Front row: (left to right) Margaret Walton, Ron Scott, Kara Yates and Dave Spencer. Back row: (left to right) Tony McKinney, Brandon Ewing, Lon Miller, Bryce Good and Austin Cook. Not pictured: Jonathan Lybarger. (Photo by Jarrett Van Meter)
By LORI MILLER
Public Relations Director, Mentone EMS
The Four Way Ambulance Emergency Services, Inc. began in November of 1975 with citizens of Mentone, Burket and Talma, and townships of Harison, Franklin, Seward and Newcastle. From this group a thirteen member Board of Directors was formed to govern the ambulance service. Those original members were Wayne Tombaugh, Lois Miller, Larry Pyle, Frank Manwarning, Wymond Wilson, Jim Miller, Marvin Lowman, Chester Clampitt Jr., Wendall Grass, Don Smalley and Robert Hoffman.
In January of 1976, the board purchased a 1973 Dodge van to serve as an ambulance. By the end of the month the ambulance was fully equipped as required by lane and staffed with two Certified Emergency Technicians, Gene Hughes and Darrell King, and two drivers, Wayne Tombaugh and Butch Warren. They began providing 24-hour coverage for the community with all original financing coming from community members and businesses.
The EMS service today is available because the community cares. Our service is staffed with a group of dedicated volunteers covering 24 hours a day and 365 days a year.
Mentone EMS volunteers endure months of training and give up sleep to serve their community. This service is the last of the completely voluntary Basic Life Support services still operating in Kosciusko County. Last year alone we responded to over 400 calls.
Since 1989 Mentone EMS haas been dually responding with Multi-Township EMS Paramedics, Fulton County Paramedics and Life-Med Paramedics, all of whom provide more technical pre-hospital care when needed.
Currently we are active with passing out Boomerang Backpacks at Akron and Mentone elementary schools each week, measuring blood pressures at local banks during EMS week, sponsoring a 5k run/walk, selling cotton candy at Mentone Egg Day in June and helping families cross busy roads during Halloween.
Anyone interested in being an EMT, First Responder or driver should contact Tony McKinney at (574) 551-9915, or Ron Scott at (574) 353-7460. Emails may be sent to mentone_ems@yahoo.com.