At the ambulance service holiday supper held March 3rd at Peace Church, retirement plaques were passed out to Gene Seda, Charter member 1972-2014; Darrell & Jeanne Paustian 1979-2015 (retiring later this year), Greg Randolph 1987-2014 & Linda Randolph 1989-2013; and Tom Handorf 2003-2013. Not present was Mark Fink 1997-2012. Thanks for 190 years of service!

The Gladbrook-Lincoln Ambulance Service ended 2014 with 146 patients being transported. This total only includes the patients that were transported to a medical facility. It does not include first aid calls, DOAs or fire calls. The type of calls included: falls- 7; medical emergencies- 103; from vehicular accidents-11; drugs & alcohol abuse- 3; transfers- 15; strokes- 5; and CPR- 2 2014 was an exciting year for the ambulance service as the new fire and ambulance building was erected. The crew can’t thank everyone enough for all the support. The new building will be a tremendous asset to both services as well as the community.

The crew welcomed new members Kathy Vavroch, Brittany Shinn, Ryan Sutcliffe, and Laurel Hain.

The service would like to thank the following for their donations in 2014 to the ambulance service (does not include any donations to the building): Roland & Joyce Dahms, Memory of Marjorie Frey, Memory of Rachel Koester, Chuck & Becky Fish, Memory of Darlene Streets, Memory of Jean Bruene, Memory of Abbie Sash, Memory of Roy Kvidera, Memory of Eldon Wiese, Jack & Edna Ramsey, Memory of John Bereczki, Sandy Raum, Peace Church Guild, Dave &Sherri Denbow, Dorothy Wiese, and Gladbrook Women’s Club.

There is no way the crew can thank everyone enough for their monetary support. Many of those listed give a donation every year. The service has been able to purchase the newest and most efficient equipment possible thanks to these donators. Everyone’s thoughtfulness has helped so many in their time of need.

There are blinking light bulbs available, free of charge, in the ambulance building. Replace the existing light bulb on your porch. If you call an ambulance turn the light on and it will blink and the crew will know immediately what house they have been paged too. You can use the same light bulb for just a non-blinking porch light as well. Please help yourself. They are in the equipment room in the ambulance building.

The ambulance service and the Gladbrook Auxiliary have put all their hospital type equipment together in the ambulance building for anyone to use. All you have to do is sign it out. The equipment is in a room inside the ambulance building. The equipment includes: 4 electric hospital beds, 2 power scooters, commodes, walkers, over-the bed table, shower chairs, stool extenders, adult crutches, child crutches, 3-legged cane, wheelchairs, chair walkers, etc. There is no charge for the temporary use of this equipment. After the ambulances are moved to the new facility, the hospital equipment will be spread out and arranged a whole lot nicer inside the old ambulance building.

The ambulance crew tries to do several community service projects yearly. It is one way for the crew to say thanks for all the support that is given by the Gladbrook and Lincoln area residents. In July, the service organized, furnished supplies, and equipment, and helped man the first-aid station at the Tama County Fair. The crew provided ambulance service at all the G-R varsity, JV and JH home football games. The crew also does first aid demonstrations and programs for organizations and groups. The crew decorated a tree for Gladbrook’s annual “Festival of Trees” during the holiday season in the City Center. The service passed out “Let’s Get Ready For An Emergency”, educational activity books and “Bike Safety” fun pads for K-2nd graders at the Gladbrook campus.

Retiring from the service in 2014 were Gene Seda, a Charter member since 1972, and Greg Randolph who was on the service since 1987. Greg still helps us out during snow storms!!!

The following are members of the Gladbrook-Lincoln Ambulance Service and the year they started: Darrell & Jeanne Paustian (79), Susan Beichley (86), Randy Beichley (89), Steve Willer (90), Tammi Pierce (06), Beth Goos (11), Heather Pierce (11), Kathy Vavroch, (14), Brittany Shinn, (15); Ryan Sutcliffe, (15), and Laurel Hain, (15). As you can see, many of the crew members have been serving for a lot of years.

The G-L Ambulance Service tries to provide quick and efficient service to the Gladbrook-Lincoln area and wants to thank everyone for their continual support. A special thanks to the Gladbrook Fire & Rescue Squad and the Lincoln Fire Dept for their help at accidents and when we need some lifting power. We also want to thank Gladbrook Maintenance Director Mark Lowry for his assistance in getting the rigs out, plowing snow, lifting power, and driving when needed.

The service is starting their 43rd year of service to the Gladbrook and Lincoln communities.