Arms of Angels 2012

Arms of Angels.qxd

11/6/2012

9:28 AM

Page 1

Arms of Angels.qxd

11/6/2012

9:28 AM

Page 2

2

23

President/Firefighter Gregg Tickle 6 Year of Service

Vice President/Firefighter Randy Connell 13 Years of Service

Fire Chief/Firefighter Robbi Smith 33 Years of Service

ANGELS

• The Wallace Rural Fire District was organized in 1950.

Our population is 960 and covers 454 square miles (290,560 acres) in Lincoln and Hayes Counties. The terrain is mostly sandhills used primarily for farming and ranching.

ARMS

Asst. Fire Chief/Firefighter 1st Responder Dell Cerny 38 Years of Service

Asst. Chief/Firefighter Joe Bob Atkins 11 Years of Service

EMT Student April Tickle 1 Year of Service

Firefighter Austin Snyder 2 Years of Service

Rescue Captain/EMT Nancy Cool 24 Years of Service

Firefighter Brock Dailey 9 Years of Service

Asst. Rescue Captain/EMT Secretary/Treasurer 12 Years of Service

Firefighter Cameron Meyer 1 Year of Service

ANGELS

OF

•Self-reliance is the rule for fire safety for many people.

If you live in an area where the local fire department is more than a few minutes away because of travel time or distance, or if you are outside the limits of the nearest town, be sure you know how to be self-reliant in a fire emergency.

OF

ARMS

Did you know...

Firefighter Andrew Tickle 1 Year of Service

Firefighter Casey Connell 9 Years of Service

Back Row: Chief Ray Jameson, President Deb Jameson, Ambulance Captain Lea VanBoening, Glen Ledbetter, Ryan Kuhlman,1st Assistant Chief Charlie Andrews, Fire Training Officer Lynn Swanson, Shane Moore, EMS Training Officer Shawn Sullivan, Engine Captain Tom Tobiasson Front Row: PIO Starleen Moore, Manny Pacheco, Mike Sullivan, Vice President Leslie Chrisman, Kathy Pacheco, Linda Gier, 2nd Assistant Chief Stewart VanBoening, Max Isenbart.

Arms of Angels.qxd

11/6/2012

9:28 AM

Page 3

22

3

72-hour Emergency Kit List:

Firefighter Darren Weinman 13 Years of Service

Firefighter Dave Smith 8 Years of Service

Firefighter Donnell Delosh 1 Year of Service

Firefighter Duane Gibson 8 Years of Service

Firefighter Eric Nelson 11 Years of Service

EMT Heather Hagler 1 Year of Service

EMT Irving Jennings 10 Years of Service

Firefighter Justin Conner 10 Years of Service

Firefighter Lee Eastburn 30 Years of Service

Firefighter Lindy Dailey 1 Year of Service

Did you know...

The origin of the word ambulance is from the early 19th century French words meaning 'mobile (horse-drawn) field hospital' - hôpital ambulant.

Ambulant is a Latin term for 'walking'

OF

ANGELS

ARMS

Photo is courtesy of Lacey Sabatka Front row: Tegwin Egle (EMT/Driver), Pat Neben (EMT/Driver), Karol Young (EMT), Shannon Ahlstrom (EMT), Robert Mills (Driver) Back row: Dave Young (Driver), Chad McIntosh (Driver), Jim Mills (EMT/Driver), Shirley Hanna (EMT), Scott Leisy (Driver), Ross Bryant (Driver), Kevin Hood (Driver) Not pictured: Captain Loren Eaton, Trina Mintle (EMT), Rhonda Kursave (EMT), Ron Masten (Driver), Julie Hesseltine (EMT)

OF

• 3 gallons of water per person (one gallon/person/day), rotate every 6 months).

• 3 day supply on non-perishable food • Can opener for canned food.

• Battery-powered or hand crank radio and extra batteries, as well as a cell phone with charger.

• Flashlight and extra batteries.

• First aid kit.

• Whistle to signal for help.

• Dust masks to help filter contaminated air.

• Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties for personal sanitation.

• Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities.

• Local maps and copies of important personal documents.

• Other critical items, such as prescription medicines,infant formulas/diapers, etc. may be considered.

ARMS

ANGELS

This list focuses on maintaining basic needs and essentials.

Arms of Angels.qxd

11/6/2012

9:29 AM

Page 4

4

21

Firefighter/EMT Rudy Vickers 8 Years of Service

EMT Shelley Smith 16 Years of Service

EMT Susan Nelson 24 Years of Service

Firefighter/EMT Tom Dennis 19 Years of Service

ARMS

Back row: Howdy Jochum, Ralph Quick, Paul Jochum, Eric Peterka, June Linstrom, Charlie Gregory, Jay Longacre, Joe Citta, Roger Lathrop, Eric Ridenour, Pat Kallhoff, Chief Randy Jochum Front Row: Heather Fast, Angus Goodwin, Deb Jochum, Kent Lenz, Tyler Fitzpatrick, Troy Rickett, Steve Derr, Renee Gregory, Kristi Grint Not Pictured: Jason Arellano, Richard Chadwick, Mike Einspahr, Todd Hanneman, Brian Holmes, Dan Iske, Stacey Iske, Scott Meyer, Ramsey Copeland, Rodney Ridenour, Gary Weber

ARMS

Pictured from Left to Right: Firefighter Matt Hatch (6 Months of Service Firefighter Mike Gruber (27 Years of Service) Firefighter Steve Hild (15 Years of Service) Firefighter Brady Johnson (kneeling) (2 Months of Service) Firefighter Troy Chestnut (1 Year of Service) Firefighter Levi Nelson (1 Year of Service) Firefighter Todd Roe (2 Years of Service) Fire Chief/Firefighter/EMT Jeff Snyder (21 Years of Service), Firefighter/EMT Beth Fisher (13 Years of Service) Rescue Captain/Firefighter/EMT Pat Hoaglund (17 Years of Service)

Not Pictured: Firefighter Robert Rayburn (23 Years of Service) First Asst. Fire Chief/Firefighter Shad Mann (16 Years of Service) Firefighter Bryan Franzen (15 Years of Service) Firefighter Craig Widick (14 Years of Service) Firefighter Jason Axthelm (11 Years of Service) Firefighter Troy Viter (10 Years of Service) Firefighter/EMT Bryan Hecox (10 Years of Service) 2nd Asst. Fire Chief/Firefighter/EMT Brandon Evert (6 Years of Service) Firefighter Joe Miles (3 Years of Service) Firefighter/EMT Tiffany Hoaglund (3 Years of Service) Firefighter Will Callahan (1 Year of Service) Firefighter Kendal Sybrant (5 Months of Service).

President Steve Derr Vice President Richard Chadwick Secretary/Treasurer Renee Gregory Executive Committee Jay Longacre, Todd Hanneman, Pat Kallhoff Fire Chief Randy Jochum Assistant Fire Chief Troy Rickett Fire Captain Todd Hanneman Fire Lieutenant Roger Lathrop Fire Training Officer Charles Gregory Rescue Captain Richard Chadwick Firefighter Jason Arellano (6 Years of Service) EMT Richard Chadwick (8 Years of Service) Honorary/ EMT Joe Citta (26 Years of Service) Firefighter/Dive Team Steve Derr (4 Years of Service) Honorary/EMT Mike Einspahr (32 Years of Service) Firefighter Tyler Fitzpatrick (2 Years of Service) EMT Renee Gregory (8 Years of Service) Firefighter Charles Gregory (3 Years of Service) EMT/Dive Team Todd Hanneman (13 Years of Service) EMT/Dive Team Brian Holmes (10 Years of Service) Firefighter Dan Iske (3 Years of Service)

