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Significant change has come to the Community Ambulance Service of New Rockford (CASNR) in recent weeks, and more is due to arrive in the years ahead.
As of Sept. 1, Angie Hopfauf has stepped in as CASNR's new manager, taking over the position from Georgia Johnson, and on Saturday, Oct. 1, Tanya Munson replaced Tiffany Harr as business manager.
The two take over just as CASNR has finally made a purchase seven years in the making: a brand new ambulance.
The new ambulance is a four-wheel drive Ford F-450 with a gas powered engine, and costs approximately $250,000. Due to the rig's build time, however, it isn't due to enter service for at least another year and a half to two years.
In the meantime, CASNR will continue to use the three ambulances it currently operates, the oldest of which is a Ford from 2001 typically used just a couple times per year.
However, Jeff Pfau, an EMT and member of the procurement committee, says it's their Ford 2006 diesel ambulance that's been the source of too many headaches and repair bills for CASNR and its members.
That 2006 rig will be traded in, and Pfau expects the new ambulance to be much more reliable. But perhaps just as importantly, it will be CASNR's first ambulance capable of four-wheel drive.
Rachel Holzwarth, president of CASNR, said, "One of the biggest changes is that we got a four-wheel drive ambulance, ... because we've run into, not only snow, but we've had calls in the middle of a pasture and we've had calls on mud roads."
"We've been stuck a few times, I think that'd be the easiest way to put it," added Pfau.
CASNR has been saving money for the new ambulance for close to seven years, but prices have kept increasing. The rig's price tag of a quarter million dollars is roughly a 20% increase over its price from just six months ago.
Holzwarth said such a constant swelling of prices was essentially moving the goalposts, making recent donations and the community's support even more pivotal to finally pulling the trigger.
A few particular donations recently pushed them across the finish line, she added. After learning of CASNR's need for a new ambulance at Lifesavers in the Park, one local anonymous farmer donated 3,000 bushels of grain through CenDak Cooperative.
Those bushels translated into a donation of more than $26,000. CenDak Cooperative then pitched in as well, donating an additional $7,500 to match another donation made by Land O' Lakes in the same amount. That's more than $40,000 in donations stemming from one conversation at Lifesavers in the Park this summer.
All totaled, generous donations accounted for roughly a third of the rig's overall cost, and CASNR couldn't be more appreciative of the community support.
"Without the continued support of the community, whether it be through volunteering their time or through financial donations, we wouldn't be here," said Holzwarth. "... it's vital."
As always, CASNR is actively encouraging community members to volunteer their time. EMTs and drivers are always appreciated, and those who join with a one-year commitment will have all their training paid for.
There's more to do than just emergency response, however. CASNR could always use volunteers to help with office duties, supply room inventory or serving for special events.
To volunteer, give CASNR a call at (701) 947-2355, or email [email protected].