Another Letter of Praise for Starke County EMS

Posted on Author WKVI

Earlier in the week, words of praise were heard regarding the local EMS efforts in the successful transport of a five year old girl who had been struck by a television that fell from a dresser.

Paul Mathewson has shared another letter from the wife of a DeKalb, Illinois truck driver who was rescued after suffering a massive brain stem stroke while driving his semi.

“Because of your coordinated efforts, you were able to locate my husband and transport him to St. Joseph Medical Center in Plymouth for help. After being stabilized in the ER at St. Joseph’s, we were able to transport Steve via ambulance to our home hospital in Illinois. Following treatment he was released, and is currently in home rehab. Although we may never know who you are or see you in person please know that your efforts that morning went above and beyond in our minds and hearts. It is my prayer that God continue to bless each one of you and protect you daily as you continue to serve, and save the lives of others,” wrote Shari Dixon.

Her husband is currently making improvements daily and is able to walk with only a cane, recovered his ability to speak, see, and swallow and has recovered some use of his left arm.

Also assisting in finding her husband who was traveling on U.S. 30 near Grovertown on the morning of Jan. 7, was the Indiana State Police.

Driving a semi can be a risky profession when traveling alone, and struck by a life threatening ailment.

The transport was performed before the local EMS went to Advanced Life Service.

EMS Director Talks about Advantages of ALS Service in Starke County

Posted on Author WKVI
EMS Director Paul Mathewson, EMT Travis Clary and Paramedic Aaron Krizmanich

EMS Director Paul Mathewson appeared before the Starke County Commissioners yesterday and shared a story that points out the advantages of moving to Advanced Life Service here. On March 23rd, the ambulance crew was called out to a case where a television fell on a five year old girl from a dresser. Mathewson was on the run and reported that the likelihood of recovery initially looked gloomy, but because of the advanced training, the crew was able to begin treatment and take her into IU Health Starke Hospital. Once there, the girl was stabilized and a Med Flight helicopter was called in to get her to Riley Children’s Hospital in Indianapolis as quickly as possible.

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Five-Year-Old Falls in Pond, Air-Lifted to South Bend

Posted on Author WKVI
The five-year-old was airlifted to Memorial Hospital in South Bend. Photo provided by Jes Laughlin.

A five-year-old child was transported to Memorial Hospital in South Bend earlier this afternoon after he was reportedly found unresponsive after falling into a small pond in the North 600 Block of Ind. 23. A witness called 911 and told police that the child had fallen into the pond, and Starke County EMS rushed to the scene where they found the unresponsive child partially in the water.

The Hamlet Fire Department set up a landing zone near the intersection of 600 E and U.S. 30 for Memorial Hospital’s Med-Flight helicopter to land and transport the child to the hospital, where he was being held at last report.

No more information is available at this time, but the incident is still under investigation and WKVI will keep you informed as more information becomes available.

Two New Paramedics Further Improve ALS Services

Posted on Author WKVI
Tiffany Townsend, EMS Director Paul Mathewson and Jennifer Kelly

EMS Director Paul Mathewson introduced two new paramedics to the county commissioners this week: Jennifer Kelly, a paramedic from Laporte County, and Tiffany Townsend, an ALS-certified paramedic whose skills will come in heavy use with the new certification.

Mathewson told the commissioners that the necessity of ALS is not determined until the paramedics arrive on the scene of a call and, based on symptoms and other indicators, pronounce the subject to have a need of Advanced Life Support. Mathewson said that these indicators can range from skin color to profuse sweating.

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No Life Threatening Injuries in Fiery Crash in San Pierre

Posted on Author WKVI

Starke County emergency personnel were called to an accident yesterday afternoon where two vehicles burst into flames.

When officers arrived at the scene at U.S. 421 in San Pierre, they found a semi and a car fully engulfed in flames. Both drivers had been pulled from the wreckage. Officers determined that the driver of the passenger vehicle crossed the center line causing the accident. The semi was hauling mattresses which took firefighters nearly three hours to extinguish.

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North Judson House Fire Injures Child

Posted on Author WKVI

The North Judson-Wayne Township Fire Department was called to a house fire Tuesday morning at about 10:13 a.m.

Firefighters, Starke County EMS and the North Judson Police Department responded to 3942 W. 3rd Street. The fire was contained to the upper level of the home and the home sustained major smoke damage. A two-year-old child was taken from the residence to IU Health Starke Hospital and hospitalized.

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Starke County Ambulance Service to be ALS Certified

Posted on Author WKVI
Paul Mathewson

Advanced Life Support service for Starke County may be only a few weeks away. That was the message the Starke County Commissioners heard last week from EMS Director Paul Mathewson.

“We found out that the application itself got accepted by the State for us to go ahead and move forward in becoming ALS certified,” said Mathewson.

Mathewson said he’s waiting on the state to come down and inspect the rigs and equipment before he can move ahead.

“We’re getting in equipment to stock the ambulance itself with all of the necessary equipment to run an ALS rig. We’re in the process of hiring on new paramedics to upgrade our service so that when the State is able to come down, we’re ready to go.”

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Starke County EMS Accepting Donations for Food Pantry

Posted on Author WKVI

The Starke County EMS family is currently accepting canned goods and non-perishable items at each of the county’s EMS stations. The emergency responders will be collecting items through Christmas. The donations will be given to the county food pantry.