Firefighter Stacey Iske (3 Years of Service) EMT Deb Jochum (23 Years of Service) EMT Howdy Jochum (33 Years of Service) EMT Paul Jochum (20 Years of Service) EMT Randy Jochum (32 Years of Service) Firefighter Pat Kallhoff (35 Years of Service) Firefighter Roger Lathrop (3 Years of Service) EMT/Dive Team Kent Lenz (13 Years of Service) EMT Jay Longacre (9 Years of Service) Firefighter/Dive Team Scott Meyer (6 Years of Service) Firefighter/Dive Team Eric Peterka (6 Years of Service) EMT Ralph Quick (2 Years of Service) EMT/Dive Team Troy Rickett (24 Years of Service) Firefighter Eric Ridenour (4 Years of Service) Firefighter Heather Fast (7 Months of Service) Firefighter Angus Goodwin (3 Months of Service) EMT Kristi Grint (3 Months of Service) Firefighter Ramsey Copeland (Newest Member) Honorary/Firefighter Dick Gibbons (40 Years of Service) Honorary/EMT June Linstrom (52 Years of Service) Honorary/Firefighter Rodney Ridenour (45 Years of Service) Honorary/EMT Gary Weber (23 Years of Service)

ANGELS

OF

OF

ANGELS

Firefighter/1st Responder Mike Gunther 12 Years of Service

Arms of Angels.qxd

20

11/6/2012

9:29 AM

Page 5

5

Sutherland volunteers a family

By Andrew Bottrell

them. I went down and got one and the other ambulance got the other one, and we brought them back to Sutherland.”

abottrell@nptelegraph.com June Linstrom has been volunteering for the Sutherland Fire Department as an EMT for 55 years.

“We got our first ambulance from Adams and Swanson’s for $1,” she said. “We had to pay the title.”

Linstrom said that Jack Frieberg, a North Platte firefighter, trained the volunteers in Sutherland and Hershey, both in firefighter’s first aid and later in the EMT courses in the 1970s. She said Sutherland, Hershey and North Platte continue to work closely together today.

That, she said, is how the volunteer ambulance services started in Sutherland, and why they continue today.

“It just went from there,” she said. “I remember the first major run I had was at Hershey, at Butch’s on a bar fight. Two men came in to rob the [bartender]. [The bartender] pulled out a gun and shot both of

“I knelt down to him and he said, ‘can I give you a hug?’” she said.

“That’s all the thanks I would ever need for being on the job.”

Linstrom said she worked the Kellie murders in the 1970s, as well as groundbreaking of the Gerald Gentleman station.

Linstrom commended everyone she’s worked with, and continues to work with today, and said that the volunteers make the Sutherland and Hershey fire and ambulance departments viable. She said that makes her proud.

“All the towns have fire departments and the men are all cross-trained.

We need it, because a lot of lives are saved form it,” she said. “The volunteers are all dedicated. They never ask why. They just go out and do it.”

Firefighter: Jeff Pflaster (2 Years of Service) Firefighter: Clint Maynard (2 Years of Service) Firefighter: Lance Oatman (1 Year of Service) Firefighter: Eric Westerhold (6 Months of Service) Firefighter: Joe Fransen (6 Months of Service) Firefighter: Jace Walker (3 Months of Service) Firefighter: Kenny Crawford (3 Months of Service) Firefighter: Kristen Cervantes (1 Month of Service) EMT: Doyle Wood EMT: Londa Wood EMT: Kim Foreilli EMT: Corey Clay EMR: Andrew Holland EMT: Kim Clay EMT: Bobbie Summerford EMR: Brian Kaufman EMR: Adam Lashley EMT: David Schmidt EMT: Sheila Bacon EMT: Joe Fransen EMT: Rowdy Woodward EMT: Christina Watson EMT: Kendra Turdrup EMT: Rick Larson

Did you know...

Asbestos is a carcinogenic mineral that was used heavily in the building industry until the 1980s, and many older homes and buildings still contain asbestos. When asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) are damaged in a fire or during the overhaul and clean up procedures after the fire, they can release microscopic fibers that remain in the air for long periods of time.

ANGELS

OF

Linstrom was one of the original volunteers in the 1960s when the Sutherland Fire Department took over ambulance services on a volunteer level from Adams and Swanson Funeral Home in North Platte.

A year later, while teaching a demonstration at Sutherland School, Linstrom said she encountered the boy. Though she didn’t remember him, he remembered her and reminded her of her actions.

President: Jess Taylor (8 Years of Service) Vice President: Dustin Watson (4 Years of Service) Treasurer: David Schmidt (5 Years of Service) Secretary: Kevin Fielders (4 Years of Service) Fire Chief: Kem Oatman (31 Years of Service) First Asst. Fire Chief: Jason Baum (10 Years of Service) Second Asst. Fire Chief: Doug Staab (13 Years of Service) Fire Captain: Andrew Holland (11 Years of Service) Fire Captain: Ryan Anderson (10 Years of Service) Fire Captain: Kris Evans (5 Years of Service) Fire Captain: Nick Coble (3 Years of Service) Safety Officer: Dave Linn (13 Years of Service) Firefighter: Paul Page (46 Years of Service) Firefighter: Gary Cranwell (44 Years of Service) Firefighter: Gene Chapin (38 Years of Service) Firefighter: Ron Price (34 Years of Service) Firefighter: Les Manning (29 Years of Service) Firefighter: Paul Holland (25 Years of Service) Firefighter: Bobbie Harrold (15 Years of Service) Firefighter: Rick Larson (6 Years of Service) Firefighter: Rowdy Woodward (6 Years of Service) Firefighter: Dustin Spanel (6 Years of Service) Firefighter: Adam Lashley (6 Years of Service) Firefighter: Tracy Salts (4 Years of Service) Firefighter: Matt Hansen (3 Years of Service)

OF

ARMS

“If I need something, I just call one of them and they’re here to help me,” Linstrom said. “They are all my family.”

“My husband and I happened to be right behind the accident on Highway 30,” she said. “I went out into the waiting room and one of the [Sutherland] firemen was sitting there. I talked to him and asked him what he was doing there. The little boy was his son. He was new and I did not know his family yet.”

ARMS

ANGELS

To her, it’s about the camaraderie she has formed with the people she’s worked with, and helping out those in need. Linstrom, who because of health reasons is in a wheel chair, has had to stop going on calls, but she continues to help the department by doing bookwork and finances.

Linstrom also remembers a fiery crash along Highway 30, where she and her husband pulled a boy from a burning car and took him to the hospital in North Platte.

Arms of Angels.qxd

6

11/6/2012

9:29 AM

By Andrew Bottrell

able for a small community.

abottrell@nptelegraph.com

Wetzel said he attended a few ambulance board meetings from around the area, before making the decision to form an ambulance board in Frontier County.

“The volunteers are very important,” he said. “They are housewives and local business people that take time off their jobs.”

It’s also important for the county to have a method of getting residents to the nearest hospitals in North Platte and McCook. He said if the county had to rely on ambulance service from North Platte or McCook, it would add an hour of drive time for each call.

Before the volunteer service, Wetzel operated the ambulance service out of Wetzel Funeral Service in Curtis, which he owned. However, impending regulations passed in the years prior to 1972, made it harder to operate that ambulance service, and made a volunteer service more sustain-

Since then, the Frontier County Ambulance Service has served most of Frontier County strictly with volunteers.

“It just kind of grew, and now we have 15 volunteers, and we have three ambulances, two in Curtis and one in Maywood,” Wetzel said.

“Maywood has their own squad and Curtis has their own squad.”

The service is kept alive by the volunteers, and maintenance and costs are paid through a charge to people who need ambulance service, and through donations, Wetzel said. Recently, Wetzel said the department received an anonymous donation of $8,000, which he said was dedicated to a young man who died in a car accident earlier this year.

Frontier County Ambulance Squad Curtis-Maywood Front: Asst. Chief/EMT Ryan Pate (5 Years of Service), EMT Lindy Elson(23 Years of Service), Training Officer/EMT ErinPascoe (6 Years of Service), EMR Troy Einsphar (1 Year of Service), EMR Candy Sailor (1 Year of Service) Second Row: EMT Stacey Anderson (2 Years of Service), EMT Glenda Bierfreund (6 Years of Service), Chief/EMT MarciaOwens (32 Years of Service), EMT Kelly Bensel(4 Years of Service), EMT Steve Bensel (2 Years of Service), EMT Chris Doxon(6 Years of Service), Third Row: EMR Greg Blank (1 Year of Service), EMT Kendra Bonini (2 Years of Service), EMT Brad Welch (8 Years of Service), EMT John Bauer (1 Year of Service), EMT Gary Doxon (8 Years of Service) Not pictured: EMT Jessie Herman(2 Years of Service), EMT Stephanie Schultz (2 Years of Service), EMT Chuck Snare (1 Year of Service)

SCHROEDER & SCHROEDER, P.C.

