Axtell Community Ambulance Service
Early ambulance service in the community was provided by the funeral homes. Their hearses doubled as ambulances to provide care for Axtell and the surrounding communities. As time progressed, increasing regulations made it to where funeral homes were no longer to provide ambulance services. Bill Landreth of the Landreth-Thornburg Funeral Home, who was the last funeral home in the county to stop ambulance service, stopped his ambulance service January 1, 1972.
The city council then explored ways to provide continued ambulance service to the city of Axtell and the surrounding communities. In May 1972, Hight Ambulance Service of Marysville made an ambulance available. The unit was temporarily housed in the fire house and was operated by the volunteer fire department. The bills for service were paid to Hight, and Bill Landreth and Joe Werner drove quite a bit for the firemen.
Around 1975 the city took over the ambulance service. The increasing number of regulations resulted in the need of having the people who transported the patients to have special training which originated the EMT (Emergency Medical Technician) classes. The city of Axtell paid for, and continues to do so, the classes to train the EMTs with the stipulation that they give at least one year of service in return.
Around 1978 the first EMTs were certified. The first ambulance for the city of Axtell was a white Mercury station wagon. Community fundraisers netted the funds to purchase our next ambulance, a 1974 Dodge, in April 1980. Funds from the sale of the hospital furnished the money to buy equipment for this unit. The next unit purchased was a new 1982 Ford Status ambulance and after that was a new 1990, is a Ford Collins ambulance.
Equipment uses and needs have changed greatly over the years. Early ambulances did not even carry oxygen. The first radios in our units were purchased from funds from the Helvering estate. The units were updated and carried an AED (Automatic External Defibrillator) with heart monitor, electric blood pressure cuff, and a cellular phone.
Information taken from Axtell’s 125 year book
Axtell Volunteer Fire Department
The Axtell Volunteer Fire Department was established in 1904. The first equipment purchased in 1905 came with a price tag of $1,250. Not much information is available about the early year of the AFD, but a 1908 issue of the Axtell Standard states: “Organized fire dept. of twenty men. Best firefighting apparatus of any town its size not having a waterworks system.”
It seems that in the 1950s the interest and enthusiasm of the department dwindled. All that was to change the night of December 28, 1958, when the Presbyterian Church, located in the 200 block of Maple Street, was burned to the ground. At that time the city fire truck was a 1932 model with a 50-gallon holding tank. Following the fire, the city council immediately saw the need for updated equipment. In February of 1959, the council accepted a bid of $8,475 for a new pumper truck with a 500-gallon capacity. In March of 1959, the AFD reorganized and training of new and old members was undertaken by Fire Chief A.G. Gress.
In 1996, the pumper truck was still in use along with a 1,600 gallon water tanker which was renovated in 1992. The rescue truck was purchased and rebuilt in 1988 with the Jaws of Life being added in January of 1992. An addition was built onto the firehouse to accommodate new equipment in 1992.
In 1996 the fire department boasted 24 members with Mark Wagner as fire chief. They meet on the last Monday of the month for practice, drills, and checking equipment.
Information taken from Axtell’s 125 year book
Axtell Eagles
Eagle Booster Club
The Eagle Booster Club is a registered (501c3) non profit organization composed of parents and community members who have an interest in improving and assisting the Axtell Public School, through both academics and athletics. We aim to improve the academics and athletics at Axtell Public School through our fundraising, our volunteer efforts, and or consistent presence and involvement with the education and sporting events at Axtell Public School.Our desire is to build a strong moral character and academic excellence in the students while seeking to raise funds for Axtell Public School, as we strengthen the status of the overall programs and to support the financial needs of our teachers and students.
Membership Information
If you are interested in volunteering your time, becoming a member or making a donation, please contact one of the current Eagle Booster Club board members. Monetary donations can also be sent to the address listed below. Interested in becoming a board member? Our bi-laws allow for each board member to serve 2 consecutive terms so we are continually looking for new board members to serve. Contact a current board member to let them know you are interested.
Current Board Members
President Shannon Stallbaumer Vice President Jason Heinen
Officers - Joni Koch, Andrea Broxterman,
Jena Shaughnessy, Kayla Wiebe, Dale Buessing
Contact - PO Box 117 Axtell, KS 66403 eaglebooster2014@gmail.com
Axtell Pride Association
Committee Members
Theresa Sack
Carla Bishop
Michelle Kohake
Sheila Heinen
Diane Yunghans
Millie Buessing
Knights of Columbus
Axtell Council #1163
Axtell Knights of Columbus is actively involved in our community. The host events in our community and they volunteer their time to help make a difference in our community.
Boy Scouts | Cub Scouts
Pack 76
If your son is in grades K-5 and is interested in joining
contact Sarah at 785-629-0031
