The national firm which won the contract for providing ambulance service for all of Napa County has agreed to preserve Angwin's all-volunteer ambulance corps. And will, it promises, provide "advanced life support" services.

American Medical Response has also promised to funnel $30,000 to the Angwin operation, continuing the subsidy which the County has been sending our way.

Bruce Lee, AMR's general manager, was quoted in the Napa Valley Register's front page story as saying: "We have committed to working very closely with them and supporting the services that they have been providing for many years."

The anticipation is that this agreement will translate into the following scenario: The Angwin Ambulance Company will retain its independent status, continuing to operate as a non-profit organization, financially supported by its billings and contributions from the community. It will retain its assets.

In essence, its operations will be enhanced by either 1) an AMR paramedic who will live in Angwin and respond to all calls, or a training of existing personnel to the "advanced life support" standing envisioned.

The Napa County Board of Supervisors was adamant in requiring this kind of arrangement. Quentin White, a 25-year veteran in the company and now its general manager, said, "It looks like we will be fine."

Rumor is that Pacific Union College may develop a curriculum for training advanced life support EMT's. That would create a reservoir of people who could give residents in need the kind of care they would need in an emergency.