JON S. SCHROEDER

EMT

EMT EMT EMT

Attorney at Law

213 Center Ave. P.O. Box 4 Curtis, NE 69025 308-367-4141

Frontier County Attorney schroeder@curtis-ne.com

First Bank & Trust 100 North Main St. Eustis, NE 69028 308-486-5666

Did you know...

90% of burns associated with cooking equipment resulted from contact with hot equipment or some other non-fire source.

8 years Firefighter/2 years EMT 2 years 9 years 6 years 27 years 25 years 3 years 47 years 2 years 2 years 1 year 4 years 9 years 14 years Firefighter/ 2 years EMT 28 years 4 years 5 years 4 years Firefighter/ 1 year EMT 24 years Firefighter/ 1 year EMT 32 years Firefighter/ 25 years EMT 1 year 2 years 1 year 1 year 6 years 12 years

ANGELS

Wetzel said that people in the small community of 800 – about 2,700 in the county – help each other out, and called the county neighborly and friendly, which is one reason he says the ambulance service continues.

“I came back here and we put an ad in the paper. We had about a dozen people show up to our first meeting. Our first instructor came down from North Platte. The first people had 18 hours of instruction in first aid and ambulance work,” he said.

Firefighter and Firefighter EMT Firefighter Firefighter Firefighter Firefighter Firefighter Firefighter Firefighter Firefighter EMT Firefighter Fire and EMT Firefighter Firefighter Firefighter Firefighter and Firefighter and Firefighter and Firefighter Firefighter Firefighter Firefighter Firefighter Firefighter

OF

ANGELS

George Wetzel, who helped found the volunteer service and volunteered for many years, now sits on the ambulance board, which oversees the outfit. He said the volunteers come from all walks of life.

Josh Allen Bob Blevins Robin Dimmitt Tracy Dimmitt Byron Fox Scott Gaites Eric Garrelts Bob Harvey Leo Harwager Jonathan Heflin Chad Johnson Heather Johnson Lieutenant Alan Kramer Fire Chief Frank Kramer Matt Kramer Nathan Kramer Second Lieutenant Teejay Myers Tom Naughtin Brad Osnes Captain Scott Salisbury Larry Vasquez, Sr. Larry Vasquez, Jr. (LJ) Jon Walz Todd Walz Asst. Fire Chief Gary Warner Ernie Zachry

ARMS

OF

19

Curtis ambulance entering 40th year In 2012, the Frontier County Ambulance Service is celebrating its 40th anniversary.

ARMS

Page 6

Arms of Angels.qxd

11/6/2012

9:29 AM

Page 7

18 Â?

7 Â?

Firefighter/Paramedic John Niles 8 years of service

Firefighter/EMT Justin Thompson 5 years of service

OF

ARMS

Firefighter/EMT Mike McConnell 7 years of service

Firefighter/Paramedic Shane Butterfield 1 year of service

Firefighter/EMT Tad Kleinow 5 years of service

Mission/Vision The Mission of the North Platte Fire Department is to protect lives, property and the environment from the devastating effects of fires and various disasters, both natural and those caused by man. The mission will be accomplished by providing safe, efficient and effective services in the areas of fire suppression, emergency medical care, rescue, hazardous materials response, fire prevention, code enforcement, fire safety and public education.

EMT Staff EMT Kent Kieper EMT Duane Barrett EMT Brenda Edson EMT Ginger Craig EMT Wade Craig Not Pictured: Cliff Transmeyer

ANGELS

Firefighter/Paramedic Preston Bolte 4 months of service

Firefighters

OF

Firefighter/Paramedic Tim Anderson 6 months of service

Firefighters Top Row: Firefighter Mac McCellen (2 Years of Service) Firefighter Kelsey Glodowski (1 Year of Service) Firefighter Roger Lungrin (11 Years of Service) Firefighter Steven Fisher (2 Years of Service) Firefighter Rod Klein (36 Years of Service) Firefighter Darrell Fisher (2 Years of Service) Firefighter Kent Pieper (28 Years of Service) Firefighter Greg Boller (9 Years of Service) Firefighter Randy Edson (34 Years of Service) Firefighter Heath Oberg (7 Years of Service) Firefighter Wade Craig (32 Years of Service) Bottom Row: Firefighter Marvin Halley (1 Year of Service), Firefighter Kevin Fisher (2 Years of Service) Firefighter Duane Barrett (6 Years of Service) Firefighter Travis Metzler (19 Years of Service) Firefighter Dale Oberg (7 Years of Service) Not Pictured: Firefighter Chris Tordrup (7 Years of Service) Firefighter Jerry Johnson (15 Years of Service) Firefighter Ryan Schurr (1 Year of Service) Firefighter Tracy Adkisson (12 Years of Service) Firefighter Jeremy Puryear (4 Years of Service) Firefighter Darren Norby (1 Month of Service)

ARMS

ANGELS

Firefighter/Paramedic Ann Marie Baker 6 years of service

EMT Staff

Arms of Angels.qxd

11/6/2012

9:29 AM

Page 8

17

OF

ARMS HONOR OF

Firefighter/EMT Brad Layher 4 years of service

Firefighter/Paramedic Dan Ewald 1 year of service

Firefighter/Paramedic Drew McMahon 9 months of service

Firefighter/EMT Jeremy Hankla 7 years of service

Firefighter/Paramedic Jesse Harpenau 9 months of service

Firefighter/Paramedic Jim Einspahr 6 years of service

Firefighter/Paramedic Jim Lee 10 years of service

Firefighter/EMT Ryan Thompson 2 years of service

Firefighter/Paramedic Shayna Dunn 5 years of service

Firefighter/Paramedic Blake Anthony 1 year of service

Firefighter/EMT Clayton Manning 5 years of service

Fire Prevention: In the Laundry Room • The proper dryer duct should vent directly outdoors.

• Avoid plastic duct work, which is more easily ignited or melted; opt for a hard metal duct (with as few bends as possible) from the dryer to the exterior of your home.

• Keep the duct free of lint to help reduce the chance of fire spreading from the dryer to the vent. Clean the lint trap after every use.

• Install a smoke detector nearby.

ANGELS

BADGES

Firefighter/Paramedic Leann Hindman 12 years of service

OF

Front row: Matthew Christner, Mike Christner, Kate Repass, Maury Cox, Brenda Yeager, Makenzie Vapenik, Brian Christner, and Tom Dow Back row: Ace Warner, Jeffrey Unger, Zac Richards, Kenny Johnson, Joe Miller, Jeremy Erickson, Toby Cox, Terry Wortman Not Pictured: Michael Bishop, Nathan Brott, Karmajo Hill, Hans Johnson, Kenny Korell, Jeremy Loomis, Beau Richards, Jeff Ross, Roger Scott and Shawn Sullivan

Firefighter Michael Bishop - 8 Months of Service Firefighter Nathan Brott - 3 Months of Service Firefighter Brian Christner - 3 Years of Service Firefighter Matthew Christner - 1 Year of Service Firefighter Michael Christner - 22 Years of Service FirefighterMaury Cox EMT - 11 Years of Service Firefighter Tobi Cox - 5 Years of Service EMT Tom Dow - 22 Years of Service Firefighter Jeremy Erickson - 12 Years of Service EMT Karmajo Hill - 6 Years of Service Firefighter Hans Johnson - 2 Years of Service EMT in Training Kenny Johnson - 1 Year of Service Firefighter Kenny Korell - 1 Year of Service Firefighter Jeremy Loomis - 3 Months of Service Firefighter Joe Miller - 3 Years of Service Firefighter Kate Repass EMT - 22 Years of Service Firefighter Beau Richards EMT - 6 Years of Service Firefighter Zac Richards - 3 Years of Service Firefighter Jeff Ross - 6 Years of Service Firefighter Roger Scott - 4 Years of Service Firefighter Shawn Sullivan - 3 Months of Service EMT Jeff Unger - 18 Years of Service EMT Makenzie Vapenik - 9 Years of Service Firefighter Ace Warner - 1 Year of Service EMT Terry Wortman - 27 Years of Service EMT Brenda Yeager - 21 Years of Service

Firefighter/EMT Kris Rosenthal 2 years of service

ARMS

ANGELS

8

Arms of Angels.qxd

11/6/2012

9:29 AM

Page 9

16 Â?

