Ambulance service celebrates 50 years

Montgomery Ambulance service is 50 years old.

October 1, 2020, marks a half century of the city-owned service providing care to the local area.

Prior to the creation of the ambulance service, the Schoenbauer Funeral Home provided transportation and care to individuals during emergency situations. However, the state decided this was a conflict of interest.

At the same time, state and federal governments started a program to get ambulances into rural areas. Funding from this program helped created the Montgomery Ambulance service.

“With the help of the town of Montgomery, plus the federal assistance, on October 1, 1970, Montgomery received the ambulance service,” explained Roland “Rollie” Vlasak, who served on the local ambulance service for nearly 35 years.

The Highway Safety Act of 1968 provided about 80 percent of the funding for Montgomery’s first ambulance, which cost $8,990—not including the cost of communications equipment and miscellaneous supplies.

The city’s share of the cost was further reduced when the Montgomery Chamber of Commerce donated $1,000 from Kolacky Days profits toward the ambulance fund.

"At first, there wasn't much equipment in the ambulance, mainly just first aid--oxygen was the only medication," Vlasak explained. "At that time, there were...

To see more on this story pick up the October 1, 2020 print edition of the Montgomery Messenger.