National Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Week is being observed throughout the United States this week. This year’s theme is “EMS: More Than a Job. A Calling.” The theme sums up how Erik Rood and Kristen Scholten feel about their duties.

Throughout Montcalm and adjacent counties, it’s been evident that public school districts have been in tough times. Major cuts in the state budget, many directed toward education, have forced districts to close buildings, consolidate classrooms, cut crucial sports and education programs and lay off teachers. However, according to State Rep. Rick Outman, R-Six Lakes, there is one specific school district, Highland Park, just eight miles northwest of downtown Detroit, which had the state Legislature scrambling to keep afloat last week.

Voters overwhelmingly approved renewing a Montcalm County Emergency Medical Services millage Tuesday.Voters were asked to approve renewing 0.75 mills over three years to provide funds for maintenance and operations of ambulance and medical first response services from 2013 to 2016. Residents will pay 75 cents for every $1,000 of taxable value on their property.

More than 100 firefighters, emergency and law enforcement officials and school bus drivers stood in the rain for an hour Monday morning to stage a massive mock disaster involving two cars and a school bus. The Montcalm Area Intermediate School District (MAISD) asked Montcalm County Emergency Medical Services (EMS) to help them create a disaster training session for school bus drivers. The event took place in the parking lot of Montcalm Township Hall.