9 Â?

Captain Mel Everhart 26 years of service

Captain Trent Kleinow 13 years of service

President John Sexson, Jr.

Vice President Rex Woolley

Secretary/Treasurer Barbara Hudson

ARMS

ANGELS

Captain Justin Wilson 11 years of service

ARMS

Captain TJ Williams 12 years of service

Lieutenant Emerald Miller 16 years of service

Lieutenant Ed Etherton 8 years of service

Lieutenant Tom Staton 12 years of service

Fire Chief Gregg Fear

Asst. Fire Chief Mark (Toby) Tobaisson

Safety Officer Tim Brannan

Training Officer Tim Berntson

Foreman Charles R. Stout

Firefighter/EMT Arlee Gentry 5 years of service

Firefighter/EMT Bobby Korkow 5 years of service

Firefighter/Paramedic Christian Barth 9 months of service

Firefighter/Paramedic Curtis Hensley 3 years of service

Firefighter/EMT Dave Rixstine 12 years of service

Foreman Charlie Stout

Rescue Captain Amanda Anide

Firefighter Andrew Hart

Firefighter Benjamin Burkert

Firefighter Bradlee Fear

ANGELS

OF

OF

Captain Jeff Hankla 12 years of service

Arms of Angels.qxd

11/6/2012

9:30 AM

Page 10

10 Â?

15 Â?

Assistant Chief Dennis Thompson 19 years of service

Fire Marshal George Lewis 32 years of service

Battalion Chief Jason Trimble 11 years of service

Battalion Chief Dave Heitman 33 years of service

Battalion Chief Bill Kleinow 34 years of service

Captain Adam Parsons 12 years of service

ARMS

ANGELS

Chief Paul Pederson 40 years of service

ARMS

Firefighter Jason Lashley

Firefighter Tyrel Fear

Firefighter Kolby Smith

Firefighter Deon Hampton

Firefighter Gary Petska

Firefighter Louis (Garnet) Hudson

Firefighter Nicholas Reitz

Maintenance Mechanic Kelly Claudson 26 years of service

Administrative Secretary Alice Wipplinger 5 years of service

Office Intergrated Support Specialist Kim Smith-Patch 6 years of service

Firefighter Richard Weekley

ANGELS

OF

OF

Firefighter Travis Cooley

Arms of Angels.qxd

11/6/2012

9:30 AM

Page 11

11

14

Pilot Brett Woods

Firefighter/Paramedic

Firefighter/Paramedic

TJ Williams

Registrated Nurse Bridget Warren

Firefighter Brett Seamann 12 Years of Service

Firefighter Casey Meyer 22 Years of Service

Firefighter Cody Seamann 4 Years of Service

ARMS

Doctor Jim Smith

Registrated Nurse Paula Bagnell

Registrated Nurse Steph Jacobson

Todd Coffey

Firefighter Dan Carlyle 1 Year of Service

Firefighter David Seamann 12 Years of Service

Firefighter/EMT Gina Sommer 20 Years of Service

Firefighter/EMT Jason Sommer 14 Years of Service

Firefighter/EMT Jim Falcon 21 Years of Service

Registrated Nurse Karl Bergstrom

Firefighter Jim Schleicher 7 Years of Service

Firefighter/EMT Levi Gosnell 2 Years of Service

Firefighter Mike Dailey 4 Years of Service

Firefighter Phillip Walker 1 Year of Service

Firefighter/EMT Rodney Reynolds 25 Years of Service

ANGELS

OF

OF

ANGELS

ARMS

Pilot Andy Skuntz

Arms of Angels.qxd

11/6/2012

9:30 AM

Page 12

13

12

Fire Chief: Ed Black Firefighter/EMT: Alan Miller Firefighter: Trent Neal Firefighter/EMT: Tom Burch Firefighter: Huck Kemp Firefighter: Gary Connell Firefighter: Mark Glauditz Firefighter: Dale Licking Firefighter: Rick Trundull Firefighter: Paul Kramer Firefighter: Shawn Curtis Firefighter: Tim Negley

Did you know...

Did you know...

At the basic level, EMTs focus on emergency skills. This includes dealing with issues including bleeding, fractures, heart attacks and childbirth. Instruction on how to use equipment, such as stretchers, is also provided.

ARMS

ARMS

ANGELS

OF

OF

ANGELS

In 2010, U.S. fire departments responded to 369,500 home structure fires. These fires caused 13,350 civilian injuries, 2,640 civilian deaths, and $6.9 billion in direct damage.

Firefighter/EMT Firefighter Shirley Hubbard Terry Gurciullo 17 Years of Service 31 Years of Service Not pictured: Firefighter/EMT Kelley Dailey (17 Years of Service) Firefighter Tayler Motsinger (4 Years of Service)

Firefighter: Dan Arensdorf Firefighter: Jeff Arensdorf Firefighter: Stan Munson Firefighter/EMT: Arlis Blake Firefighter/EMT: JD Powers Firefighter/EMT: Cindy Gregg Firefighter/EMT: Rhonda Kemp Firefighter/EMT: Tony Powers Firefighter/EMT: Sarah Paxton Firefighter: Arlin Paxton Firefighter/EMT: Kerri Karmer

From left to right:

Back row: Jon Covey (25 Years of Service), Rocky Sailor (1Year of Service), John Bauer (2 Years of Service), Greg Blank (6 Years of Service), Gary Doxon (10 Years of Service), Troy Workmiester (15 Years of Service), Mike Evans (26 Years of Service), and Travis Hatfield (2 Years of Service).

Front row: Steve Benzel (5 Years of Service), Cody Hildebrandt (7 Years of Service), Eric Merritt (1 Year of Service),Chris Doxon (5 Years of Service), and Brandon Doxon (1 Year of Service).

Not pictured: Todd Hartley (4 Years of Service), Mitch Doxon (5 Years of Service), Dan Stineman (1 Year of Service), Josh Tobiasson (1 Year of Service), and Elane Simon– Lenz (7 Years of Service).

Back Row: Sarah Hardin (8 Years of Service), Darrel Forseen (2 Years of Service), Mary Lou Harding (2 Years of Service), Terra Boyer (2 Years of Service), Shelby Hardin (8 Years of Service), Dan Daly (27 Years of Service), Jim Hardy (27 Years of Service), Josh Barnes (8 Years of Service), Don Earl (16 Years of Service), Bo Petit (1 Year of Service).

Front Row: Doug Boyer (30 Years of Service), Barb Svoboda (2 Years of Service), Sooky Marks (22 Years of Service), Marie Young (7 Years of Service), Brandon Boyer (2 Years of Service), Rodney Andrews (31 Years of Service), Kelly Garcia (2 Years of Service), Jake Byrd (1 Year of Service), Tony Corbin (7 Years of Service).

Not Pictured: Tim Andersen (2 Years of Service), Anna Baum (4 Years of Service), Jill Buchfinck (22 Years of Service), Marvin Cox (2 Years of Service), Pat Donohoe (7 Years of Service), Don Lannigan (16 Years of Service), Mel McDowell (7 Years of Service), Russ Monette (5 Years of Service), Todd Peters (2 Years of Service), Deanna Simonson (7 Years of Service), Wynn Wiens (14 Years of Service), Dave Sullivan (13 Years of Service).

