Pre-MEMS
Little Rock Ambulance Authority Established
September 24, 1980
LRAA was originally created to oversee a contracted service. At the time, Medic-Vac was the area ambulance service expected to win the city contract.
Arkansas Democrat (Little Rock, Arkansas), September 25, 1980: 4. Medical panel to present ambulance service plan. https://infoweb-newsbank-com.cals.idm.oclc.org/apps/news/document-view?p=AMNEWS&docref=image/v2%3A15AF7916AD8C31D6%40EANX-15BEBD36B2EBF05D%402444508-15BE6922A4D9886C%403-15BE6922A4D9886C%40.
David Jones Named Board Chair
March 8, 1982
LRAA voted to name David Jones, the president of KARK-TV as chairman.
Arkansas Democrat (Little Rock, Arkansas), March 9, 1982: 42. Authority names TV executive as chairman. https://infoweb-newsbank-com.cals.idm.oclc.org/apps/news/document-view?p=AMNEWS&docref=image/v2%3A15AF7916AD8C31D6%40EANX-15BEF5C6A4B8E1E0%402445038-15BEBAEDC937A9F8%4041-15BEBAEDC937A9F8%40.
LRAA presents plans to city board.
June 3, 1983
This plan would have included LRAA buying 12 ambulances and contracting a "private operator" to run the service, the board providing oversight.
Arkansas Democrat (Little Rock, Arkansas), June 3, 1983: 11. Ambulance plan ready for board. https://infoweb-newsbank-com.cals.idm.oclc.org/apps/news/document-view?p=AMNEWS&docref=image/v2%3A15AF7916AD8C31D6%40EANX-15BEC3C841E4B96E%402445489-15BEBDD8616535BE%4010-15BEBDD8616535BE%40.
Karen Muldrow named Executive Director of LRAA
October 31, 1983
Karen Muldrow, the administrative assistant to the City Manager, was hired by the LRAA Board to be the first Director of MEMS (Then LRAA).
Arkansas Gazette (Little Rock, Arkansas), November 1, 1983: 7. Assistant to City Manager Named Executive Director or Ambulance Authority. https://infoweb-newsbank-com.cals.idm.oclc.org/apps/news/document-view?p=AMNEWS&docref=image/v2%3A1123C1CC6D31C748%40EANX-15B5D9DEA0A6C123%402445640-15B5D7D215FD79B5%406-15B5D7D215FD79B5%40.
LRAA publish invitation for Bids
Dec 14, 1983
LRAA issued the invitation for bids. The bid would contract service under a public utility model. Bids were due February 27, 1984.
Arkansas Gazette (Little Rock, Arkansas), December 14, 1983: 51. Invitation to Bid. https://infoweb-newsbank-com.cals.idm.oclc.org/apps/news/document-view?p=AMNEWS&docref=image/v2%3A1123C1CC6D31C748%40EANX-15B5D851804BBF8E%402445683-15B5C210AEF6631D%4050-15B5C210AEF6631D%40.
Bid Period
12-14-1983 - Feb 27 1984
Medic-Vac Notified of Baptist MedFlight Service
May 14, 1984
3 Employees of Medic-Vac Fired
May 22, 1984
The incident started the domino effect after medics and a dispatcher were fired for calling in Baptist MedFlight for a scene call.
Medic-Vac Walk-Out
May 25, 1984
22 Employees resign from Medic-Vac, citing physical violence.
Arkansas Democrat (Little Rock, Arkansas), May 26, 1984: 1. Resignations put Medic-Vac in quandary. https://infoweb-newsbank-com.cals.idm.oclc.org/apps/news/document-view?p=AMNEWS&docref=image/v2%3A15AF7916AD8C31D6%40EANX-15C09F26E9F59EE2%402445847-15C09C876E69B74A%400.
Medic-Vac Manager resigns
Earl Triplet, Medic-Vacs manager resigns in support of the fired three.
Arkansas Gazette (Little Rock, Arkansas), May 24, 1984: 12. Offical Leaves Medic-Vac. https://infoweb-newsbank-com.cals.idm.oclc.org/apps/news/document-view?p=AMNEWS&docref=image/v2%3A1123C1CC6D31C748%40EANX-15B5D71906BFBE6F%402445845-15B58774A2CCDFFD%4011-15B58774A2CCDFFD%40.
Borrowed Ambulances in Operation
Late Friday afternoon, LRAA began operating four borrowed ambulances to provide advanced life support. Central Ambulance Service in North Little Rock and the Maumelle Public Safety Department agreed to provide help.
Arkansas Gazette (Little Rock, Arkansas), May 26, 1984: 1. 22 at Medic-Vac Resign; LR Rushes Ambulance Aid. https://infoweb-newsbank-com.cals.idm.oclc.org/apps/news/document-view?p=AMNEWS&docref=image/v2%3A1123C1CC6D31C748%40EANX-15B5D71A8B45E894%402445847-15B5D4A41F3637B0%400-15B5D4A41F3637B0%40.