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<DIV><SPAN class=218090113-12042007><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#800000
size=2>Ellen (and the rest of the Vizzz peeps),</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=218090113-12042007><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#800000
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=218090113-12042007><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#800000
size=2>Your stories of dealing with the 911 service cause me great
concern.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=218090113-12042007><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#800000
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=218090113-12042007><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#800000
size=2>I've recently joined the Moscow Volunteer Fire Department's Ambulance
Company. I know we try our darnedest to respond to a call as soon as
possible. Being a completely volunteer service, sometimes that's hard to
do. The situations you describe would NOT be tolerated today, from what I
know of the Ambulance Company. Of course, my association with the Company
goes back just over 5 years to when my Delicate Flower became an EMT.
Having seen the need for more Emergency Medical Service, this prompted me to
become an EMT as well, beginning January 2007. </FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=218090113-12042007><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#800000
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=218090113-12042007><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#800000
size=2>In my limited recent experience, I know that when we are dispatched the
police are dispatched as well. Usually they arrive first, and nowadays
I believe they all have "first responder" training. Also dispatched would
be a Fire Department engine, usually with first responders and sometimes an EMT
or two. None of these have the ability to transport, though, but they
can help gather vital signs and history of the patient so when the ambulance
arrives transport can be expedited.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=218090113-12042007><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#800000
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=218090113-12042007><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#800000
size=2>The one thing I don't think a lot of people (especially new citizens of
Moscow) realize is that our Fire Department and Ambulance Company are totally
volunteer. Please forgive our seemingly long response times, as we are
responding from our jobs, our homes, family dinners, and even the depths of
slumber for fire and ambulance calls. I'm not trying to make excuses, as I
am extremely proud to be a member of such a fine organization that saves our
taxpayers' money by being volunteers. It feels good to be a part of
something that is so professional, yet who's members don't accept a dime in
payment.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=218090113-12042007><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#800000
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=218090113-12042007><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#800000
size=2>Thanks for your time</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=218090113-12042007><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#800000
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=218090113-12042007><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#800000
size=2>DC</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE style="MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV></DIV>
<DIV class=OutlookMessageHeader lang=en-us dir=ltr align=left><FONT
face=Tahoma size=2>-----Original Message-----<BR><B>From:</B>
vision2020-bounces@moscow.com [mailto:vision2020-bounces@moscow.com] <B>On
Behalf Of </B>Ellen Roskovich<BR><B>Sent:</B> Wednesday, April 11, 2007 9:06
PM<BR><B>To:</B> vision2020@moscow.com<BR><B>Cc:</B>
carolwstrobel@hotmail.com; mmike@hotmail.com<BR><B>Subject:</B> [Vision2020]
Closed doors<BR><BR></FONT></DIV>
<DIV>
<DIV class=RTE><STRONG>Today I stopped by the Moscow Hotel thinking I might
grab a bite to eat at Archies. I am so sad to see they have closed their
doors and the restaurant is for rent.</STRONG></DIV>
<DIV class=RTE><STRONG></STRONG> </DIV>
<DIV class=RTE><STRONG>Two weeks ago I was in Seattle and I read the
postings to V2020 about the protests in Friendship Square, otherwise I
wouldn't have a clue about a possible reason for closing.</STRONG></DIV>
<DIV class=RTE><STRONG></STRONG> </DIV>
<DIV class=RTE><STRONG>I hate to see them leave. I enjoyed every meal I
ate there. . . breakfast, lunch and dinner. I always brought someone
with me and everyone agreed that Archies was an asset to downtown. I
know the "out to lunch bunch" looked forward to their visits to Archies.
What a sad loss!</STRONG></DIV>
<DIV class=RTE><STRONG></STRONG> </DIV>
<DIV class=RTE><STRONG>There's been a lot of discussion lately about Moscow. .
. . it's growth, the health and vitality of it's businesses, even having
potential businesses pass some type of scrutiny by City Council before being
allowed to open their doors and "nuisanse businesses" being shut down for over
usage of police services. For the most part, those who are participating
in these discussions are not business owners. You are users,
not providers. </STRONG></DIV>
<DIV class=RTE><STRONG></STRONG> </DIV>
<DIV class=RTE><STRONG>Understand I am not a very PC person who is up on all
the latest PC jargon. . . it changes all the time. So I will say "sorry"
ahead of time. I do not mean to offend but I have something to
say.</STRONG></DIV>
<DIV class=RTE><STRONG></STRONG> </DIV>
<DIV class=RTE><STRONG>Moscow has problems. I find it ironic that
Archies closed their doors because a group of people took offense at
the alleged treatment of a person with some type of physical, mental
or emotional challenge. Maybe you just don't know what kind of
city you actually live in. Let me clue you in. As a business
owner I was approached by the MPD and asked if I would like a certain
challenged person barred from my restaurant. I said no. . . I did not
find him to be a problem. All he wanted was a quiet place to drink his
coffee and smoke. We allowed smoking in the front room in those
days. They asked me if he paid for his coffee and I said yes. . .
because he did. The only "problem" was his seizures. That is not
his fault. . . and the reality is ALL of us are only one fall
away of being in the same boat. One time my customer had a
seizure, fell off the bar stool and hit his head hard. . . I did what
most business owners would do under like circumstances and called 911.
