European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - February 14, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Friday february 14, 1992 the stars and stripes b Page 3cola Cut to shrink paychecks by Meridith Winder . Bureau . Service members in Europe will get about $28 less in their feb. 15 paychecks because of a Cut in the Cost of living allowance according to a . Naval forces Europe official in London. A two Point drop in the Cost of living Index is behind the decrease said Navy it. John Jones. Jones is the executive agent representing the United kingdom and Southern Europe on the Pentagon a per diem committee. Civilians employed by the government Are not affected by the change. One Point in the cola Index amounts to about $14. Jones said the Cut was made because of an annual Survey of the Cost of living for stateside military members. He said the Cost of living in the United states is growing faster than that overseas. This enables the military to keep the Cost of living the same for All service members regardless of where they live. Cola amounts vary according to location rank and number of family members. For example the feb. 1 Cut in cola is the fifth change since oct. 15 for scr ice members assigned to the United kingdom. In october they received an increase to cover the additional expenses of Road taxes and television licenses. Subsequent raises on dec. 16, Jan. 1, and Jan. 15 were attributed to a weakening Dollar and cola Index increases. The dollars value lost 22 cents to the Pound Over this period. The fluctuations Between october and february resulted in a net increase for people assigned to the United kingdom that ranged from approximately $35 for an Al up to $156 for an 0-6, according to Jones. He pointed out that these figures varied according to location and number of family members. The dollars weakening value against the Pound also caused a subsequent increase in the overseas housing allowance for service members in the a United kingdom. A the latest increase was from $1.92 to $1.93 Jan. 15,�?� Jones said. A this hike caused another boost to of  the housing allowance increase ranged from $9 to $47 a month depending on rank and location. Jones said that people interested in finding out about How they were affected by the cola and Oha fluctuations should consult their local accounting and finance  abound in 7993 autos Chicago apr done to touch that radio dial a the volume control is on the steering wheel. There a no need to touch the car phone either. Its a voice activated Model that frees your fingers to operate the cd player and dashboard mounted Headrest control in your 1993 automobile. Cars on display this week at the Chicago Auto show also feature keyless Remote door Locking devices and built in infant seats that fold up and out of the Way when not needed. Some of the gizmos in 1993 cars will become the cup holders and intermittent Windshield wipers of tomorrow. Others will follow digital speedometers and Pushbutton transmissions into obscurity. A if you miss it when you get into a car that does no to have it that a a Good feature a said Bill Scott chief designer of Pontiac interiors at general motors corp. Among luxury cars where innovative features Are often introduced a big question is whether to offer a Telephone As Standard equipment. Cellular phone that is Standard in the $77,000 Model 850i. The phone is optional though in top of the line Acura Cadillac infiniti and Lincoln models. Infinities new j30 comes wired for a cellular phone and has an Antenna concealed in the rear window but the phone itself is an option. Seventy four year old Glenn Belew postmaster at Romance ark., since 1960, says a Hearty hello to a caller on the eve of Valentines Day. For 32 years loves playing Post office countless people from around the country have sent him envelopes containing cards and letters to he mailed with the Romance postmark. Hospital closing called no reason for alarm by Ron Jensen Niernberg Bureau Augsburg Germany a the presence of a Quality German Hospital across the Street from flak Cavern makes it possible to close the 34th general Hospital with no loss of available care the commander of the army Hospital says. Or. Col Lynnford s. Wilson told More than 120 people at a town Hall meeting wednesday night that their medical needs could be addressed by the . A  is a fantastic Hospital. That Hospital is on the level of Walter Reed a he said referring to the major army facility in Washington. After the meeting Wilson said in an interview that the  and the Josefinam Hospital in downtown Augsburg make closing his Hospital at the end of june possible. A a we be got to get doctors and nurses where the soldiers Are and where they done to have German Hospital support a he said. Without those two nearby hospitals his Hospital might not be Able to close despite the loss of patients. The Augsburg Community is shrinking As part of the reduction of the american military presence in Europe. The number of patients is Down 30 percent from last year at the 34th general Hospital. Wilson said there is no formula for determining when a Hospital should close. A there May be people someplace who have a template like that. Its really kind of a judgment Call a he said. Wilson reassured those in attendance that they would not lose medical care when the Hospital closes. A a there a no reason to be alarmed a he said. A your health care needs will be taken care  although the two German hospitals Are willing to take on the responsibility of the american population Wilson said the 98th general Hospital in Niernberg roughly 75 Miles North of Augsburg will also receive patients now served in Augsburg. He said a shuttle bus system will be established to get people to and from the Hospital. An air transport system will be used As a backup. Obstetric care will cease in May at the 34th general Hospital. Plans Are being made for families expecting babies to visit the German facilities to meet physicians and nurses. A we want you to feel comfortable that there Are real doctors and nurses there who speak English a he said. The inpatient and emergency room services will end in june at the 34th general Hospital a this is going to take communication to the Community a Wilson said. A a we re going to have to Stop thinking of the Hospital As an emergency room. We will not be an emergency room by any stretch of the  Wilson said the clinic that remains after the Hospital closes will have extended hours with limited speciality care and sick Call on saturday and sunday. The hours will be Cut in september when the Community a population drops to 9,000 from 12,000. The clinic will move to Sheridan Cavern in july 1993 when the Community population will fall to approximately 6,000 from 9,000, Wilson said. Dec pressuring . To keep troops in Europe Paris a wary of the . Desire to reduce troops deployed overseas officials of the european Community a budding Security Arm said thursday they Hope to persuade Washington to keep troops in Europe. Pieter Stoffelen chairman of the Western european Union Assembly a political committee told reporters that a fact finding Mission to Washington and Ottawa feb. 24-28 expected Frank talk from . And Canadian officials. The Mission to assess the Impact on the Atlantic Alii e Ance of european moves toward establishing an inde it indent defense Structure will stress that Europe still aces Security threats including terrorism and nuclear proliferation despite the end of the cold War. Stoffelen said that in the face of such threats cutting . Troops in Europe to 75,000, As some members of Congress suggest would be  a you ask us not to harm nato a he said. A we ask you to follow the same  the we Mission will seek to convince american and ill Canadian leaders that plans for a new Security Arm w not jeopardize the North Atlantic treaty organization. Dec leaders agreed in the dutch town of maastricht last december to charge the we with developing a common european Security policy in tandem with the eco a economic and political integration. The nine nation we which includes Allec members except Denmark Greece and Ireland is struggling to define a new common policy that does not undermine nato Stoffelen said