New York ambulance company donates unit to Libby

By GWEN ALBERS Western News Reporter

Libby is getting a gift from the East.

A New York volunteer ambulance company will donate a fully-equipped, rescue vehicle to Libby Volunteer Ambulance. The seven-year-old ambulance from Pine Bush valued at $50,000 will give Libby a seventh vehicle for its 1,430-square-mile coverage area. A new, unequipped ambulance would cost $120,000.

"We really appreciate this," said Charles McFarland, president of Libby Volunteer Ambulance. "It's going to help us out for the next few years."

David Grass, a trustee and emergency medical technician with Pine Bush Volunteer Ambulance, on April 9 will begin the 2,800-mile drive from the community 60 miles north of New York City between Newburgh and Middletown. Grass; Anna Lyons, president of the ambulance company; and Richard Retcho, assistant captain; expect to arrive in Libby with the ambulance on April 12.

Pine Bush will cover all its expenses.

"When I give my kids a Christmas present, I don't ask to pay for the transportation," Grass said "This is a gift from us to you. It comes from the heart."

The news delights Penny Kyes, secretary who handles the billing for Libby Ambulance.

"We have a big area to cover and we have huge expenses," Kyes said. "That they are willing to give us this enormous gift and to drive it out here to make sure we have everything we need is just so amazing."

Operating on $175,000 annually, Libby Ambulance had 1,050 calls in 2005. Serving a population of 10,140, the group

relies on billing insurance companies, Medicare and private pay patients. Libby Ambulance also gets a small portion of its budget from a Lincoln County property tax, which helps buy ambulances. A one time, three-year replacement schedule for ambulances now occurs every 12 years, McFarland said.

Pine Bush in 2002 sold Libby an ambulance and 18 months ago considered selling the company a second one."Between the time I was able to get the deal put together, they sold it," Grass said. "We had a long conversation about it and everybody felt we didn't exactly do Libby right. We decided to make it right and it (the donation) was a unanimous vote," Grass said.

The Pine Bush volunteers will remain here for three days to learn how Libby Ambulance operates in such a large area.

"They want to run with us," McFarland said. "They have a hard time figuring out how we cover a vast distance. Back where they're from, it's one town after another town and another town."

Libby Ambulance responds to emergencies as far as 65 miles east to Happy's Inn on Route 2, to Kootenai Falls to the west and about 30 miles north to Wolf Creek.

Pine Bush, which serves 20,000 in three counties, can afford such donations thanks to a generous soul. Someone had left about $100,000 in stock from Kodak.

"It was put in a safe deposit box until I came along," Grass said. "We took the money and invested it."