In cases of cardiac arrest, local ambulance crews and first responders are keenly aware that every second counts when trying to save a life.
For this reason, they’re launching a countywide fund-raising campaign to equip every Rock County community with automated external defibrillators.
A defibrillator saves lives by electrically shocking a pulseless heart back into a regular rhythm, but at $5,000 apiece, they’re not affordable for most small communities.
The Rock County Ambulance service already carries the equipment, but it sometimes can’t reach the scene of an emergency in time to use it.
"It takes us awhile to get to Hills, Steen or other parts of the county, and the first responders in these towns can be there in minutes," said EMT Troy Thone, who is heading up the local fund-raising campaign.
Rescue personnel without a defibrillator must rely on CPR to revive a pulseless heart, and manual resuscitation isn’t as effective as the electronic method.
The fund-raising campaign, "Let’s Make Rock County Heart Safe," is already in progress, and a fund is set up at First Farmers and Merchants Bank to accept donations.
"Our goal was to raise enough funds for six defibrillators," Thone said. "Hills already has one, so we have about $15,000 left to raise."
By committing to buying six defibrillators, the distributor has agreed to sell them for $3,000 each, rather than $5,000.
Thone said Cargill, as a community service, purchased a new defibrillator for Hills first responders earlier this summer and hopes other area businesses will be that supportive.
The fund-raising campaign will continue until enough money is raised to purchase defibrillators for all Rock County first responders and fire rescue crews. Equipment will be purchased as funds come in.
Rock County Ambulance Director Gary Holmgren said Hardwick will likely be next on the priority list and then perhaps Magnolia, Beaver Creek, Kenneth and Luverne.
It’s difficult to estimate how many lives will be saved by having defibrillators in every rural town, but Holmgren said the ambulance uses its defibrillators up to 14 times per year.
"I feel it’s really a big necessity, especially in Rock County," he said. "We’ve got an older population here more at risk for cardiac arrest."
Holmgren said for every minute a person’s heart isn’t beating, the chances of survival decrease by 10 percent.
So a person whose heart has stopped beating for five minutes has only a 50-percent chance of survival. For a person in cardiac arrest for six minutes, there’s a 60-percent chance of fatality.
Since defibrillators are easy for anyone to use, the American Heart Association and cardiologists around the world are pushing to make them available to the public in general – not just to health care professionals.
Some communities are putting them in police squad cars, apartment buildings, shopping malls and factories.
"All you do is apply the patches, push the button and step back," Holmgren said. "Anyone can do it."
The national survival rate for cardiac arrest victims is about 5 percent, but in Rochester, which has implemented defibrillators in all its fire departments and key public places, the survival rate is 55 percent.
Armed with those statistics, Thone said he hopes the community supports the fund drive. "We want Rock County to be heart safe," he said.
Donations can be mailed to First Farmers and Merchants Bank in care of the County Defibrillator Fund, P.O. Box 989, Luverne, MN 56156.
Funds have also been established in some of the communities. Residents are encouraged to contact their local fire chiefs for more information, or call Holmgren at Luverne Community Hospital, 283-2321.

Fund-raiser aims to put defibrillators in every town
By Lori Ehde

Two weeks worth of nail biting ended Tuesday morning as sighs of relief mingled with shocked shaking of heads once the Executive Committee of the Franklin County Democratic party announced their verdict in the contested race for county school superintendent.

Belgreen Principal Eddie Britton replaced Red Bay Principal Bobby Forsythe in the run off with top vote getter Bill Moss after the committee ruled every absentee ballot lacking a post mark to be ineligible.

Britton challenged the results of the June 6 Democratic
Primary after finishing in third place with 2,071 votes. Forsythe edged Britton by six votes on the strength of absentee ballots, finishing with 2,077. Moss won the top spot with 2,196.

Forty-five minutes before the June 8 deadline to contest the already certified election, Britton challenged the validity of the absentee ballots, claiming that “miscalculation” in counting ballots, “bribery, intimidation and other misconduct” produced “a sufficient number of illegal votes” to affect the election.

The meeting began shortly before 9 p.m. Monday night in the county courthouse in Russellville and continued past midnight. Each side had an hour to argue its’ case before the committee.

“Eddie and his lawyer presented their case and then my lawyers presented what I thought was an excellent rebuttal,” Forsythe said yesterday morning. “The committee then went into closed session and decided to throw out all of the absentee ballots that did not have a post mark.

