New VAS board members elected

LITTLE ROCK — The VAS Ambulance Service Corporation board of directors has three new faces.

The election was held Saturday at the VAS annual meeting, required by bylaws to be held in January of each new year. It was held in the Avoca Community Room.

Seats occupied by Tony Miltich, Jim Geddie and Gary Echolswere open because the new board elected Oct. 31, 2008, had staggered terms. These three terms were set to expire.

The meeting opened with current board member Cris Henry welcoming the crowd of around 45 residents of the northeast Benton County area. Henry asked that when floor nominations were made, nominators be certain the nominee would be willing and able to serve the term of three years.

The first nomination came from Willene Johnson for Junior Matthews, who respectfully declined.

“I’d like to, but I just can’t,” Matthews said, “I might not be able to fill that obligation.”

Johnson then went on to nominate a member of the community who was not in attendance at the meeting.

Andy Meeker said he would like to nominate Tony Miltich and another person not in attendance, on behalf of the board.

“Can a board member nominate?” asked membership holder Pete Rathmell of Garfield.

“You can nominate on behalf of yourself,” Miltich said to Meeker, “You’re a voter.” Miltich added that he was willing to serve.

The next three nominees, Bill Johnson, Grady Allen and Richard Funk, were all in attendance and willing to serve.

Each nominee stood to introduce himself to the community,noting where they reside and their experience with the emergency medical technician/first responder business. Ballots were collected and counted during a presentation by the VAS director of operations Richard Wynne.

Of 48 voters, the results were: Allen, 48; Funk, 48;

Johnson, 30; and Miltich, 12.

Bill Johnson lives in Avoca and was born and raised in the area.

Grady Allen, of Garfield, has resided in the area for two and a half years, moving here from Mississippi after Hurricane Katrina, and has been in the business for six years.

“I think the community deserves the best medical and ambulance care we can provide ... in a good, logical manor,” Allen said.

Richard Funk, of Garfield, has been in the areafor three years and is a first responder with the Northeast Benton County Volunteer Fire Department. He was elected to the school board while residing in Kansas, making him familiar with board operations.

“Rural areas need as good medical care as we can get, that’s what I would be dedicated to,” he said.

After the announcement of the winners, the meeting was adjourned.

“I’m still going to be involved,” Miltich said of the results, “Just because I’m not on the board doesn’t mean I can’t help like I have always done.”

The board meets the second Tuesday of every month, with the next regular meeting scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 9, at the VAS offices in Garfield. The meeting is open to the public.