EMS Director, Paul Mathewson, said that while they are collecting food at each of the stations in Grovertown, Knox, and North Judson, they are accepting donations of coats for those in need this winter season. They hope to get coats for children and adults in time for both Thanksgiving and Christmas. New or gently used coats will be accepted.

IU Health Starke Hospital Contract Could Endanger County Ambulance Service

Posted on Author WKVI

IU Health Starke Hospital officials met yesterday with county officials to discuss a potential problem that could scuttle plans for upgraded EMS services in the county.

The potential problem is the hospital’s plan to contract with an outside ambulance service to provide transfers from here to other medical facilities for advanced care. As hospital CEO Linda Satkoski said, “We many times need ALS-equipped vehicles with paramedics to make those runs.” The problem is that any private company wants all transfers, advanced and basic.

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Starke County EMS Director Asks Commissioners for Reimbursement for Certifications

Posted on Author WKVI
Paul Mathewson

Starke County Emergency Ambulance Service Director, Paul Mathewson, came before the County Commissioners on Monday to ask for a reimbursement program for personnel trying to achieve upgraded certification.

“They’re in classes two days a week plus clinical hours and there’s a lot that goes into it. It costs money to go for them and we’re going to see if we can aid our employees by having a reimbursement program. This is just the first step,” said Mathewson.

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Starke County EMS Director Moving Forward with Service Upgrade

Posted on Author WKVI
Paul Mathewson

Starke County EMS Director Paul Mathewson informed the Commissioners this week that he is getting everything ready to switch the county from Basic Life Support Service to Advanced Life Support Service as soon as possible.

Today he will be meeting with state regulators to get the ambulances licensed for Advanced Life Support service. Mathewson was asked why the change in licensing for the vehicles is necessary.

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Knox-Center Township Fire Department Battles House Fire

Posted on Author WKVI

The Knox-Center Township Fire Department fought a fire at Judy Sinn’s residence at 5655 E. 250 N. in Knox yesterday morning.

Fire Chief Ken Pfost told WKVI that a representative from the Indiana State Fire Marshal’s Office determined it was accidental. The fire started in a recessed light fixture in the kitchen. Over $75,000 in damage was done and no injuries were reported at the scene.

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Starke County Sheriff’s Department Investigates Accident Near Hamlet

Posted on Author WKVI

The Starke County Sheriff’s Department is investigating an accident that occurred Friday at 600 East and 700 North.

The accident involved a pickup truck and a moped. The driver of the moped, whose name has not been released by police, was taken to IU Health Starke Hospital and later airlifted by Med Flight to Memorial Hospital Trauma Center where he was listed in critical condition. The driver of the pickup truck was not injured in the accident.

The names of either individual have not been released. The Starke County Sheriff’s Department was assisted by the Hamlet Fire Department, Starke County EMS and the Koontz Lake Fire Department.

Starke County Ambulances Re-certified

Posted on Author WKVI

Starke County EMS Director, Lisa Burger, informed county officials this week that the ambulances were recently re-certified by the state. In an inspection, the trucks are gone over and the paperwork is audited.

Burger told the Commissioners that in the future the state will be doing random inspections, so their number could be drawn in six months, or maybe not again for three years.

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18-Year-Old Drowns After Jumping From Yellow River Bridge in Knox

Posted on Author WKVI

The treacherous Yellow River has claimed another life. Mercan Lyncook, of Parma Ohio jumped from the abandoned train bridge near the depot at 12:00 midnight Sunday morning, and because of limited swimming ability never made it back to shore. The 18-year-old man’s body was found by the Marshall County Dive Team at 2:00 a.m.

The Knox Police Department and Indiana Conservation Office received a call from Lyncook’s friend that he did not surface after diving into the water.

Assisting in the search were the Knox Volunteer Fire Department, Bass Lake Fire Department, Starke County Sheriff’s Department, Washington Township Fire Department, and Starke County EMS.

Two Vehicle Accident at Culver Road and US 35 in Knox Injures Two

Posted on Author WKVI

The Knox City Police Department investigated a two vehicle accident that occurred shortly before 1:00 p.m. today at the intersection of Culver Road and US 35 in Knox.

According to City Police Officer, Chad Dulin, Sharon Button, of Winamac, was traveling southbound on US 35 when she reportedly disregarded the stoplight at the intersection and struck a vehicle driven by Dalerie Ford of Knox. Ford was traveling westbound through the intersection when the accident occurred.

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Tragic Accident Claims Life of Illinois Woman

Posted on Author WKVI

A tragic auto accident occurred Sunday afternoon at the intersection of State Road 10 and State Road 35 in Starke County. Police found that Megan Smithson, 19, of Illinois, stopped at the intersection and pulled out onto US 35 and into the path of a vehicle driven by Tony Wagner, 37, of Winamac.  Smithson was pronounced dead at the scene by Starke County Coroner, Kris Rannells.

Wagner was transported to Starke Memorial Hospital and airlifted to South Bend Memorial for leg injuries sustained in the accident.  An 18-year-old passenger in Smithson’s vehicle was also airlifted to South Bend Memorial due to injuries suffered in the accident.  The Bass Lake Fire Department and Starke County EMS assisted the Starke County Sheriff’s Department at the scene.