spokesman those who will lose their champs eligibility May sign up for medicare s supplemental medi Cal insurance part b from oct. 1 through dec. 31. He said the social Security administration and the department of defense agreed to let the following individuals now covered by champs take advantage of the special enrolment period persons under age 65 who Are entitled Lan Stuhl Hospital has Flea problem by Floyd Harrington Kaiserslautern Bureau chief Lan Stuhl Germany is the 2nd general Hosp Here has a Case of is Pho Natera that s fleas in laymen s Lan Guage. According to a . Army med come official 2nd general has been faced with the Flea problem for some time now \ but until recently the fleas have been confined to the crawl spaces beneath the sprawling medical Complex. The official diagnosed the outbreak of fleas As having come from a Large number of stray cats that have taken Refuge in the crawl spaces. The official said operations have been under Way for some time to cure the problem. However at least one medical technician assigned to the Hospital has complained that the fleas Are spreading upward into the wards. Looking for solution to find a better Way of treating the Flea problem Hospital officials consulted with local military police the air Force Engi Neer pest management contractor and other interested parties last Friday. The treatment decided upon was to trap the stray cats live and turn them Over to the proper authorities for disposition Accord ing to the med come official. Treatment was started saturday and will continue for about five weeks to bring the problem under control the official said. When asked if the fleas present a health Hazard to Hospital patients the offi Cial replied while fleas constitute a potential health Hazard in some parts of the world in Germany they do not present a probable  Salzburg will raise Price of festival in 78 Salzburg Austria a the 1977 Salzburg festival ended tuesday night with the announcement that its top ticket Price for operas at the 1978 festival would be $112, an increase of $12. The festival said the budget for the month of operatic and dramatic performances concerts recitals and other Cul Tural events would increase from $10.5 million this year to $11.2 million and the government subsidy would increase from $3.8 million to $4.1 million. The budget will be the largest for a european cultural festival. Josef Kaut presi Dent of the festival said the increase was due mostly to salary increases. Despite the High ticket prices latecomers to the 1977 festival could get tickets Only to puppet shows. To medicare s Hospital insurance part a because of a disability or chronic kidney disease. Widowers and husbands 65 or older entitled to medicare s Hospital insurance on the basis of their wives employment but not on the basis of their own employ ment. Champs coverage will end for these individuals at Midnight dec. 31, with medi care coverage going into effect Jan. 1,1978 for those who enrol during the special period according to the spokesman. The special enrolment period will not be open to anyone else. The next regular enrolment period for medicare s supple mental medical insurance part b will be Jan. 1 through March 31, 1978 with cover age starting on july 1,1978. Medicare s supplemental medical insurance pays part of services and supplies not covered by the program s Hospital insurance such As doctors services out patient Hospital care outpatient physical therapy and speech pathology services and Home health care. Although those who qualify pay no Premium for medicare Hospital insurance part a monthly Premium must be paid for supplemental medical insurance coverage part according to the spokesman. He said that separate decisions by the defense department and the supreme court Cut champs benefits for some people. Earlier this year the Pentagon said that those Cut from champs eligibility would stay on the roles until they had a Chance to get medicare s supplemental or medical insurance coverage the spokesman said there will be no penalty Premium for those who sign up during the scheduled enrolment period even though they May have passed up an earlier Opportunity. He said that generally the monthly premiums for supplemental medical insurance increases by 10 per cent for each year an individual delays signing up after first becoming eligible to enrol. To enrol during this period Call or visit a local social Security administration office. Persons abroad should Contact their nearest . Consulate. Maj. Jerry Mangham performs an immersion baptism in a swimming Pool at the Chapel. Army photo Tom Greene Down Home religion returned kiddy Pool proved Fine baptistry by Leah Larkin staff writer Aschaffenbur Germany is conducting baptisms in a big kiddy swimming Pool set up behind the Post Chapel is not an everyday occurrence. But one sunday Here that s the Way it was done. And it was quite an exciting Day said maj. Jerry Mangham 3rd Bri Gade 3rd inf div chaplain who immersed five people in the Pool during the Baptis Mal ceremonies. Baptism by immersion is Standard for some religions including churches of the Baptist methodist Church of god and Church of Christ faiths. The faiths practice ing immersion usually have Baptis tries in their churches for this  Mangham explained a baptistry is a fairly expensive addition to a Church. It s a big tank he said that costs thousands of dollars. It s tastefully done usually made of Marble with the water tempera Tun  chapels on military bases Are Usu ally minus a baptistry. Sometimes Chap Lains have arranged to use German churches that have Baptis tries and they be also used Rivers and lakes. But that s not in the Best interest of what we like Mangham said. One of his recent innovations was a water Purifica Tion tank from the  but it did t work out too Well a member of the congregation said the humongous Black tank held thousands of Gallons of water arid actually frightened some who had visions of drowning during the  s when Mangham decided a swim Ming Pool might be appropriate. The Chapel fund Council agreed to Purchase the portable Pool for immersion baptisms. Buying it was easy compared to what came  it was set up chaplain s assistants had to babysit the big Container of water. There was concern that children might play in it and they knew it was deep enough that a child could drown in it. So they set up a tent next to the Pool. For three Days before the baptisms the Pool had round the clock guards. The Day after the baptisms it was taken Down. Nine people were baptized that sunday just after the 11 . Worship service. Three ministers representing the Church of god the methodist and Baptist Reli Gions conducted the baptisms. There was a lot of curiosity quite a few grins admitted Mangham a Baptist. Some individuals used to More liturgical forms might have thought it was too casual. A Little bit unorthodox. Yet if you think of the biblical concept being baptized in the open air in a Pool of water is natural he said. It s obvious that the natural and informal Appeal to Mangham. He conducted the baptisms wearing jeans a shirt and a Bow tie. As a churchgoer said he s brought Down Home religion Back to the  after the baptisms there was an old fashioned picnic. People brought covered dishes. There were games for the  in All it was a Good Day very Rich. We need More of them said the chaplain from Oklahoma. There was a sense of peace and Joy in our  in fact it worked out so Well i wish i had thought of it earlier he added