Ambulance

kimy@herald-mail.com In an effort to reduce response times in the West End of Hagerstown, Community Rescue Service has begun operating an ambulance out of Antietam Fire Co. on a trial basis. CRS Chief Chris Amos said Friday that an ambulance and a crew will work out of the station on Summit Avenue daily from 2 to 7 p.m. The service began Thursday, he said. Typically, it takes an ambulance 9 to 10 minutes to reach calls in the West End from CRS' base on Eastern Boulevard, Amos said.

tarar@herald-mail.com Washington County Director of Emergency Services Joe Kroboth said he favors merging fire and ambulance companies throughout the county because the moves would save money and allow the companies to operate more efficiently. Kroboth said last week none of the companies would shut down unless supported by others. Rather, companies located near each other would move into the same building and continue to operate as separate companies, he said. Some fire and ambulance companies are currently located down the street from each other, he said.

HAGERSTOWN - In an effort to improve emergency services throughout the city, a Community Rescue Service Inc. ambulance stationed at Antietam Fire Co. on Summit Avenue was moved Monday to Western Enterprise Fire Co. at Washington Square. The move also makes way for a new vehicle that Antietam Fire Co. recently bought. The four-door truck, which cost about $100,000, will be used to transport volunteer firefighters throughout the city, Capt. James Sprecher said. "Antietam Fire Co. is strong with volunteers right now, and some other city companies are lacking volunteers, so this vehicle allows Antietam to send its volunteers to other communities," he said.

All lanes of Interstate 70 eastbound over Downsville Pike have reopened following a three-vehicle accident in which one person was injured. One person was taken by ambulance to Meritus Medical Center, said Maryland State Police Trooper Dave Thompson. The ramp from Md. 632 to I-70 eastbound and traffic was reduced to one lane on eastbound I-70 in the area of the 7:30 a.m. accident. All lanes were  reopened by 8:30 a.m. In addition to the ambulance from Halfway and the Maryland State Police, two firetrucks  from Williamsport were on the scene, but they cleared the scene with the ambulance.

martinsburg@herald-mail.com RANSON, W.Va. - James O. Carter Jr. spends his days behind the wheel of a large truck hauling around powdered cement, and many of his nights driving an ambulance. Carter was unanimously nominated as Blue Ridge Mountain Fire Co.'s Volunteer Emergency Medical Service Provider of the Year. He was one of several EMS providers, firefighters, police officers and others recognized Tuesday night during the fifth annual Public Service Recognition Banquet sponsored by the Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce.

CRS answers could be finalized By DAN KULIN / Staff Writer Long-awaited answers to questions Hagerstown elected officials posed to Community Rescue Service in response to the ambulance company's request for city funds could be completed by the end of the month. The questions on topics including CRS staffing levels, fund-raising drives and bill collections were given to CRS in July. City Council members said they need the answers to those questions to determine how and if the city will help the ambulance company.

HAGERSTOWN - Community Rescue Service officials told the Hagerstown City Council on Tuesday that the nonprofit ambulance service plans to open a station in the city's West End within the next few months. Terry Trovinger, CRS's chief financial officer, said after the council work session that the West End station would become the new home for an ambulance that is stationed at the Antietam fire station on Summit Avenue. CRS has to move so the Hagerstown Fire Department can make room for new equipment, he said.

Community Rescue Service is having an open house at 110 Eastern Blvd. from 2 to 5 p.m. Saturday. The open house will include child safety seat inspections, Hagerstown Police Department dogs, free fingerprinting for children and a MedSTAR helicopter. A new CRS ambulance will be dedicated at 2:30 p.m.

Man stabbed in abdomen during fight A Smithsburg man was stabbed in the abdomen during a fight on High Street just after midnight Thursday, the Hagerstown Police Department said in a news release. William Herman Liggon, 19, was in Washington County Hospital Friday night, but no condition was listed, a hospital spokesman said. Police said at about 12:30 a.m., a fight between Liggon and a group of unknown men broke out in the 100 block of High Street, just west of Burhans Boulevard.

chambersburg@herald-mail.com CHAMBERSBURG, Pa. - With its agreement with West Shore Emergency Medical Services due to expire at the end of the year, the Chambersburg Borough Council must decide whether to stay with the advanced life support provider, establish its own service or consider other options. West Shore has provided the advanced life support, or ALS, ambulance service to the borough and surrounding townships since 2003. Monday night a consultant outlined four alternatives for the council to consider.