Grants Help Local EMS Unit Afford Ambulance

VERSAILLES – Ripley County Rescue 69 Chief Charley Cozart says his EMS crew responds to approximately 1100 emergency calls each year.

Rescue 69 has now become much more equipped to handle the amount after grant funding has allowed them to purchase a new ambulance.

The 82-thousand dollar truck is funded by grants from the Tyson Fund, Ripley County Community Foundation, Rising Sun Regional Foundation and the Golda and Gilmore Reynolds Foundation.

The Osgood Journal is reporting that the new ambulance becomes the primary vehicle for emergency runs and a 2005 ambulance, with over 220,000 miles, will serve as an alternate. The funding allows the crew to retire a 1994 ambulance that was used as an alternate.

Rescue 69 provides round-the-clock service to the majority of Ripley County, excluding Batesville, Sunman and Milan.