A payment of $19,780.67 will immediately be made to Taylor County Bank, said Taylor County Judge/Executive Eddie Rogers.

That's the amount left in the budget for Rescue this fiscal year.

The $31,392.55 balance of the note payment, Rogers said, will be made during the first month of the new fiscal year which begins July 1.

The court's action followed appeals from numerous people who filled the upstairs courtroom of the Taylor County Courthouse. The crowd numbered 250 or more.

The public is concerned about Rescue and wants fiscal court to listen, said Daryl Harmon, a member of a group called Citizens to the Rescue of Rescue.

"Rescue needs permanent funding," Harmon said. "We have one of the best Rescue squads around."

Harmon said he has accompanied Rescue on many runs recently and is greatly impressed by their professionalism.

Recently during a car accident, Harmon said he watched as paramedics crawled into the rear of a car and gave a woman immediate medical attention. Meanwhile, he said, other Rescue personnel worked to stabilize the vehicle and began using the Jaws of Life to remove her.

"The six of you," Harmon told the magistrates, "and I couldn't get her out of the car."

Harmon said he spent part of last Saturday night with members of Rescue who were training.

"They walked 4.2 miles in the creek in the cold so they would know what it felt like," Harmon said. "They really impressed me. They are being prepared in case they are needed."

Harmon said Rescue has floor plans on every major building, especially schools, and know what to expect during an emergency. At Taylor County Elementary, he said, the number of students and other personnel in the building at various hours of the day is known.

What was really impressive, Harmon said, is that Rescue knows that in the building is one student in a wheelchair.

"They know," Harmon said. "That impressed me."

Pre-planning is essential, Harmon said, and Rescue does it. He said during the haunted house last Halloween, Rescue made an inspection and drew a floor plan of what was there -- just in case.

Harmon read letters from several industrial leaders pointing out the need for Rescue.

"We have to have a good rescue squad," said Dr. Henry Chambers. "There's no question about it."

A good hospital has to have a good emergency service to go along with it, Chambers said. He said that emergency medical service should not be operated by the hospital.

"This is more important than a jail," Chambers said. "Why are we talking about a jail when we have got this before us?

"I can't understand why this isn't five to nothing for funding. You may not like all the personnel down there, but we know they are doing a doggone good job."

Teresa Morgan said she had to call Rescue twice in recent months -- once when her daughter locked herself in the car with the keys inside and again when her husband fell and fractured his skull.

Morgan said Rescue personnel provided highly skilled care in a prompt, professional manner and reassured her during the trip to University of Louisville Hospital.

"There are many things that a mother worries about, this (whether or not there will be Rescue) should not be one of them," Morgan said. "Don't take this away from us."

Dr. Frederick Rockhold said he's been a member of Rescue, been out of Rescue and been a victim.

Ever since coming here in 1975, Rockhold said, there have been funding problems for emergency medical service.

Rescue and ambulance in this community work together and are coordinated, Rockhold said, which is something "not a lot" of communities have.

"They do good work," said Rockhold who is an emergency room physician. "They bring me something I can work with."

Rockhold said he didn't like everyone who is part of Rescue.

"Some of the people have some rough edges, but look at the end result," Rockhold said. "A private service can't provide it. It's always in limbo. We are always at risk of losing it. We have to provide emergency medical service on a reliable basis."

Testimonials could be provided "until July 1," Rockhold said.

"We have to work on something to keep what we have. A private company could take up some of the slack, but we are not going to get anything any cheaper or better.

"We have got to keep this service here and I don't think you can replace it." Wilson Mullins said he is a man who has done lots of business with Rescue.

"I left this world and they brought me back," Mullins said.

Mullins said he had a heart attack at church, was pronounced dead and brought back to life by Rescue.

"I address you men, we have got to have this rescue squad," Mullins said.

About three weeks ago, Mullins said, he needed Rescue in the middle of the night and personnel were there in three minutes.

"If we save one life, it's worth every penny we put into it," Mullins said.