Arms of Angels.qxd

11/6/2012

9:30 AM

Page 12

13

12

Fire Chief: Ed Black Firefighter/EMT: Alan Miller Firefighter: Trent Neal Firefighter/EMT: Tom Burch Firefighter: Huck Kemp Firefighter: Gary Connell Firefighter: Mark Glauditz Firefighter: Dale Licking Firefighter: Rick Trundull Firefighter: Paul Kramer Firefighter: Shawn Curtis Firefighter: Tim Negley

Did you know...

Did you know...

At the basic level, EMTs focus on emergency skills. This includes dealing with issues including bleeding, fractures, heart attacks and childbirth. Instruction on how to use equipment, such as stretchers, is also provided.

ARMS

ARMS

ANGELS

OF

OF

ANGELS

In 2010, U.S. fire departments responded to 369,500 home structure fires. These fires caused 13,350 civilian injuries, 2,640 civilian deaths, and $6.9 billion in direct damage.

Firefighter/EMT Firefighter Shirley Hubbard Terry Gurciullo 17 Years of Service 31 Years of Service Not pictured: Firefighter/EMT Kelley Dailey (17 Years of Service) Firefighter Tayler Motsinger (4 Years of Service)

Firefighter: Dan Arensdorf Firefighter: Jeff Arensdorf Firefighter: Stan Munson Firefighter/EMT: Arlis Blake Firefighter/EMT: JD Powers Firefighter/EMT: Cindy Gregg Firefighter/EMT: Rhonda Kemp Firefighter/EMT: Tony Powers Firefighter/EMT: Sarah Paxton Firefighter: Arlin Paxton Firefighter/EMT: Kerri Karmer

From left to right:

Back row: Jon Covey (25 Years of Service), Rocky Sailor (1Year of Service), John Bauer (2 Years of Service), Greg Blank (6 Years of Service), Gary Doxon (10 Years of Service), Troy Workmiester (15 Years of Service), Mike Evans (26 Years of Service), and Travis Hatfield (2 Years of Service).

Front row: Steve Benzel (5 Years of Service), Cody Hildebrandt (7 Years of Service), Eric Merritt (1 Year of Service),Chris Doxon (5 Years of Service), and Brandon Doxon (1 Year of Service).

Not pictured: Todd Hartley (4 Years of Service), Mitch Doxon (5 Years of Service), Dan Stineman (1 Year of Service), Josh Tobiasson (1 Year of Service), and Elane Simon– Lenz (7 Years of Service).

Back Row: Sarah Hardin (8 Years of Service), Darrel Forseen (2 Years of Service), Mary Lou Harding (2 Years of Service), Terra Boyer (2 Years of Service), Shelby Hardin (8 Years of Service), Dan Daly (27 Years of Service), Jim Hardy (27 Years of Service), Josh Barnes (8 Years of Service), Don Earl (16 Years of Service), Bo Petit (1 Year of Service).

Front Row: Doug Boyer (30 Years of Service), Barb Svoboda (2 Years of Service), Sooky Marks (22 Years of Service), Marie Young (7 Years of Service), Brandon Boyer (2 Years of Service), Rodney Andrews (31 Years of Service), Kelly Garcia (2 Years of Service), Jake Byrd (1 Year of Service), Tony Corbin (7 Years of Service).

Not Pictured: Tim Andersen (2 Years of Service), Anna Baum (4 Years of Service), Jill Buchfinck (22 Years of Service), Marvin Cox (2 Years of Service), Pat Donohoe (7 Years of Service), Don Lannigan (16 Years of Service), Mel McDowell (7 Years of Service), Russ Monette (5 Years of Service), Todd Peters (2 Years of Service), Deanna Simonson (7 Years of Service), Wynn Wiens (14 Years of Service), Dave Sullivan (13 Years of Service).

Arms of Angels.qxd

11/6/2012

9:30 AM

Page 11

11

14

Pilot Brett Woods

Firefighter/Paramedic

Firefighter/Paramedic

TJ Williams

Registrated Nurse Bridget Warren

Firefighter Brett Seamann 12 Years of Service

Firefighter Casey Meyer 22 Years of Service

Firefighter Cody Seamann 4 Years of Service

ARMS

Doctor Jim Smith

Registrated Nurse Paula Bagnell

Registrated Nurse Steph Jacobson

Todd Coffey

Firefighter Dan Carlyle 1 Year of Service

Firefighter David Seamann 12 Years of Service

Firefighter/EMT Gina Sommer 20 Years of Service

Firefighter/EMT Jason Sommer 14 Years of Service

Firefighter/EMT Jim Falcon 21 Years of Service

Registrated Nurse Karl Bergstrom

Firefighter Jim Schleicher 7 Years of Service

Firefighter/EMT Levi Gosnell 2 Years of Service

Firefighter Mike Dailey 4 Years of Service

Firefighter Phillip Walker 1 Year of Service

Firefighter/EMT Rodney Reynolds 25 Years of Service

ANGELS

OF

OF

ANGELS

ARMS

Pilot Andy Skuntz

Arms of Angels.qxd

11/6/2012

9:30 AM

Page 10

10 Â?

15 Â?

Assistant Chief Dennis Thompson 19 years of service

Fire Marshal George Lewis 32 years of service

Battalion Chief Jason Trimble 11 years of service

Battalion Chief Dave Heitman 33 years of service

Battalion Chief Bill Kleinow 34 years of service

Captain Adam Parsons 12 years of service

ARMS

ANGELS

Chief Paul Pederson 40 years of service

ARMS

Firefighter Jason Lashley

Firefighter Tyrel Fear

Firefighter Kolby Smith

Firefighter Deon Hampton

Firefighter Gary Petska

Firefighter Louis (Garnet) Hudson

Firefighter Nicholas Reitz

Maintenance Mechanic Kelly Claudson 26 years of service

Administrative Secretary Alice Wipplinger 5 years of service

Office Intergrated Support Specialist Kim Smith-Patch 6 years of service

Firefighter Richard Weekley

ANGELS

OF

OF

Firefighter Travis Cooley

Arms of Angels.qxd

11/6/2012

9:29 AM

Page 9

16 Â?

9 Â?

Captain Mel Everhart 26 years of service

Captain Trent Kleinow 13 years of service

President John Sexson, Jr.

Vice President Rex Woolley

Secretary/Treasurer Barbara Hudson

ARMS

ANGELS

Captain Justin Wilson 11 years of service

ARMS

Captain TJ Williams 12 years of service

Lieutenant Emerald Miller 16 years of service

Lieutenant Ed Etherton 8 years of service

Lieutenant Tom Staton 12 years of service

Fire Chief Gregg Fear

Asst. Fire Chief Mark (Toby) Tobaisson

Safety Officer Tim Brannan

Training Officer Tim Berntson

Foreman Charles R. Stout

Firefighter/EMT Arlee Gentry 5 years of service

Firefighter/EMT Bobby Korkow 5 years of service

Firefighter/Paramedic Christian Barth 9 months of service

Firefighter/Paramedic Curtis Hensley 3 years of service

Firefighter/EMT Dave Rixstine 12 years of service

Foreman Charlie Stout

Rescue Captain Amanda Anide

Firefighter Andrew Hart

Firefighter Benjamin Burkert

Firefighter Bradlee Fear

ANGELS

OF

OF

Captain Jeff Hankla 12 years of service

Arms of Angels.qxd

11/6/2012

9:29 AM

Page 8

17

OF

ARMS HONOR OF

Firefighter/EMT Brad Layher 4 years of service

Firefighter/Paramedic Dan Ewald 1 year of service

Firefighter/Paramedic Drew McMahon 9 months of service

Firefighter/EMT Jeremy Hankla 7 years of service

Firefighter/Paramedic Jesse Harpenau 9 months of service

Firefighter/Paramedic Jim Einspahr 6 years of service

Firefighter/Paramedic Jim Lee 10 years of service

Firefighter/EMT Ryan Thompson 2 years of service

Firefighter/Paramedic Shayna Dunn 5 years of service

Firefighter/Paramedic Blake Anthony 1 year of service

Firefighter/EMT Clayton Manning 5 years of service

Fire Prevention: In the Laundry Room • The proper dryer duct should vent directly outdoors.

