The Associated Press State & Local Wire

May 17, 2000, Wednesday, PM cycle
The Associated Press

Les scientologues rachètent une propriété pour un centre de Narconon

"Arrowhead Lodge"

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - La propriété de Arrow Lodge sur le lac Eufaula deviendra sous peu un centre de traîtement lié à la scientologie, destiné à réhabiliter les drogues et alcooliques.

L'association sans but lucratif ABLE pense payer environ 1,9 million de dollars pour la propriété de 104 hectares, annonce Gary Smith, directeur exécutif du centre Narconon de Chilocco à Newkirk.

Le groupe louera ensuie la propriété proche de Canadian, Comté de Pittsburg, au centre de traîtement Narconon.

"C'étaient de remarquables bâtiments lors de leur construction, mais c'est assez abîmé, aussi ferons-nous pas mal de réparations; il va falloir des mois", à signalé Smith au journaliste du daily Oklahoman.

Il annonce environ 1 million de dollars de réparations. Le centre de Newkirk pense déménager à Narrowhead, pour faire passer sa capacité d'accueil de 75 à 300 lits.

Le Parc d'état de Arrowhead et le Court de Golf d'Arrowhead resteront sous contrôle du département touristique de l'état, annonce de son côté Roman Stahl, de l'office du Tourisme d'état.

Judy Allen, porte-parole de la tribu, a confirmé la vente prochaine de la propriété dans les prochains jours.

Narconon Chilocco utilise saunas, vitamines et régime spécial pendant son traitement de trois mois, dont l'auteur est feu L. Ron Hubbard, fondateur de l'église de scientologie.

Résumé de ce qui suit:

Les autorités du Ministère de la Santé de l'état ont repoussé lundi la demande de certains propriétaires d'avoir à reconsidérer l'approbation faite pour installer un centre de réhabilitation des drogués à Arrowhead Lodge.

Les autorités ont repoussé la demande en exposant dans un document de deux pages leurs raisons "car les opposants ne démontraient pas de bonnes raisons pour que la décision soit reconsidérée".

Health Department refuses to reconsider approval of center's plan

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) The state Health Department on Monday denied a request by
some homeowners to reconsider the agency's approval of a drug rehabilitation
center's plan to move to Arrowhead Lodge.

Trustees representing residents of Arrowhead Estates had asked the department to
hold a public hearing concerning Narconon's plan to move its Chilocco New Life
Center from Newkirk to Arrowhead Lodge in Pittsburg County.

Trustees wanted the state to revoke a certificate of need granted to Narconon on
May 2.

But in a two-page order Monday, acting Health Department Commissioner Jerry
Regier denied the trustees' request based on their "failure to show good cause
for reconsideration."

The trustees argue that the proposed relocation "will cause residents problems
with security and that the community is not suited to a rehabilitation center,"
Regier wrote.

"However, the petitioner's argument regarding possible community changes, in
light of the comments of other residents, does not demonstrate good cause for
reconsideration."

Gary Smith, executive director of the Narconon Chilocco New Life Center, said he
was pleased by Regier's action.

"What it signifies to us is that now we can just get on with creating the
facility here to help meet the increasing needs for our services from people
that have drug and alcohol addiction problems," Smith said.

Arrowhead Estates Trustee Bud Shaw said he was disappointed in the state's
refusal to allow a public hearing.

"It seems like big business gets what they want," Shaw said. "I guess we're just
going to accept it and move on.

"Maybe down the road, we'll be able to say, 'We told you so."'

After learning of the trustees' letter, Sheryl Patterson was among the Arrowhead
Estates residents who wrote to Regier.

"It certainly does not speak for the body of homeowners," Patterson wrote. "Many
of us are delighted that the beautiful old lodge has been bought by a reputable
private-pay rehabilitation center and that a budget is in place to bring this
great old facility back to life.

"It's been a disgrace and a tragedy seeing it in its present state of neglect."

An international group with ties to the Church of Scientology bought the
256-acre resort property May 17 and plans to lease it to Narconon.