“I asked the sub-committee if they could guarantee that no good ballots were thrown out along with questionable ones. They said they could not and I don’t understand how they decided what they did but I guess we will live with it.”
Forsythe said he had no plans to contest the decision nor will he endorse Britton or Moss. He later released an official statement thanking his supporters and disavowing any challenge.

“To my supporters and voters of this area, I wish to say ‘thank you.’ I realize just a mere thank you is inadequate to fully express the appreciation my family and I feel toward each of you for the hard work and friendship you have shown during my campaign . . . I wish the results of the hearing with the Franklin County Democratic Executive Committee had been different and I could still be your candidate for the office of Superintendent of Education. However, that is not how it turned out and after searching my heart, I feel we must accept that it is the Lord’s will and not question the outcome. I say ‘thank you’ for the opportunity of meeting and talking with each of you during the past three months of campaigning.”

Probate Judge Hal Kirby said yesterday that the June 27 run off would go ahead as scheduled but the Moss/Forsythe ballots would not be counted. A special election must now be held to determine the victor between Moss and Britton.

Executive Committee chairman Danny McDowell was in court outside the county yesterday and could not be reached for comment before press time. Britton could not be reached despite numerous attempts to contact him by phone.

One suspect in the armed robbery of TexasBank, appeared in federal court in San Angelo on Wednesday and investigators say that this suspect also gave a confession in the commission of the crime.
James Lewis McGruder, 20, of Paducah, went before the magistrate in the Federal District Court in San Angelo in connection with the robbery that occurred on Tuesday at TexasBank’s Camp Bowie Banking Center. McGruder was charged with aggravated bank robbery with a deadly weapon in the federal court, and remains in the custody of federal marshals in Lubbock today.
The female who allegedly drove McGruder and the 16-year-old juvenile suspect to the scene of the crime is now in custody at the Brown County Jail.
Prismalebrynne “Prissy” Tamar Coffee, 18, of Brownwood has been charged with aggravated robbery with a deadly weapon and is being held on a $100,000 bond. The case is expected to go before the 35th District Grand Jury in the next several weeks.
The juvenile male, who is from Childress, was transported to the Nolan County Juvenile Detention Center in Sweetwater. The suspect will come back to Brownwood to go before the judge in the case, and will be taken back to Sweetwater following the hearing.
The trio are suspects in the first armed robbery in over 30 years that occurred at 10:44 a.m. at Texas Bank on Highway 377. Reports indicate that McGruder and the juvenile entered the bank, the juvenile armed with a .38 caliber revolver.
One shot was reportedly fired into the ceiling and one bag with an unknown amount of cash was taken.
The two men fled on foot and were later captured by Brownwood police.
Nearby witnesses told police that a woman driving a blue car had dropped the two men off at the bank.
During the search for the two men, Coffee was taken into custody and identification of both men was found in her vehicle.

Austin Fick, 4, and his sister Jennifer Fick, 6, participated in the Rock County coloring contest.

Mr. Carry Blackburn
Mr. Carry Blackburn, 77, died Saturday, Jan. 8, 2000, in Mobile. He had been a resident of Atmore for the past 25 years. He was a veteran of WWII and a member of the Baptist Church.

Survivors include a brother, Seaburn Blackburn of Atmore; his sister, Lizzette Townsend of Mobile; and a number of nieces and nephews.

Graveside services were held Monday, Jan. 10, at New Home Cemetery in Poarch, at 11 a.m. with the Rev. Gladding Mothershed officiating.

Emma Jo Dunn
Mrs. Emma Jo Dunn, 69, died Monday, Jan. 10. 2000, in Atmore.

Mrs. Dunn is survived by two sons, Danny E. Presley of Brewton and Jack L. Presley of New Port, Va.; a daughter, Darcy Jo Rhoades of Atmore; nine grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

Visitation will be Wednesday, Jan. 12 at Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home from 7 to 9 p.m. Funeral services will be Thursday, Jan. 13 at 11 a.m. at Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home with the Rev. James Weber officiating. Burial will be at Steadham Cemetery. Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Eubie Willard Davis
Mr. Eubie Willard Davis, 62, died Saturday, Jan. 8, 2000, in Atmore. Mr. Davis was a resident of Atmore all of his life and a self-employed cook.

