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CASS COUNTY BRIEFS North Memorial set
to serve Longville
WALKER - The Cass County Board voted Tuesday to accept North Memorial Ambulance's proposal to provide service to the Longville Ambulance District for $306,000 the first year and an estimated $353,000 for the second year.
The reason for the second year increase would be to begin amortization on the purchase of a new ambulance in that year.
The board's action calls for North Memorial to begin providing service Jan. 1, subject to completion of contract negotiations and state of Minnesota approval.
North Memorial's proposal indicates the Longville Ambulance Service would become part of its Brainerd Region, which also has ambulances based at a Pine River garage. Employees would rotate among the three base ambulance centers.
Insurance claims to leave impact
WALKER - Cass County has had a bad year for claims against the county's self-insurance medical coverage program, with several claims in the $30,000 to $60,000 range, Chief Deputy Auditor Larry Wolfe reported to the board Tuesday.
Few if any of the individual claims were high enough for the county's high-risk coverage to take effect.
This means the county has paid $460,000 less to Blue Cross/Blue Shield than insurance has paid out, meaning Wolfe expects the county to have to pay as much as $460,000 into the program at year end. That payment will spend down some of the balance in the self-insurance fund.
Tuesday, the board set the 2007 cafeteria insurance program for employees.
That plan includes three options for medical insurance. One offers a $2,500 deductible; another, $1,500 deductible; and the third, $500 deductible. The county will pay a flat rate of $750 per month toward each employee's single or family plan. Employees pay the balance ranging up to $1,110 for a $500 deductible family plan.
Fatality victim in three-vehicle collision identified
WALKER - The victim of a three-vehicle collision Monday on Highway 371 south of Walker has been identified as Andrew Goering, 20, Richfield.
The collision happened at 7:53 a.m., the State Patrol reported. Goering was driving his pickup northbound on Highway 371 when he spun out and lost control on an icy bridge, the State Patrol reported. His pickup went into a skid, crossed the centerline and was struck by a southbound sports utility vehicle driven by George D. Geiger, 72, Walker. Goering's pickup was then struck by a car driven by Audrey Hopkins, 59, Remer.
Goering was pronounced dead at the scene, the State Patrol reported. A passenger in Goering's pickup, Katie Mirelez, 19, Edina, was transported to St. Joseph's Hospital in Park Rapids. Information on her condition was unavailable Tuesday.
Geiger was transported to North Memorial Medical Center in Robbinsdale, where Tuesday he was reported in fair condition. His wife and passenger, Patricia Geiger, 70, Walker, was transported to St. Joseph's Hospital in Park Rapids.
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