HISTORY

1975 – County Ambulance established which moved it from Higby Mortuary.
1975 – 1974 Oldsmobile similar to a hurse, but rated as an ambulance was bought from Higby’s.
1975 – Ford Van was purchased.
1976 – Type III ambulance was purchased.
1975 – Started ambulance service with a Directorship structure. Mr. Tuller was the first with Mr. Gerlock to follow.
1975 – Fred Ousey started, having taken the 2nd EMS class Nebraska offered.
1986 – Bob Phillips started as an EMT-Ambulance.
1990 – Having more volunteers than full-time it was decided to make an executive committee that would make all the decisions made up of part-time members.
1991 – Purchased the first controversial, in the field, defibrillators.
1992 – Executive committee hired Kirt Smith full-time paramedic to make 1 full-time overall.
1992 – First Paramedic students from Hamilton County started training including Dale Saddler, Bob Phillips, Fred Ousey, and Mike Madden.
1995 - Purchased ambulance 281 for $87,000.
1996 – Ambulance certified as ALS level and protocols were signed.
1996 – Captain Bob Phillips, Vice-Captain Mike Madden.
1997 – Captain Mike Madden, Vice-Captain Bob Phillips.
1997 - Accident involving our ambulance that totaled the chassis on 281.
1997 - Purchased ambulance 282 because it was already ordered and replaced chassis on 281.
1997 – Executive committee added a position, Cathy Sigler, full-time Paramedic to make 2 full-time overall.
1998 – Executive committee added a position, Fred Ousey, full-time Paramedic to make 3 full-time overall.
1999 – Captain Tim Carlson, Vice-Captain Phil Thomas.
1999 – Executive committee added a position, Mark Kubik, Full-Time Paramedic to make 4 full-time overall.
1999 - Upgraded to Zoll monitors and added 12-Lead to our scope of practice.
1999 – Fred stepped down to part-time.
1999 - Executive committee replaced the open spot with, Carol Lahowetz, Paramedic.
2000 – Ambulance switched from having the part-time running it through the executive board to having a director – Kirt Smith and assistant director Cathy Sigler.
2000 - Purchased the county heavy rescue truck, Rescue 1 for $250,000.
2001 – Director created new position, Phil Thomas, full-time Paramedic to make 5 full-time overall.
2002 – Director created new position, Fred Ousey returned to full-time Paramedic position making 6 full-time.
2003 – Director created new position, Kory Ekhoff, full-time EMT for straight nights making 7 full-time.
2003 - Purchased new ambulance 283, Type III ambulance for $108,000.
2003 – Carol was replaced with Kyle Lingenfelter, full-time Paramedic.
2004 - Added Rapid Sequence Intubation to our scope of practice using Succinylcholine and Versed.
2004 - Purchased 6 AED’s through grant funds and equipped the police and sheriff’s vehicles with them.
2004 – Director created new position, Brent Dethlefs, full-time Paramedic to make 8 full-time overall.
2004 - Kyle was replaced with Wendy Johansen, full-time Paramedic.
2004 – Director created new position, Pat Johansen full-time EMT making 9 full-time overall.
2005 – Bob Phillips with 18 years of service retires.
2005 - Fred Ousey with 30 years of service retires.
2005 – Fred was replaced with Tim Graham, full-time EMT.
2005 – Director created 1 new full-time position, Jay Mack, full-time EMT making 10 full-time overall.
2005 - Hamilton County Ambulance awarded $30,000 in grant funds. 17 AEDs placed at all fire deparments and schools and several public access sites throughout the county.
2005 - Hamilton County Ambulance unveils new website.
2006 - Building Committee formed.
2007 - Pat Johansen and Tim Graham completed Paramedic Licensure.
2007 - Phil was replaced with Anthony Jones, full-time EMT.
2007 - Director created five part-time positions; Matt Campbell First Responder, Chad Mertz First Responder, Frank Collins First Responder, Rod Wilson First Responder, and Gerri Collins EMT.
2007 - Wendy was replaced with Lisa Oltman, full-time Paramedic.
2007 - Anthony was replaced with Jeremy Hope, full-time EMT.
2007 - Director created new part-time position, Thea Edmunds First Responder.
2007 - Kirt Smith appointed co-Emergency Manager with Fire Chief Tom Cox.
2008 - Rod Wilson and Thea Edmunds completed Basic Licensure.
2008 - Jeremy Hope completed Basic Licensure.
2008 - Purchased new ambulance 281, Type III ambulance for $146,000.
2008 - Kory was replaced with Randy Nelson, full-time Paramedic.
2008 - Purchased three new Zoll E Series monitors.
2008 - Randy was replaced with Amy Herman, full-time Paramedic.
2008 - Amy was replaced with Thea Edmunds, full-time EMT.
2008 - Director created new part-time position, Tammy Preissler EMT.
2009 - EMT Basic class started in Aurora with nine area students successfully completing Basic licensure.
2009 - Director created two new part-time positions; Travis Mitchell EMT and Jamie Ficken EMT.
2009 - Kirt Steps down as full-time Director to become full-time Emergency Manager and part-time Paramedic.
2009 - Cathy Sigler appointed as ambulance director and Mark Kubik as deputy director.
2009 - Kirt replaced with Tammy Preissler, full-time EMT.
2009 - Open position filled with Adam Walters, full-time Paramedic.
2009 - Adam replaced with Angel Lentz, full-time EMT.
2009 - Open position filled with Grant Carlson, full-time EMT.
2009 - Director created new part-time position, Gerry Picek EMT.