He is survived by a son, Joseph Thomas Davis of Pensacola; a daughter, Debby Cook and her husband, Chad, of Walnut Hill; a sister, Doris D. Benson of Mobile and three grandchildren, Randon Watson, Cord Cook and Sharley Cook all of Walnut Hill.

He is preceeded in death by his parents, Thomas Edgar and Ada M. Davis, and his brothers, George A. Davis, Carvin T. Davis, William (Bill) J. T. Davis and Alton Davis.

Pallbearers are Fred (Bubba) McGhee Jr., Michael Chavers, Johnny Davis, Thomas Davis, Randon Watson and Cord Cook.

Funeral services will be held Wednesday, Jan. 12, at 2:30 p.m. at Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home Chapel with Elder Burl Phillips officiating. Burial will be at Mothershed Cemetery. Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Aubrey George Entrekin
Mr. Aubrey George Entrekin, 76, died Tuesday, Jan. 11, 2000, at a Pensacola Hospital. Mr. Entrekin was a resident of Century for the past 70 years and attended Beulah Chapel Assembly of God Church.

He is survived by his wife, Ruth Entrekin of Century; two daughters, Susan Steadham and her husband, Drew, of Century and Deborah Yuhasz and her husband, Andrew, of Molino; a brother, Daniel Entrekin of Brewton; four grandchildren, Corissa Diamond and her husband, Chad of Jay, Kimberly Steadham of Jay, Gregory Steadham of Jay and Amy Yuhasz of Molino; and two great-grandchildren, Colby and Cade Diamond of Jay.

Funeral services will be held Thursday, Jan. 13, at 2 p.m. at Atmore Memorial Chapel with the Rev. Shelton Kindig and the Rev. Louie Pettis officiating. Burial will follow at Serenity Gardens Cemetery. Visitation will be held Wednesday, Jan. 12, between 6 and 9 p.m. at Atmore Memorial Chapel.

Floyd Hadley
Mr. Floyd Hadley, 94, died Saturday, Jan. 8, 2000, in Atmore. Mr. Hadley was a resident of Brewton.

He is survived by his wife, Mrs. Maxine Hadley of Brewton; a son, Timothy Jernigan of Brewton; a daughter, Lora Faye Jarrell of Rabon; a step-daughter, Mazie Lee of Mississippi; 10 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. Funeral services were held Monday, Jan.10 at Dean Church in Rabon with Sister Helen Fretwell officiating. Burial was at Dean Cemetery.

Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Lillie Bell Hines
Mrs. Lillie Bell Hines of Atmore, died Monday, Jan. 10, 2000, at Baptist Hospital in Pensacola. Funeral services and survivors will be announced by Turner Funeral Chapel.

Edgar Rackard
The Rev. Edgar Rackard, 81, died Saturday, Jan. 1, 2000, in Mobile. The Rev. Rackard was retired from Alabama Dry Dock and Ship Building and was a member of New Home Church and minister of United Pentecostal Holiness Organization.

He is survived by his wife, Ruthie Mae Rackard of Atmore; two sons, Lonnie Lee and his wife, Carolyn, of Atmore and Eugene Rackard and his wife, Karen, of Chilly, Fla.; five daughters, Hazel Rolin and her husband, Ardis, Ruby Flurnoy, Dorothy McGhee and her husband, Joe Frank and Glenda Carlton, all of Atmore, and Mary Cordes and her husband , Gary, of Jasper; a brother, Bill Rackard of Atmore; three sisters, Lois Amos of Monroeville, Warnice Anderson of Pensacola and Ina Colbert of Uriah; 15 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.

Funeral services were held Sunday, Jan. 9 at 2 p.m. at Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Roger Lewis and Elder Gary Cordes officiating. Burial was at New Home Cemetery, Active pallbearers were his grandchildren, Eddie Rolin, Larry Flurnoy, Kendall McGhee, Chet McGhee, Jason Rackard, Jacob Carlton, Jared Carlton and Jonathan Rackard.

Honorary pallbearers were John Reed, Ronald Baggett, Bro. Wasdin, the Rev. Fred Gibbs, Donnie Wasdin and Ardis Rolin.

The A’s held off the Orioles 9-8 Thursday night in a Miami Pee Wee League baseball game. In another game from Thursday, the Blue Jays rolled to a 12-5 win over the White Sox.

