Lake Chelan Health Emergency Services celebrates 50th anniversary

CHELAN - Lake Chelan Health Emergency Services held a 50th anniversary celebration on Sunday, July 27 at Lake Chelan Health with many past and current EMT’s in attendance, along with community members, hospital staff and board members. 

Ray Eickmeyer, Lake Chelan Health Emergency Medical Service director welcomed everyone to the 50th anniversary celebration for Lake Chelan Health Emergency Services held in the Orchard Cafe at the hospital and gave the history of the valley’s ambulance service. First date of service for the EMS was June 1, 1975. Special guests for the event were Aaron Edward, CEO of Lake Chelan Health, board member Jordana LaPorte, and Shawn Ottley COO for Lake Chelan Health. EMT’s past and present, who were present, could sign they name on a banner, honoring the event; have their photo taken with their years of service and put their name on the wall. A timeline presentation set up in the hallway showed the history of the EMS service in the valley from June 1975 through this year. Also on display were drawings of the new EMS station to be built behind the new hospital. Groundbreaking for the new station will be held later this year. Those in attendance could also take a tour of the newest ambulances for the EMS service.

Eickmeyer then introduced Malissa Reynolds a longtime nurse at Lake Chelan Health and wife of a former EMT., who helped organize the event. She introduced Marrian Peebles, a former EMT; Shannon Byquist-Freels who was a member of Alpha Guild, which was formed in 1976 to give financial and moral support to the Lake Chelan Valley Ambulance Association. Wendy Griffiths Redman, long-time EMT Greta Griffiths daughter, told a humorous story of whenever there was an ambulance call and she was babysitting, Greta would wave goodbye to her grandchildren, the youngest being around 6 years of age, and off she would go. The stories they tell of what they did while grandma was gone would make your hair singe she said. People of the valley were so grateful for the service Wendy said that they would leave fruits and vegetables on Greta’s porch. Judy Steele shared her story of having problems when she was pregnant with her son, Michael, and three local doctors telling they needed to get her to Seattle to save the baby. EMT’s Dick Gordon and  Howard Banks rode in the ambulance with her to the airport, telling her that it was going to be ok, and you are going to save this baby. Michael weighed in at 2 pounds 3 ounces when he was born. 

Those in attendance viewed the history of the EMS services in the valley with a timeline, put together with newspaper clippings, photos and highlighted events for the ambulance service in the Lake Chelan Valley. 

Lake Chelan Health Emergency Services History:

Charter EMT’s - graduated May 1975

Andy Precht - Senior EMT  and Coordinator, Donn Plew  - EMT and Assistant Coordinator, and Gary Matz - EMT and Assistant Coordinator - all graduated EMT class in 1974.

Chelan: Ray O’Neal, Greg Stafford, Greta Griffiths, Jim McClain,  Dusty Jungquist, Myrna Duke, Marrian Peebles, Lee Brown, Sylvia Gervais, Bob Gervais, Bernice McCulley, Dick Daugherty, Bud Duhamel, Pat Fix and Betty Lawson. Manson: Ed Ambruster, Gary Miller, Ron Walter, John Pitts, Doug England, Lyle Griffith, Les Hair, Larry Jungk and Ed Batch.

EMT’s who graduated in 1976: Chelan: Lenard Cochran, Bill Jones, Lee Timimns, Leah Lewis, Pat Taylor, Brian Harris, Pete Peterson, Arleen St. Luise, Daryl Van Dusen, Pam Stanley, RN; and Joe Brown. Manson: John Bayne, Al Brooks, Cecil Collins, Edward Grimes, Dennis Hanks (police officer), Thomas Howell, Marvin Jeffries, Wes Jeffries, Hershel Joyner, Jeff Klapstein, Nila Koenig, Ray Lesmeister and Lesal Moore. 

1974: Prior to 1974 Andy Precht of Precht Rose Chapel helped people by responding for help with using a hearse or a station wagan. Donn Plew, Gary Matz and Andy Precht took first EMT class in Brewster. In September the Chelan and Manson communities met to look at options for providing an ambulance service to the Lake Chelan Valley. In December the hospital board approved to do a special levy for an ambulance.

1975: In February the community voted and approve funding for an ambulance. Lake Chelan Valley Ambulance Association began. In April the first EMT class was completed and the first day of service was June 1. Ambulances were initially placed in Chelan at Kingman’s lumberyard the corner of Johnson Avenue and Emerson Street and in Manson at Fire Station 51. First cardiac patient survived and walked out of the hospital. HR Spinner company donated funds to purchase extraction tools.

1976: January second EMT class started and graduated in May. In February Chelan and Manson could now 911 for emergencies. In August the Chelan ambulance got a new home at the corner of Woodin Avenue and Bradley Street (where Cashmere Valley Bank is) and a second new ambulance was placed in Manson. Alpha Guild was started to raise fund to support the ambulance association. Greta Griffiths stared teaching CPR to the public and youth in public schools and Jerry Isenhart made radios for the EMS Team.

1977: First Mast Pants were put in service and in November the first disaster drill was held. In December CPR instructor class was completed by Edward Armbruster, Les Hair and Lyle Griffiths.

1978: In May the 3rd EMT class finished with 25 students taught by Dr. Danke with the help of Wenatchee Valley College. Andy Precht becomes Lake Chelan Valley Ambulance Association (LCVAA) president. Major Mass Casualty Incident (MCI) with seven critical patients was cared for so well that it was recognized by state leaders.

1979-1980: May 1980 4th EMT Class finishes with 14 students.

1981: In May LCVAA becomes the first ambulance outside of King County to have a Manual Defibrillator and the first to have a EMT-D Class.

1982: In March the City of Chelan donates property for a new ambulance station and volunteers begin building the station.

1983: LCVAA begins Search and Rescue Services with Dr. Danke leading the program. Alpha Guild has a annual street fair that becomes a successful fund raiser for many years. LCVAA featured in JEMS for the SAGE Splint.

1984: Public education with Babysitting Classes.

1985: New 3rd EMS station built by volunteers on property donated by the city of Chelan two years earlier after fundraising for materials and in March EMT class #6 graduates.

1989: Advanced Life Support started with Karl Jonasson, the first paramedic for the Lake Chelan Valley. He became the EMS director in October and retired in 2017. 

2017: Ray Eickmeyer was appointed the new EMS director and still holds that position.

Fast forward to 2020 and the COVID-19 Pandemic. Lake Chelan Health Emergency Services was leading in COVID-19 testing and vaccinations. 

2025: First ambulance was placed in Stehekin and groundbreaking for a permanent home for Lake Chelan Health Emergency Services will be held later this year.