• Avoid plastic duct work, which is more easily ignited or melted; opt for a hard metal duct (with as few bends as possible) from the dryer to the exterior of your home.

• Keep the duct free of lint to help reduce the chance of fire spreading from the dryer to the vent. Clean the lint trap after every use.

• Install a smoke detector nearby.

ANGELS

BADGES

Firefighter/Paramedic Leann Hindman 12 years of service

OF

Front row: Matthew Christner, Mike Christner, Kate Repass, Maury Cox, Brenda Yeager, Makenzie Vapenik, Brian Christner, and Tom Dow Back row: Ace Warner, Jeffrey Unger, Zac Richards, Kenny Johnson, Joe Miller, Jeremy Erickson, Toby Cox, Terry Wortman Not Pictured: Michael Bishop, Nathan Brott, Karmajo Hill, Hans Johnson, Kenny Korell, Jeremy Loomis, Beau Richards, Jeff Ross, Roger Scott and Shawn Sullivan

Firefighter Michael Bishop - 8 Months of Service Firefighter Nathan Brott - 3 Months of Service Firefighter Brian Christner - 3 Years of Service Firefighter Matthew Christner - 1 Year of Service Firefighter Michael Christner - 22 Years of Service FirefighterMaury Cox EMT - 11 Years of Service Firefighter Tobi Cox - 5 Years of Service EMT Tom Dow - 22 Years of Service Firefighter Jeremy Erickson - 12 Years of Service EMT Karmajo Hill - 6 Years of Service Firefighter Hans Johnson - 2 Years of Service EMT in Training Kenny Johnson - 1 Year of Service Firefighter Kenny Korell - 1 Year of Service Firefighter Jeremy Loomis - 3 Months of Service Firefighter Joe Miller - 3 Years of Service Firefighter Kate Repass EMT - 22 Years of Service Firefighter Beau Richards EMT - 6 Years of Service Firefighter Zac Richards - 3 Years of Service Firefighter Jeff Ross - 6 Years of Service Firefighter Roger Scott - 4 Years of Service Firefighter Shawn Sullivan - 3 Months of Service EMT Jeff Unger - 18 Years of Service EMT Makenzie Vapenik - 9 Years of Service Firefighter Ace Warner - 1 Year of Service EMT Terry Wortman - 27 Years of Service EMT Brenda Yeager - 21 Years of Service

Firefighter/EMT Kris Rosenthal 2 years of service

ARMS

ANGELS

8

Arms of Angels.qxd

11/6/2012

9:29 AM

Page 7

18 Â?

7 Â?

Firefighter/Paramedic John Niles 8 years of service

Firefighter/EMT Justin Thompson 5 years of service

OF

ARMS

Firefighter/EMT Mike McConnell 7 years of service

Firefighter/Paramedic Shane Butterfield 1 year of service

Firefighter/EMT Tad Kleinow 5 years of service

Mission/Vision The Mission of the North Platte Fire Department is to protect lives, property and the environment from the devastating effects of fires and various disasters, both natural and those caused by man. The mission will be accomplished by providing safe, efficient and effective services in the areas of fire suppression, emergency medical care, rescue, hazardous materials response, fire prevention, code enforcement, fire safety and public education.

EMT Staff EMT Kent Kieper EMT Duane Barrett EMT Brenda Edson EMT Ginger Craig EMT Wade Craig Not Pictured: Cliff Transmeyer

ANGELS

Firefighter/Paramedic Preston Bolte 4 months of service

Firefighters

OF

Firefighter/Paramedic Tim Anderson 6 months of service

Firefighters Top Row: Firefighter Mac McCellen (2 Years of Service) Firefighter Kelsey Glodowski (1 Year of Service) Firefighter Roger Lungrin (11 Years of Service) Firefighter Steven Fisher (2 Years of Service) Firefighter Rod Klein (36 Years of Service) Firefighter Darrell Fisher (2 Years of Service) Firefighter Kent Pieper (28 Years of Service) Firefighter Greg Boller (9 Years of Service) Firefighter Randy Edson (34 Years of Service) Firefighter Heath Oberg (7 Years of Service) Firefighter Wade Craig (32 Years of Service) Bottom Row: Firefighter Marvin Halley (1 Year of Service), Firefighter Kevin Fisher (2 Years of Service) Firefighter Duane Barrett (6 Years of Service) Firefighter Travis Metzler (19 Years of Service) Firefighter Dale Oberg (7 Years of Service) Not Pictured: Firefighter Chris Tordrup (7 Years of Service) Firefighter Jerry Johnson (15 Years of Service) Firefighter Ryan Schurr (1 Year of Service) Firefighter Tracy Adkisson (12 Years of Service) Firefighter Jeremy Puryear (4 Years of Service) Firefighter Darren Norby (1 Month of Service)

ARMS

ANGELS

Firefighter/Paramedic Ann Marie Baker 6 years of service

EMT Staff

Arms of Angels.qxd

6

11/6/2012

9:29 AM

By Andrew Bottrell

able for a small community.

abottrell@nptelegraph.com

Wetzel said he attended a few ambulance board meetings from around the area, before making the decision to form an ambulance board in Frontier County.

“The volunteers are very important,” he said. “They are housewives and local business people that take time off their jobs.”

It’s also important for the county to have a method of getting residents to the nearest hospitals in North Platte and McCook. He said if the county had to rely on ambulance service from North Platte or McCook, it would add an hour of drive time for each call.

Before the volunteer service, Wetzel operated the ambulance service out of Wetzel Funeral Service in Curtis, which he owned. However, impending regulations passed in the years prior to 1972, made it harder to operate that ambulance service, and made a volunteer service more sustain-

Since then, the Frontier County Ambulance Service has served most of Frontier County strictly with volunteers.

“It just kind of grew, and now we have 15 volunteers, and we have three ambulances, two in Curtis and one in Maywood,” Wetzel said.

“Maywood has their own squad and Curtis has their own squad.”

The service is kept alive by the volunteers, and maintenance and costs are paid through a charge to people who need ambulance service, and through donations, Wetzel said. Recently, Wetzel said the department received an anonymous donation of $8,000, which he said was dedicated to a young man who died in a car accident earlier this year.

Frontier County Ambulance Squad Curtis-Maywood Front: Asst. Chief/EMT Ryan Pate (5 Years of Service), EMT Lindy Elson(23 Years of Service), Training Officer/EMT ErinPascoe (6 Years of Service), EMR Troy Einsphar (1 Year of Service), EMR Candy Sailor (1 Year of Service) Second Row: EMT Stacey Anderson (2 Years of Service), EMT Glenda Bierfreund (6 Years of Service), Chief/EMT MarciaOwens (32 Years of Service), EMT Kelly Bensel(4 Years of Service), EMT Steve Bensel (2 Years of Service), EMT Chris Doxon(6 Years of Service), Third Row: EMR Greg Blank (1 Year of Service), EMT Kendra Bonini (2 Years of Service), EMT Brad Welch (8 Years of Service), EMT John Bauer (1 Year of Service), EMT Gary Doxon (8 Years of Service) Not pictured: EMT Jessie Herman(2 Years of Service), EMT Stephanie Schultz (2 Years of Service), EMT Chuck Snare (1 Year of Service)

SCHROEDER & SCHROEDER, P.C.

JON S. SCHROEDER

EMT

EMT EMT EMT

Attorney at Law

213 Center Ave. P.O. Box 4 Curtis, NE 69025 308-367-4141

Frontier County Attorney schroeder@curtis-ne.com

First Bank & Trust 100 North Main St. Eustis, NE 69028 308-486-5666

Did you know...

90% of burns associated with cooking equipment resulted from contact with hot equipment or some other non-fire source.