The Orioles had tied the game at 7-7 with a run in the top of the fourth. But the A’s scored twice in the bottom of the fourth to go up 9-7. The Orioles cut the score to the final margin with a run in the fifth.

Collecting hits for the A’s were Jordan Hessee, a double and two singles; Dakota Marshall, three singles; Blake Witten, two singles, and Luke Treece, Jacob Mustain, Mikel Wood, Tyler Kneeland and Derek Wright, a single each.

The Blue Jays jumped out to a 5-1 lead in their game against the White Sox. They padded it to 7-2 in the second, then after the Sox came back with three runs in the top of the third, the Jays got a final five runs in their half of the inning.

In games played Tuesday night, the Blue Jays topped the Red Sox 12-5 and the A’s drilled the White Sox 10-1.

The Jays broke out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning. It was 6-1 after the top of the third. The Red Sox got four runs in the bottom of the third. The A’s broke out 2-0 in the first against the White Sox, then scored five times in the second. They got a final three tallies in the fourth. The Sox averted a shutout with a run in the fourth.

In games played last Monday, the Orioles topped the Cards 11-4 and the Giants beat the Indians 9-5. The Orioles broke out to a 5-0 lead and were never headed against the Redbirds. It was 8-1 after three innings and each team scored three times in the fourth.

Jacob Willard had two home runs and two doubles for the Orioles. James Forrester and Kyle Ryan added a triple and two singles.

Caydon Cole and Charlie McQuigg had a double and single each while Jessup Victor and Jimmy Wilkins had two singles each. The Indians had gone up 3-2 in the bottom of the first against the Giants. However, the Giants took the lead for good with three runs in the second and four more in the third.

Dale Yerigan is in for a very busy weekend. But he’s used to it.

The 11-time steer wrestling world champion, just back from a swing through Wisconsin, Indiana and Michigan, will compete in the Ottawa County Rodeo during Friday’s opening go-round.

He will ride at Carthage, Mo., on Thursday, compete here Friday then enter a rodeo at Chickasha Saturday morning.
His busy weekend will be capped Saturday night at Pauls Valley.

“Miami is one of the closer ones,” he said. “It’s nice to be able to drive an hour or so and come back home and sleep in your own bed.”

Last week, he went from Mountain Home, Ark., to Milwaukee to Lowell, Ind., and then to Esconaba, Mich.

Cowboys, like those who spend lots of time on the road, have taken a big hit in the wallet due to the high gas prices.

“The further north and east we went, the worse the prices got,” Yerigan said. “We paid $1.64 a gallon for diesel and gas was $2.10 a gallon.”

Yerigan said he will usually enter 100 rodeos a year and will travel over 100,000 miles. And that’s without a sponsorship that is so prevalent in other sports now.

“I’m pretty much doing it all myself,” he said. “I have a trailer sponsorship this year (Sundowner Trailers has given him a four-horse trailer). Other than that, I foot all the bills myself.

“That is the unique thing about rodeo. But there are more sponsors involved and making deals.”

Unlike other sports which guarantee the contestants a payoff, rodeo doesn’t. You must place to earn a check.

“But it makes you wonder about the other sports,” Yerigan said. “You wonder if they put out every night when they know they are going to get a paycheck. In rodeo, everyone does because if you don’t, you won’t get anything.”

Yerigan has won nine straight world titles — the longest in IPRA history. His first title came in 1985.

“I still like to compete... it’s still a thrill,” he said. “A lot of them get tired of being away from their families so much, but my wife and son travel with me.”

He met his wife, Kathy, at IFR18 in Tulsa. She finished seventh in the world standings in barrel racing last year.

Dale Yerigan is currently eighth overall in steer wrestling with $4,927.76 in earnings. Clark McGuire is the leader at $9,044.40.

“I am a little disappointed because it’s been a slow start,” he said. “But I have been doing it long enough to know there are a lot of ups and downs. Hopefully I will pick it up because really we are just halfway there as far as what time of year it is.”

He said July and August are the busiest months for rodeos.

“I’ve been really fortunate. Sometimes you have years like this,” Yerigan said. “It’s not like I have had a terrible year, but people expect me to be further up (in the standings) and I expect myself to be further up. But my eye is on the big picture and what is at the end of the year.”

Three defending world champions — including all-around champ Jet McCoy — will be in the field for the Ottawa County Rodeo which kicks off a two-night run Friday at the Miami Fairgrounds.