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Ludowici residents to get free emergency air-transport service
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Ludowici Mayor James Fuller presents a check for $6,688 to AirEvac Lifeteam spokesman Al Groover to provide emergency air-transport coverage for Ludowici residents. Pictured front row, from left: Ludowici City Clerk Tina Skipper, City Councilwoman Mary Hamilton, Groover, Councilwoman Kathy Phillips, Fuller, Councilman Mark Chesser, Councilman Jim Fuller Jr., Councilwoman Gwen Davis and AirEvac Lifeteam Program Director Donald Dixon. Back row: AirEvac Lifeteam crew members Damian Gwenau, Ken Horn and Matt Keanon. - photo by Mikee Riddle

The Ludowici City Council recently voted to provide free emergency air-transport service to its residents.

Earlier this month, the council approved paying for the service by adding a $1 fee on every utility bill. However, Mayor James Fuller said that after he researched the matter, he found that the fee could be paid for by using public-safety Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax funds.

Fuller said the city will pay $6,688 for the service.

“We have around 2,000 residents in the city now, and if this new service saves one life, then that money will be well spent,” he said.

The provider of the new service will be the Jesup-based AirEvac Lifeteam. According to Lifeteam Program Director Donald Mixon, the carrier will provide 24-hour coverage to all of the city’s residents. He said his company has both helicopters and airplanes based all over the nation with more than 220 bases like the one in Jesup. According to Mixon, all Ludowici residents will now be provided with this service whether they are in trouble in the city limits or the county. Residents can upgrade their policies to cover them when they are traveling anywhere in the nation for an additional $35.

“It is obvious that the mayor and the City Council are doing a great job looking out for the city of Ludowici, and we are happy to be partnering with them to provide this service,” Mixon said.

“This is really something else. Now, whether someone gets in a car wreck or has a heart attack or any other emergency, if they need to be flown to a hospital, they will be able to,” Fuller said.

The mayor said he is glad council members approved paying for the service and praised them for doing so.

“This council cares about the citizens in Ludowici,” he said. “The only way we were able to get this get this done was by being able to work together.”

Ludowici City Council members are Mary Hamilton, Mark Chesser, Kathy Phillips, Gwen Davis and Jim Fuller Jr.

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