8 years Firefighter/2 years EMT 2 years 9 years 6 years 27 years 25 years 3 years 47 years 2 years 2 years 1 year 4 years 9 years 14 years Firefighter/ 2 years EMT 28 years 4 years 5 years 4 years Firefighter/ 1 year EMT 24 years Firefighter/ 1 year EMT 32 years Firefighter/ 25 years EMT 1 year 2 years 1 year 1 year 6 years 12 years

ANGELS

Wetzel said that people in the small community of 800 – about 2,700 in the county – help each other out, and called the county neighborly and friendly, which is one reason he says the ambulance service continues.

“I came back here and we put an ad in the paper. We had about a dozen people show up to our first meeting. Our first instructor came down from North Platte. The first people had 18 hours of instruction in first aid and ambulance work,” he said.

Firefighter and Firefighter EMT Firefighter Firefighter Firefighter Firefighter Firefighter Firefighter Firefighter Firefighter EMT Firefighter Fire and EMT Firefighter Firefighter Firefighter Firefighter and Firefighter and Firefighter and Firefighter Firefighter Firefighter Firefighter Firefighter Firefighter

OF

ANGELS

George Wetzel, who helped found the volunteer service and volunteered for many years, now sits on the ambulance board, which oversees the outfit. He said the volunteers come from all walks of life.

Josh Allen Bob Blevins Robin Dimmitt Tracy Dimmitt Byron Fox Scott Gaites Eric Garrelts Bob Harvey Leo Harwager Jonathan Heflin Chad Johnson Heather Johnson Lieutenant Alan Kramer Fire Chief Frank Kramer Matt Kramer Nathan Kramer Second Lieutenant Teejay Myers Tom Naughtin Brad Osnes Captain Scott Salisbury Larry Vasquez, Sr. Larry Vasquez, Jr. (LJ) Jon Walz Todd Walz Asst. Fire Chief Gary Warner Ernie Zachry

ARMS

OF

19

Curtis ambulance entering 40th year In 2012, the Frontier County Ambulance Service is celebrating its 40th anniversary.

ARMS

Page 6

Arms of Angels.qxd

20

11/6/2012

9:29 AM

Page 5

5

Sutherland volunteers a family

By Andrew Bottrell

them. I went down and got one and the other ambulance got the other one, and we brought them back to Sutherland.”

abottrell@nptelegraph.com June Linstrom has been volunteering for the Sutherland Fire Department as an EMT for 55 years.

“We got our first ambulance from Adams and Swanson’s for $1,” she said. “We had to pay the title.”

Linstrom said that Jack Frieberg, a North Platte firefighter, trained the volunteers in Sutherland and Hershey, both in firefighter’s first aid and later in the EMT courses in the 1970s. She said Sutherland, Hershey and North Platte continue to work closely together today.

That, she said, is how the volunteer ambulance services started in Sutherland, and why they continue today.

“It just went from there,” she said. “I remember the first major run I had was at Hershey, at Butch’s on a bar fight. Two men came in to rob the [bartender]. [The bartender] pulled out a gun and shot both of

“I knelt down to him and he said, ‘can I give you a hug?’” she said.

“That’s all the thanks I would ever need for being on the job.”

Linstrom said she worked the Kellie murders in the 1970s, as well as groundbreaking of the Gerald Gentleman station.

Linstrom commended everyone she’s worked with, and continues to work with today, and said that the volunteers make the Sutherland and Hershey fire and ambulance departments viable. She said that makes her proud.

“All the towns have fire departments and the men are all cross-trained.

We need it, because a lot of lives are saved form it,” she said. “The volunteers are all dedicated. They never ask why. They just go out and do it.”

Firefighter: Jeff Pflaster (2 Years of Service) Firefighter: Clint Maynard (2 Years of Service) Firefighter: Lance Oatman (1 Year of Service) Firefighter: Eric Westerhold (6 Months of Service) Firefighter: Joe Fransen (6 Months of Service) Firefighter: Jace Walker (3 Months of Service) Firefighter: Kenny Crawford (3 Months of Service) Firefighter: Kristen Cervantes (1 Month of Service) EMT: Doyle Wood EMT: Londa Wood EMT: Kim Foreilli EMT: Corey Clay EMR: Andrew Holland EMT: Kim Clay EMT: Bobbie Summerford EMR: Brian Kaufman EMR: Adam Lashley EMT: David Schmidt EMT: Sheila Bacon EMT: Joe Fransen EMT: Rowdy Woodward EMT: Christina Watson EMT: Kendra Turdrup EMT: Rick Larson

Did you know...

Asbestos is a carcinogenic mineral that was used heavily in the building industry until the 1980s, and many older homes and buildings still contain asbestos. When asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) are damaged in a fire or during the overhaul and clean up procedures after the fire, they can release microscopic fibers that remain in the air for long periods of time.

ANGELS

OF

Linstrom was one of the original volunteers in the 1960s when the Sutherland Fire Department took over ambulance services on a volunteer level from Adams and Swanson Funeral Home in North Platte.

A year later, while teaching a demonstration at Sutherland School, Linstrom said she encountered the boy. Though she didn’t remember him, he remembered her and reminded her of her actions.

President: Jess Taylor (8 Years of Service) Vice President: Dustin Watson (4 Years of Service) Treasurer: David Schmidt (5 Years of Service) Secretary: Kevin Fielders (4 Years of Service) Fire Chief: Kem Oatman (31 Years of Service) First Asst. Fire Chief: Jason Baum (10 Years of Service) Second Asst. Fire Chief: Doug Staab (13 Years of Service) Fire Captain: Andrew Holland (11 Years of Service) Fire Captain: Ryan Anderson (10 Years of Service) Fire Captain: Kris Evans (5 Years of Service) Fire Captain: Nick Coble (3 Years of Service) Safety Officer: Dave Linn (13 Years of Service) Firefighter: Paul Page (46 Years of Service) Firefighter: Gary Cranwell (44 Years of Service) Firefighter: Gene Chapin (38 Years of Service) Firefighter: Ron Price (34 Years of Service) Firefighter: Les Manning (29 Years of Service) Firefighter: Paul Holland (25 Years of Service) Firefighter: Bobbie Harrold (15 Years of Service) Firefighter: Rick Larson (6 Years of Service) Firefighter: Rowdy Woodward (6 Years of Service) Firefighter: Dustin Spanel (6 Years of Service) Firefighter: Adam Lashley (6 Years of Service) Firefighter: Tracy Salts (4 Years of Service) Firefighter: Matt Hansen (3 Years of Service)

OF

ARMS

“If I need something, I just call one of them and they’re here to help me,” Linstrom said. “They are all my family.”

“My husband and I happened to be right behind the accident on Highway 30,” she said. “I went out into the waiting room and one of the [Sutherland] firemen was sitting there. I talked to him and asked him what he was doing there. The little boy was his son. He was new and I did not know his family yet.”

ARMS

ANGELS

To her, it’s about the camaraderie she has formed with the people she’s worked with, and helping out those in need. Linstrom, who because of health reasons is in a wheel chair, has had to stop going on calls, but she continues to help the department by doing bookwork and finances.

Linstrom also remembers a fiery crash along Highway 30, where she and her husband pulled a boy from a burning car and took him to the hospital in North Platte.

