By Joseph Bustos

Vietnam veteran Randy Wolber, 59, of Rock Falls, travels to Bettendorf, Iowa, twice a year to get checkups at the VA clinic.

Before he had his arterial fribulation under control, he went every other month.

And at times, he had to go all the way to the Iowa City VA Hospital for more extensive care, which often meant and overnight hotel stay and a day off work at Sterling Steel.

His out-of-pocket travel expenses are coming to an end, though.

About 30 veterans gave U.S. Rep. Phil Hare, D-Rock Island, their thanks Friday at the Rock Falls VFW, where he came to share the news of a new VA outpatient clinic opening in Whiteside County in 2010.

"This is great for our area," Wolber said. "When I would go to Iowa City, I lost an entire day."

Clifford Miller, 83, of Rock Falls, was an Army sergeant in World War II. The disabled vet drives to the VA hospital in Iowa City twice a week.

"I'm for this 100 percent," Miller said.

The clinic will offer primary and mental health care to about 3,000 veterans a year. It will take about $900,000 in start-up costs, and $1.4 million the first year and $1.7 million the second to operate.

All VA clinics are different, but they usually attract people within a 50-mile radius, said Ginny Shelton, Hare's staff assistant in charge of veterans issues.

Where the clinic will be located has yet to be determined. CGH Medical Center in Sterling and the county's Community Health Clinic in Rock Falls are possible candidates.

Both entities want to see what the VA will require in terms of space, parking, distance from a pharmacy and the like before applying, said Norm Deets, CGH's chief operating officer.

"It's too early to speculate until the VA defines what they want," Deets said.

"[The clinic] is just wonderful for the community."

Neither Deets nor Beth Fiorini, Whiteside County Health Department administrator, want to add on to their locations if there another suitable building can be found.

Hare, a member of the House Veterans Affairs Committee, lobbied for the clinic for the last two years. Thursday, he received a letter from VA Secretary James Peake, saying the agency would put an outpatient clinic in Whiteside County.

"I'll be right there among the first," Wolber said. "It will be very nice for the people here locally."

Don Blair, 76, of Sterling, a Korean War veteran who served in the First Marine Air Wing, had a stroke a year ago.

He, too, is happy to have a clinic closer to home.

"Guys won't have to travel very far, [and are] going to get help in case of emergency," Blair said.