Dr. Eric Bentley, who is in charge of the trauma center at Taylor County Hospital, also spoke about Rescue.

The hospital is a level III trauma center only because of Rescue, Bentley said. The American Board of College Surgeons rates emergency services and hospitals every three years, Bentley said, and Taylor County Hospital was one of three in the state to be rated level III. There are now four, he said.

Those centers are in Campbellsville, Louisville, Lexington and now Madisonville.

Such a designation means the care is the highest possible for trauma, Bentley said.

"We wouldn't have that if not for Rescue."

The last visiting inspection team was so impressed with Rescue, Bentley said, that members spent a half day looking over the organization.

"We have to give Rescue permanent funding so we will not have to play political football with people's lives," Bentley said.

Larry Willis said a few years ago he had just purchased a new van, equipped with hand controls, and had left his parents home when the brackets securing his wheel chair broke loose. He was thrown to the back of the van which sped forward and off the road into a tree.

Willis said he received serious injuries which still plague him today.

"It took three hours for them to get me out," Willis said. "If two Gomers with a stretcher had shown up, where would I be? I would have died.

"I cannot see how we can even think this is not an essential part of our community."

Willis said Rescue has to come before a jail, a park or an animal shelter.

Rescue, Willis said, also saved his father's life a few years ago.

"It's essential," Willis said. "There's no question about it. We are dealing with life and death."

This community probably has the best rescue squad in the state, said Dr. Eugene Shively.

"Police and ambulance service in Louisville is not as good as ours," Shively said. "We cannot afford to lose Rescue."

The only real way to fund Rescue is through government, Shively said. He said it cost at least $700,000 a year to operate the service with $300,000 generated through runs.

"I promise you that if you let it die, it will come back and haunt you," Shively said. "I don't believe it can be put back for less than $2 to $3 million."

The paid employees work for minimum wage, Shively said, and the volunteers work for nothing.

"You need to put aside personal interests and look at the facts only," said Dr. Jerome Dixon.

Leadership needs to be shown, Dixon said, for the good of us all and our children.

Dan Hayes, who is also a member of Citizens to the Rescue of Rescue, asked court members several questions. They all agreed that there's no reason to change the organization structure of Rescue and that changing the leadership would not improve it.

Hayes said "one or two of us on the court" have used the other service and "when called, they didn't show up."

"There is no room for political agendas and self-agendas," Hayes said. "You have got to do what's right for Taylor County."

Bob Romine said he's for Rescue but there needs to be a plan. He suggested that "we go to businesses and see how much they will contribute."

Frank Metzmeier, a member of the Rescue board, said the community is getting a bargain. The cost of Rescue, he said, is much less per run than that for the police or fire departments. And neither of those departments, he said, wastes any money.

"We've ridden on the good will and backs of the men and women of Rescue," Metzmeier said.

He pointed out that in 1983, the city and county agreed to each give Rescue $75,000 per year. That's never happened, he said, yet the number of runs has dramatically increased.

Tommy Tucker took issue with Romine's statements.

"Why do you want the people to donate for something that should be provided for this community?" Tucker asked.

"It has to be provided by the city and county."

Rockhold said there is limited money and it comes down to priorities.

Many said they can live without a jail, but they can't live without Rescue.

Others suggested that if they must provide a vital service themselves, than they don't need government at all.

Magistrate J.W. McFarland said the court has unfairly been criticized. This year the county has given Rescue $90,000, he said, which is more than in the last nine years combined.

"I'm for you as much as any man in this room," McFarland said. "Just don't try to give us down the road. We have to have a balanced budget."

The community recognizes that, Harmon said, but needs the county go further and work out a permanent solution.

Rogers asked the court to "bite the bullet" and take steps to fund Rescue. First, however, the court had to rescind a motion made by Magistrate Ed Gorin to pay half of the note payment. He suggested that the city pay the other half.

Rogers, however, explained that the city had already paid $53,000 in outstanding bills for Rescue and it was the county's fair share to pay all of the note payment.

With Gorin, Orville Newton and James Cochran voting no, the court rescinded that motion.