10/21/2025
There have been lots of false statements put out there in reference to the purpose of the Wheeler County Emergency Service District #1. This initiative came about over the potential changes in funding for the South Wheeler County Ambulance. When people became aware that there might be changes to the service due to changes to the funding, there was a small group that got together and came up with a plan to try to keep the service. The purpose of the ESD #1 is to provide funding for the EMS and as it stands right now – it appears that if it passes, it will be able to provide the funding to keep the EMS an Advance Life Support capable service.
I am hearing a lot of people make the comment that this is just a way for the Fire Department to get extra money. This is 100% a false statement and the ESD was NEVER about funding for the Fire Department. It was stated that if the ESD got off the ground and had the money, it would assume the funding for the Fire Departments that are in the South Wheeler County Hospital District. The Fire Department is funded by Wheeler County and the City of Shamrock. We do 2 fundraisers a year to raise money for ourselves and we apply annually for grants from the Texas Forest Service HB 2604 Program. That is how we were able to purchase the newest City Pumper with $235,000 from the Texas Forest Service. We as a Fire Department understand the importance it is to have an Advanced Life Support capable service since we are 100 miles away from a large hospital. We decided to help our sister agency and try to put this in place.
Everyone needs to understand that the EMS or Fire Department has no control over how the money is spent. There will be a board of 5 people appointed by the Wheeler County Commissioners to oversee the ESD and they will have control over the funding and how it is spent inside the Emergency Services it over sees.
I have not seen many people jumping up to try to come up with a solution to this problem. Most will grip about it, do nothing except spread negative comments, and then grip some more when it fails. That is no way to try to keep a small town from becoming a ghost town. We need to work together and be positive in trying to keep this community and county moving forward. There is no room for negativity, but I can promise you there is an over abundance of it that runs rampant around here. If everyone had faith in our community and county and extended a hand to help, we could get a lot of things done. But most, will sit on their ass, grip about the ones doing something and then say “I told you so” when you can’t get enough support to pass something to keep things moving forward.
This is a very very simple initiative.
If you want to put in place a funding mechanism to provide funding to keep the ambulance at the Advanced Life Support level, then you VOTE FOR on Nov 4th.
If having an Advanced Life Support EMS service is not important to you, VOTE AGAINST on Nov 4th.
But for once, stop sitting in the background and being 100% negative about what is going on and try to be part of the solution. Being part of the problem is the easy lazy way, for a change try to be part of the solution and get involved and offer to help keep our little community on the right track.
