State Senator Andrew Lang of Olivia has announced the disbursement of $1.5 million in aid to ambulance service providers serving Senate District 16 by the Minnesota Department of Revenue. The funds are the result of the bipartisan $30-million rural EMS aid package passed in 2024, championed by Senator Lang.
The package includes $24-million in aid to extend a critical lifeline to ambulance service providers across the state as well as a $6-million sprint medic pilot program, authorizing trained medical staff to be the first response and determining if an ambulance is necessary.
Lang says he’s witnessed the challenges our rural EMS providers are facing and it’s been a long road. He says with these funds going out the door, they’re extending a lifeline to help them recruit and retain professionals as well as update their equipment.
The funds include: Atwater fire department ambulance ($57,296), Buffalo lake ambulance ($68,250), CCM health ($150,360), Centracare emergency medical services – Paynesville ($149,572), Centracare emergency medical services – Willmar ($94,517), Clara city ambulance ($69,629), Cosmos ambulance service ($49,488), Fairfax ambulance ($96,270), Granite falls ambulance ($144,584), Hector ambulance ($59,350), Kerkhoven ambulance ($59,953), Lake Lillian ambulance service ($56,147), New London ambulance service ($112,231), Olivia ambulance service, Inc. ($145,077), Raymond ambulance service ($69,851), Sunburg ambulance ($51,756) and Watkins ambulance service ($107,455).
The Litchfield Rescue Squad calendar sweepstakes winners this week include:
Courtney Klimstra, Jacob Pollock and Viking Signs – all of Litchfield, Jim Guza, Jr. of Watkins and Gary Gruenke of Rockland, WI. Each of them will receive $20 from the Litchfield Rescue Squad.
The 2025 Litchfield Rescue Squad calendars are available at KLFD, Litchfield Building Center, Miller Automotive, Ramsey Printing, Mid Country Bank and from any Litchfield Rescue Squad member.
Members of the Litchfield Rescue Squad have been selling their annual sweepstakes calendars for the past couple of months and there are just a few days left to purchase the 2025 calendars. The sweepstakes drawing will be held on January 8th.
Rescue Chief Blake Tangen says when you purchase a calendar, you have a chance of winning back the $20 cost of the calendar and then some – with 3 chances of winning $300, 12 chances of winning $100, and 246 chances of winning $20. He says they use the money they raise to purchase equipment above and beyond their normal budget.
Tangen says they always have a wish list of items to purchase. He says the Litchfield Rescue Squad also raises money with its beef feed in Central Park during the Watercade celebration each July.
A house fire occurred in Cosmos on Saturday (December 21) which put a single mom and her two young boys out of a home for Christmas. Cosmos Fire and Ambulance, with aid from the neighboring Grove City Fire Department, were able to extinguish the fire.
A majority of their belongings were lost to the fire. A post has been put together – looking for any and all donations to help the family be able to have gifts and other essentials for Christmas and for the coming months ahead as they search for a new home. The Community was able to gather some things for the family almost immediately overnight and donations are continuing – spearheaded by Marysa Anderson of Cosmos.
