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Air ambulance service awaiting approval

Thursday, August 14, 2008 11:31 PM PDT

By The Daily News

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A local air ambulance service is likely to open shop at the Kelso-Longview Regional Airport, pending the Kelso City Council’s approval, the airport board announced Thursday evening.

Life Flight Inc. Executive Director Mike Griffiths pitched a proposal to the airport board Thursday to establish a Southwest Washington-based emergency helicopter service in Kelso.

Life Flight has four stations, in the Oregon cities of Eugene, Aloha, Hillsboro and The Dalles. The Kelso station would enable Life Flight to better serve Columbia, Clatsop, Tillamook, Lincoln, Cowlitz, Wahkiakum, Clark, Lewis and Pacific counties, according to an airport board press release.

According to Kathleen Johnson, Cowlitz County commissioner/airport board chairwoman, the board issued a “recommendation of strong support” for the proposal to the City Council, which would need to approve the final memo of understanding.

The Life Flight service is owned by Oregon Health & Science University, Legacy and Providence Hospitals of Oregon and Washington.

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carmike wrote on Aug 15, 2008 6:43 AM:

" This should be a no brainer for the City Council. But then some of the decisions they have made in the past, it's a wonder if they do have any common sense. This would no doubt save lives, due to accidents, fire, shootings,or you name it. Life Flight is a major tool for First Responders and if they can cut down travel time by serving, S.W. Washington, N.W. Oregon, and the Coast of Washington and Oregon then let them in with no strings attached!!! Do something right for a change. "

Adolph Oliver-Bush wrote on Aug 15, 2008 8:18 AM:

" Not only should this be approved, it should be put on the fast-track through any bureaucratic loopholes that migh impede it. Any commissioner, council person, board member etc. who opposes it should be sent out of town on a rail... "

joe shmo wrote on Aug 15, 2008 1:31 PM:

" Good Luck!!!!!!
By the time Kelso makes up their mind, 50 people will have died from not having the helicopter service. If they do come to town, the City of Kelso will work hard to run them out of town because they REALLY DON'T FIT INTO THE FULL SPECTRUM OF WHAT KELSO WANTS THEIR TOWN TO BE. I think they really want to get into the REAL ESTATE business, if THEY would quit discriminating against long time businesses in Downtown Kelso and sell the useless lot instead of trying to run then out of town.

GOOD LUCK AMBULANCE SERVICE. "

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