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National Emergency Medical Services Week is always celebrated the third full week of May. This year the week-long event falls on May 19th through May 25th. This year marks the 50th anniversary of EMS week and this year’s theme being “Honoring Our Past”. National EMS Week is a time to celebrate and recognize those that serve the community while educating the public about EMS and the services that they provide.

The Wagner-Lake Andes Ambulance District was formed in 2000 in order to help alleviate the financial burdens and staffing issues that both the Wagner and Lake Andes Ambulance Departments were facing. Prior to 2000, Wagner and Lake Andes each had their own ambulance services. The Wagner-Lake Andes Ambulance District is governed by nine board members that include Joel Kotab, Tammy Johannsen, Courtney Hanson, Audrey Petrik, Jasmine Kreeger, Mike Johnson, Jenna Leibel, Ray Parker and Kathy Fuchs. Wagner has three Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT)s and five drivers. Lake Andes has four EMTs and three drivers. The staff members do not work with a set partner as it is important for all staff members to be able to work together so that things flow smoothly in any situation. Each EMT must be recertified every two years and need 48s hours of training. Ambulance drivers are required to have a valid driver’s license and be current in their CPR training.

Members of the Wagner Ambulance team are the three EMTs Lisa Lightenberg, Kristina Ymker and Tanner Hento, and the five drivers are Gina Woods Carda, David Lane, Adam Mora, Allison Red Buffalo and Dave Hewitt. Members of the Lake Andes Ambulance team include the four EMTs Alan Tronvold, Rudolph Ulrich, and Will Bennett and the three drivers are Dallas Tronvold, Cody Svatos, and Josh Kaczor.

Bev Steinmark

The heart of the Wagner-Lake Andes Ambulance District has to be their office manager, Bev Steinmark. Bev worked as an EMT for 38 years and 16 years as the office manager for the Wagner-Lake Andes Ambulance District before retiring two years ago. After only two years into her retirement, Bev decided that it was time to return to the office. Bev has been back working for the ambulance district for the past three and a half months. Bev’s lifelong dedication to the Emergency Medical Services is incredible and definitely deserves to be recognized.

Alan Tronvold

Alan Tronvold has been a part of Wagner-Lake Andes Ambulance Department for the past 31 years as an EMT. Alan is well trained in different aspects of EMS. He is certified as an EMT, Fire Fighter 1 & 2, CPR Instructor and EVOC. Alan first decided to become an EMT during a period of time when both the Wagner and Lake Andes Ambulance crews were short staffed. He thought he could be helpful to both departments. Alan’s specific job is patient care while in the ambulance. What motivates Alan in his work as an EMT is the desire to help people. The best part of being an EMT for Alan is being able to help local community people in their time of need. The most challenging part of being an EMT is trying to live a normal life being on call for 24 hours. Alan has three children Devan (25), Dallas (23) and Alanna (18). Alan is also a member of the Lake Andes Volunteer Fire Department. When he is not busy working as an EMT, Alan enjoys working on old cars.

Rudolph Ulrich

Rudolph Ulrich has been an EMT for the past 14 years, nine of which have been with the Wagner-Lake Andes Ambulance Department. Before joining this department, he had volunteered at Bonesteel as an EMT for three years. Rudolph first wanted to become an EMT because of his desire to be able to help someone in a medical emergency and make a difference. Rudolph is motivated in this career field by his want to be helpful to the community. Rudolph’s specific job as an EMT while in the ambulance or on scene is patient assessment and care. The best part of the job for Rudolph is being called out with the ambulance and being able to help someone at any time. The most challenging aspect of his job would be having a non-consistent sleep schedule. Rudolph has four children and one grandchild. When he is not busy working, he enjoys continuing his education.

Del Knudsen

Del Knudsen has been a part of the Wagner-Lake Andes Ambulance Department for the past seven years. After graduating from Andes Central, Del did his training/EMS course work in Sioux Falls before returning back to his hometown. Del’s inclination to help people is what drove him to become an EMT. When Del is on duty, his specific job is usually patient care and assessment. His motivation for this type of career comes from his desire to help the community and provide emergency services to those that are in need. This is also the best part of the job for Del, being able to provide emergency care to people. For Del, the most challenging aspect of his job is seeing people in need of care because they are hurt. Del is also involved in the community garden project through the Lake Andes Food and Wellness Council. When Del is not busy working, he enjoys being at home with his pager off watching movies.

Will Bennett

Will Bennett has been a part of the Wagner-Lake Andes Ambulance crew since December of 2019 and became an EMT in November of 2021. Will loves being a part of the Lake Andes community and became an EMT in order to give back and help his community. He took his EMT training through Sanford Health. Will also has a Business Administration degree and is currently working on his Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration with a minor in Tribal Law. Will works as both an EMT and an ambulance driver depending on the crew composition of the shift. Will’s motivation for this type of career comes from his love of the community and wanting to be able to help. The best part of the job for Will is getting to drive or ride in the ambulance while playing with the sirens. There is definitely a different challenge for Will in this line of work. As he has grown up in the community and lived there most of his life, he knows the patients on a personal level. Therefore, seeing people that he knows and their families in the back of the ambulance can sometimes be unsettling for him. Will is married to his wife, Teresa, and they have six children, Thomas (2), Wayne (5), Taryn (8), Tate (11), Avery (21), and Annalea (28). The couple also has two grandchildren, Audriana and Santiago. Will is also a member of the Lake Andes Fire Department and the Andes Central School Board. When Will is not busy working, he is too busy chasing his children to their activities to have hobbies.

Dallas Tronvold

Dallas Tronvold is relatively new to the Wagner-Lake Andes Ambulance Department having only been a part of the team for the past eight months. Dallas is certified in CPR, First Aid, AED, emergency management, and Emergency Vehicle Operation Course (EVOC). He is currently enrolled in classes for his EMT certification. Dallas became a part of the EMS team because he wanted to become more involved in the community and make a difference in people’s lives. Dallas’s job when on duty is the ambulance driver, but he also does a lot alongside the EMT such as patient care depending on the situation. Dallas’s motivation behind pursuing this type of career is that besides it being an exciting career, he wants to be able to help save lives, help people in general and learn new skills. The best aspects of the job for Dallas are being involved in the community, being in a great work environment and receiving good pay. Dallas is Alan Tronvold’s son and he has two siblings, Devan and Alanna. At community events, Dallas enjoys doing stand-bys with the ambulance department. When he is not busy working, he enjoys riding jet skis and motorcycles.

Josh Kaczor

Josh Kaczor has been an EVOC driver for the Wagner-Lake Andes Ambulance Department for the past four years. Josh joined the ambulance team because he wanted to be more involved in and help his community. Josh’s motivation for this type of work comes from his desire to help the Lake Andes community. The best part of Josh’s job is being able to give back to the community by helping people during emergency situations. The most challenging aspect of the job for Josh is being on scene for bad accidents. Josh is married to his wife Rachel. The couple has four children Tate, Kruze, Brynlee and Rhettson. Josh is very active in the Lake Andes community as he is a member of the Lake Andes Volunteer Fire Department, on the Fish Days Committee and coaches for the Lake Andes Youth Rec. When Josh is not busy working, he enjoys spending time with this family, attending his children’s’ activities and camping.

Thank you to the incredible team of EMTs, ambulance drivers and office personnel that take amazing care of the residents of Lake Andes when they are called to. Your dedication and service does not go unnoticed.