When help arrived I thought they were rather rough in rousing him but then I
was shocked when I was told to "never call them again" for this individual
because they would not respond. I had never heard of such a thing
and they said this loud enough that one of my customers waiting for a to go
pizza heard them say it to me. She seemed quite upset and I thought
it because she had just witnessed the seizure and the arrival of police and
medics. I apologized for the fuss and she told me she was upset at
what I was told. . . that a family member had epilepsy and she hoped they were
never treated like this if they had a seizure in public. I never
barred this man from my establishment like others in this town did. I
watched as he was hog-tied and thrown into the back of a patrol car because he
"trespassed" at another nearby establishment. I even posted bail for him.
. . and he had me paid back in full within an hour of his release.
I can't even say that about some of my "friends". Maybe some of you will
say an owner has the right. . . and then I think of Archies. . . and then I
don't understand any of it.</STRONG></DIV>
<DIV class=RTE><STRONG></STRONG> </DIV>
<DIV class=RTE><STRONG>There was occasion to call 911 again for a
different person. . . a young man in a motorized wheelchair. His chair
got stuck in racing mode and he hit my dumpster in the alley, hit a tree,
nearly went off into sixth street traffic and ended up in the bushes
at the offices next door with the wheelchair on top of him.
I thought there was a good possibility of broken bones and it was obvious
the wheelchair was no longer safe transportation. Did I get a
response to my call? Well, silly me. . . wasn't I told they
wouldn't respond to my address. Thank heavens he was only scratched
and scared. I ended up calling the pharmacy that handles
the purchase/rental of these wheelchairs and they came right out to
assist him. It was long after I found another solution that a lone cop
car came to the front of Gambino's and parked. It was obvious he had
taken his time. . stopped for a car wash on the way over. The water was
still beaded up on the car. I didn't wait for him to get out of his car.
. . I walked over a told him through the window that he wasn't needed. I
handled the situation myself. Then I composed a letter to the Chief
because I was REALLY angry. He replied in a timely manner. Said he
was out of town at the time this happened and he'd look into
matters. Hope he did.</STRONG></DIV>
<DIV class=RTE><STRONG></STRONG> </DIV>
<DIV class=RTE><STRONG>I began to wonder if this happens to others. I
also wondered if I was flagged in some manner. . . .was it the address on
sixth street or the name Roskovich? You get a little paranoid, but you
don't want to take any chances either. Well, once when my late husband
had a heart attack at home I didn't call 911 and wait around to see. Our
son carried him to the car and drove while I called Gritman to let
them know that a heart patient was coming in with chest pains. By the
time I arrived at Gritman, they were already talking about getting him
flown up to Spokane.</STRONG></DIV>
<DIV class=RTE><STRONG></STRONG> </DIV>
<DIV class=RTE><STRONG>I have nothing but admiration for the doctors, nurses
and quality of care at Gritman. But getting there can be tricky. I
hope others never have to go through what I went through when my elderly
mother had a nasal hemorrhage. It was another time when Don was in
Spokane hospitalized with his heart. . . .the phone rang around 5:00 a.m. and
you just know it's not going to be good. But instead of a nurse, I
had my mother on the phone and she sounded scared out of her wits. I
went right over to find her with a bathtowel to her face, drenched in
blood. It was difficult for her to talk or breathe. It was dark, icy and
I had no choice but to call 911 for help. We waited and finally I
could see lights coming up Cherry St. hill. It turned out to be one
police officer who came into the apartment and promptly sat himself down on my
mother's sofa and made himself comfortable. I just wanted to GO!
He was very pleasant. . . he took out a notepad and a pen and asked for
her name. I answered for her. He wrote it down. I just want
to go, NOW! Next, he asks my almost 80 year old mother "are you a
student at the U of I" and I heard her say "no, I'm too old" from behind a
blood soaked towel. THAT DID IT! I asked him point blank if the
ambulance was on it's way. He told me NO. . .he was there to assess the
situation and determine if there was a medical necessity for dispatch of the
ambulance. At that point I got my mother's coat, told the officer he
would no longer be needed once he helped me get my mother down the icy steps
and into my car. I wasn't going to waste another precious minute.
Once I got my mother into the emergency room I had the opportunity to ask the
doctor on duty if the Moscow P.D. have been given the medical training
and knowledge to assess emergencies such as this and she told me NO. I
told her that I thought she should let the board know about this because they
were setting themselves up for a potential lawsuit sometime in the
future. Have things changed. . . I sure hope so. . . don't you? I
do know that I needed to call 911 toward the end of Don's illness and the
response time was great. But only a short two years earlier it left a
lot to be desired.</STRONG></DIV>
<DIV class=RTE><STRONG></STRONG> </DIV>
<DIV class=RTE><STRONG>So, "J :)" now you know why I got a little bent when
you raised the question yesterday about "nuisance businesses" who take up time
and resources of city services. But I shut up before I said too
much. But heck. . .maybe you all need to learn about the problems
associated with running a business in this town. The town really can't change
or move forward unless people speak up and everyone understands what
they are working towards.</STRONG></DIV>
<DIV class=RTE><STRONG></STRONG> </DIV>
<DIV class=RTE><STRONG>I don't know if anyone would want to try and put a
restaurant in Archie's spot. What a shame we lost them. . . and it's so
much more important and far reaching in our business community than who's
buying kitty litter at Wal-Mart.</STRONG></DIV>
<DIV class=RTE><STRONG></STRONG> </DIV>
<DIV class=RTE><STRONG>Ellen Roskovich</STRONG></DIV>
<DIV class=RTE><STRONG></STRONG> </DIV>
<DIV class=RTE><STRONG></STRONG> </DIV>
<DIV class=RTE><STRONG></STRONG> </DIV>
<DIV class=RTE><STRONG></STRONG> </DIV></DIV><BR clear=all>
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