Arms of Angels.qxd

11/6/2012

9:29 AM

Page 4

4

21

Firefighter/EMT Rudy Vickers 8 Years of Service

EMT Shelley Smith 16 Years of Service

EMT Susan Nelson 24 Years of Service

Firefighter/EMT Tom Dennis 19 Years of Service

ARMS

Back row: Howdy Jochum, Ralph Quick, Paul Jochum, Eric Peterka, June Linstrom, Charlie Gregory, Jay Longacre, Joe Citta, Roger Lathrop, Eric Ridenour, Pat Kallhoff, Chief Randy Jochum Front Row: Heather Fast, Angus Goodwin, Deb Jochum, Kent Lenz, Tyler Fitzpatrick, Troy Rickett, Steve Derr, Renee Gregory, Kristi Grint Not Pictured: Jason Arellano, Richard Chadwick, Mike Einspahr, Todd Hanneman, Brian Holmes, Dan Iske, Stacey Iske, Scott Meyer, Ramsey Copeland, Rodney Ridenour, Gary Weber

ARMS

Pictured from Left to Right: Firefighter Matt Hatch (6 Months of Service Firefighter Mike Gruber (27 Years of Service) Firefighter Steve Hild (15 Years of Service) Firefighter Brady Johnson (kneeling) (2 Months of Service) Firefighter Troy Chestnut (1 Year of Service) Firefighter Levi Nelson (1 Year of Service) Firefighter Todd Roe (2 Years of Service) Fire Chief/Firefighter/EMT Jeff Snyder (21 Years of Service), Firefighter/EMT Beth Fisher (13 Years of Service) Rescue Captain/Firefighter/EMT Pat Hoaglund (17 Years of Service)

Not Pictured: Firefighter Robert Rayburn (23 Years of Service) First Asst. Fire Chief/Firefighter Shad Mann (16 Years of Service) Firefighter Bryan Franzen (15 Years of Service) Firefighter Craig Widick (14 Years of Service) Firefighter Jason Axthelm (11 Years of Service) Firefighter Troy Viter (10 Years of Service) Firefighter/EMT Bryan Hecox (10 Years of Service) 2nd Asst. Fire Chief/Firefighter/EMT Brandon Evert (6 Years of Service) Firefighter Joe Miles (3 Years of Service) Firefighter/EMT Tiffany Hoaglund (3 Years of Service) Firefighter Will Callahan (1 Year of Service) Firefighter Kendal Sybrant (5 Months of Service).

President Steve Derr Vice President Richard Chadwick Secretary/Treasurer Renee Gregory Executive Committee Jay Longacre, Todd Hanneman, Pat Kallhoff Fire Chief Randy Jochum Assistant Fire Chief Troy Rickett Fire Captain Todd Hanneman Fire Lieutenant Roger Lathrop Fire Training Officer Charles Gregory Rescue Captain Richard Chadwick Firefighter Jason Arellano (6 Years of Service) EMT Richard Chadwick (8 Years of Service) Honorary/ EMT Joe Citta (26 Years of Service) Firefighter/Dive Team Steve Derr (4 Years of Service) Honorary/EMT Mike Einspahr (32 Years of Service) Firefighter Tyler Fitzpatrick (2 Years of Service) EMT Renee Gregory (8 Years of Service) Firefighter Charles Gregory (3 Years of Service) EMT/Dive Team Todd Hanneman (13 Years of Service) EMT/Dive Team Brian Holmes (10 Years of Service) Firefighter Dan Iske (3 Years of Service)

Firefighter Stacey Iske (3 Years of Service) EMT Deb Jochum (23 Years of Service) EMT Howdy Jochum (33 Years of Service) EMT Paul Jochum (20 Years of Service) EMT Randy Jochum (32 Years of Service) Firefighter Pat Kallhoff (35 Years of Service) Firefighter Roger Lathrop (3 Years of Service) EMT/Dive Team Kent Lenz (13 Years of Service) EMT Jay Longacre (9 Years of Service) Firefighter/Dive Team Scott Meyer (6 Years of Service) Firefighter/Dive Team Eric Peterka (6 Years of Service) EMT Ralph Quick (2 Years of Service) EMT/Dive Team Troy Rickett (24 Years of Service) Firefighter Eric Ridenour (4 Years of Service) Firefighter Heather Fast (7 Months of Service) Firefighter Angus Goodwin (3 Months of Service) EMT Kristi Grint (3 Months of Service) Firefighter Ramsey Copeland (Newest Member) Honorary/Firefighter Dick Gibbons (40 Years of Service) Honorary/EMT June Linstrom (52 Years of Service) Honorary/Firefighter Rodney Ridenour (45 Years of Service) Honorary/EMT Gary Weber (23 Years of Service)

ANGELS

OF

OF

ANGELS

Firefighter/1st Responder Mike Gunther 12 Years of Service

Arms of Angels.qxd

11/6/2012

9:28 AM

Page 3

22

3

72-hour Emergency Kit List:

Firefighter Darren Weinman 13 Years of Service

Firefighter Dave Smith 8 Years of Service

Firefighter Donnell Delosh 1 Year of Service

Firefighter Duane Gibson 8 Years of Service

Firefighter Eric Nelson 11 Years of Service

EMT Heather Hagler 1 Year of Service

EMT Irving Jennings 10 Years of Service

Firefighter Justin Conner 10 Years of Service

Firefighter Lee Eastburn 30 Years of Service

Firefighter Lindy Dailey 1 Year of Service

Did you know...

The origin of the word ambulance is from the early 19th century French words meaning 'mobile (horse-drawn) field hospital' - hôpital ambulant.

Ambulant is a Latin term for 'walking'

OF

ANGELS

ARMS

Photo is courtesy of Lacey Sabatka Front row: Tegwin Egle (EMT/Driver), Pat Neben (EMT/Driver), Karol Young (EMT), Shannon Ahlstrom (EMT), Robert Mills (Driver) Back row: Dave Young (Driver), Chad McIntosh (Driver), Jim Mills (EMT/Driver), Shirley Hanna (EMT), Scott Leisy (Driver), Ross Bryant (Driver), Kevin Hood (Driver) Not pictured: Captain Loren Eaton, Trina Mintle (EMT), Rhonda Kursave (EMT), Ron Masten (Driver), Julie Hesseltine (EMT)

OF

• 3 gallons of water per person (one gallon/person/day), rotate every 6 months).

• 3 day supply on non-perishable food • Can opener for canned food.

• Battery-powered or hand crank radio and extra batteries, as well as a cell phone with charger.

• Flashlight and extra batteries.

• First aid kit.

• Whistle to signal for help.

• Dust masks to help filter contaminated air.

• Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties for personal sanitation.

• Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities.

• Local maps and copies of important personal documents.

• Other critical items, such as prescription medicines,infant formulas/diapers, etc. may be considered.

ARMS

ANGELS

This list focuses on maintaining basic needs and essentials.

Arms of Angels.qxd

11/6/2012

9:28 AM

Page 2

2

23

President/Firefighter Gregg Tickle 6 Year of Service

Vice President/Firefighter Randy Connell 13 Years of Service

Fire Chief/Firefighter Robbi Smith 33 Years of Service

ANGELS

• The Wallace Rural Fire District was organized in 1950.

Our population is 960 and covers 454 square miles (290,560 acres) in Lincoln and Hayes Counties. The terrain is mostly sandhills used primarily for farming and ranching.

ARMS

Asst. Fire Chief/Firefighter 1st Responder Dell Cerny 38 Years of Service

Asst. Chief/Firefighter Joe Bob Atkins 11 Years of Service

EMT Student April Tickle 1 Year of Service

Firefighter Austin Snyder 2 Years of Service

Rescue Captain/EMT Nancy Cool 24 Years of Service

Firefighter Brock Dailey 9 Years of Service

Asst. Rescue Captain/EMT Secretary/Treasurer 12 Years of Service

Firefighter Cameron Meyer 1 Year of Service

ANGELS

OF

•Self-reliance is the rule for fire safety for many people.

If you live in an area where the local fire department is more than a few minutes away because of travel time or distance, or if you are outside the limits of the nearest town, be sure you know how to be self-reliant in a fire emergency.

OF

ARMS

Did you know...

Firefighter Andrew Tickle 1 Year of Service

Firefighter Casey Connell 9 Years of Service

Back Row: Chief Ray Jameson, President Deb Jameson, Ambulance Captain Lea VanBoening, Glen Ledbetter, Ryan Kuhlman,1st Assistant Chief Charlie Andrews, Fire Training Officer Lynn Swanson, Shane Moore, EMS Training Officer Shawn Sullivan, Engine Captain Tom Tobiasson Front Row: PIO Starleen Moore, Manny Pacheco, Mike Sullivan, Vice President Leslie Chrisman, Kathy Pacheco, Linda Gier, 2nd Assistant Chief Stewart VanBoening, Max Isenbart.

Arms of Angels.qxd

11/6/2012

9:28 AM

Page 1