Wednesday fried fish boosts EMS training
GLYNIS CRAWFORD SMITH/THE HIGHLANDER
At the Marble Falls Area Emergency Medical Service fish fry benefit at the Blue Bonnet Cafe March 9, emergency medical technicians (EMTs) Brooke Mossarat (left) and Megan Morrison (right) visit with the Bartino family (from left) Micki, Natalie, David III and David Jr. The next event to benefit the MFAEMS will be 4-8 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 7, as always at the Blue Bonnet.
By Glynis Crawford Smith
The Highlander
Fish will be frying Wednesday, Sept. 7, for the semi-annual Marble Falls Area Emergency Service (MFAEMS) fundraiser.
At the Blue Bonnet Cafe from 4-8 p.m. every plate filled with fried catfish and the fixings will help fill the fund for the area's EMS service.
Price of the dinners will be $10 a plate, except for children age five and younger, $5. Call 830-693-2444 for take out orders.
Tickets are on sale at the cafe and at the EMS station, 609 Industrial Boulevard, or buy them at the door.
The Blue Bonnet dips a fires about 300 pounds of fish each fall and spring to feed around 600 people and raise up to $15,000 a year that goes primarily to training needs. Local EMS technicians and employees, firefighters and elected officials pitch in to bus tables and keep the event moving.
John and Belinda Kemper, owners of the cafe, have made the project for more than 30 years.
Marble Falls Area EMS employs both full-time and part-time employees that jointly respond with the integral help of area fire departments.
“We now have 48 para-medics and 32 are full time, running about 4,000 calls per year between 911 and transfer calls,” said Johnny M. Campbell, executive director of MFAEMS. “Currently, we have six MICU (Mobile Intensive Care Unit) capable ambulances and two SUV first responders housed at stations in Marble Falls, Granite Shoals, and Horseshoe Bay.”
In Campbell's annual reports to the cities served by MFAEMS he has made it clear how much community support means now. With the new Baylor Scott & White hospital open, in addition to Seton Highland Lakes, transfer calls are on the increase. Changes in the insurance landscape have meant more problems with collections for services.
“We think John and Belinda Kemper may have raised as much as half a million dollars for the service over the years.”
The Marble Falls Area EMS Fish Fry is just one of the contributions of time, effort and support that put the Kempers in the spotlight to receive the Philanthropy Award at the annual Legacy Foundation Celebration of Giving in November.
