Guthrie County residents have an important vote to cast on Nov. 5 — and not just for the president of the United States. Those of you concerned about emergency medical services (which should mean everyone) need to decide whether or not to approve a measure for a countywide EMS framework, which would be funded through a levy of 75 cents per $1,000 of taxable valuation for properties.
The revenue generated from this levy would be used to contract with Panora EMS, Stuart Rescue and Adair Fire and Rescue to ensure emergency medical care is accessible throughout the entire county. This is to include the addition of a fully staffed ambulance in Guthrie Center to improve response times.
Why do we need this countywide EMS framework? Proponents of the levy say the existing structure presents challenges in terms of coordination, resource allocation and comprehensive coverage. In particular, significant gaps in coverage exist when it comes to serving the western and northwestern portions of the county.
I am not writing this column to convince you to vote for this tax levy or vote against it. As with all elections, you have to make a decision based on your personal situation and needs — and, hopefully, a consideration for others’ situations and needs, too. What I do want to share with you is something I learned after reading newspaper clippings from Dave Beidelman, who, along with family members before him, owned and operated funeral homes in Panora and Guthrie Center. According to a 1955 newspaper advertisement he showed me, the O.J. Beidelman Funeral Home had “the ONLY car in Guthrie County, used only for moving the sick or injured. Trained Attendants. Oxygen Equipment. Portable Stretchers. Arm and Leg Splints.” The ad also stated that the company’s “Universal Car” was used as second ambulance. Yes, the funeral homes provided ambulance service.
A newspaper story from the same year also detailed the purchase of the new ambulance, stating, “The new vehicle is the largest Ford made and is built to provide the utmost in patient comfort and safety. It is painted a light blue with the interior a matching light blue. This is to differentiate it from the regular hearse used for funerals.”
The article also stated that the ambulance was to be used solely for the transportation of sick and injured patients, that it was on call 24 hours a day, and that it could carry two patients at one time.
Now, before you suggest this to current funeral home owners and operators Curtis Twigg and Craig Twigg (and before those guys strangle me), you should know that modern requirements would prevent this from happening today, and that’s not a bad thing, especially when minutes matter. Meanwhile, it is entertaining and informative to look back at how important needs like these were dealt with in years gone by. I can’t help but imagine the look on the faces of the folks who called for an ambulance and saw the funeral director show up in a hearse.
To learn more about the upcoming vote on EMS, visit www.guthriecountyems.org or attend the two remaining public informational meetings: Oct. 14, Yale Community Building, 7 p.m.; Oct. 16: Panorama High School Auditorium, Panora, 7 p.m.
Have a fantastic Friday, and thanks for reading.
Shane Goodman
Editor and Publisher
Times Vedette digital editions
shane@gctimesnews.com
641-332-2707