UPDATE: Ambulance Service in Portsmouth Shuts Down, Future Unclear
Save Email Print
Updated: 8:14 PM Jan 9, 2009
UPDATE: Ambulance Service in Portsmouth Shuts Down, Future Unclear
People in Portsmouth may have to wait a few extra minutes for an ambulance after a sudden shutdown of service Thursday evening.
Posted: 11:07 AM Jan 9, 2009
Reporter: Randy Yohe
Email Address: randy.yohe@wsaz.com
Font Size:

PORTSMOUTH, Ohio (WSAZ) -- More than 100 stunned Portsmouth ambulance workers said they lost their jobs when the company unexpectedly shut down Thursday night.

The shutdown resulted from a failed buyout, and there's a concern that several communities will not have adequate emergency service.

Neighboring Greenup County, Ky., officials have issued emergency orders to keep ambulances running. Meanwhile, former employees said the struggling company -- maybe two companies -- illegally left them without severance, paychecks, or a real reason why.

"We were told we were MTS employees and had job security," said Michael Vermillion who's an emergency medical technician.

MTS CEO Chuck Williams said his company only went into a caretaking agreement with Portsmouth Ambulance, pending a purchase of assets. The sale and contracted partnership, however, both fell through this week.

"Due to liability issues, we had to step out of the management agreement and cease employee services and equipment," Williams said.

Kim Craft, an EMT, said, "There are 100 runs a day that aren't being covered."

The Greenup 911 director said an emergency order has Life Ambulance now covering the area. MTS officials said they can and are covering the Greenup County region.

As to why the Portsmouth Ambulance and MTS deal fell through, Craft said, "tax liens and non-payments."

Vermillion said, "If one company was doing books for the other, that's shady bookkeeping."

MTS said it immediately started hiring the out-of-work Portsmouth employees and will continue to do so. Workers disagreed, however, saying it was a selected few -- not the majority.

Our investigation at the Scioto County Clerk of Courts revealed that Portsmouth Ambulance owes more than $200,000 in court judgments and has recently paid out more than $250,000 in workers compensation and individual judgments.

Dr. Tim Wheeler and Kenny Boggs, the president and vice president, respectively, of the Portsmouth Ambulance Board did not return our repeated calls for comment.

Original story
PORTSMOUTH, Ohio (WSAZ) -- People in Portsmouth may have to wait a few extra minutes for an ambulance after a sudden shutdown of service Thursday evening.

The MTS ambulance company thought it had a deal worked out to buy Portsmouth Ambulance Incorporated, but the deal fell through this week.

Portsmouth Ambulance was taken over by local investors in 2006, and one of those investors told WSAZ.com it's been a losing venture.

For now, the company is trying to pay nearly 100 employees and maintain its fleet of 52 vehicles.

Meanwhile, the other company, MTS, plans to set up shop in town with or without Portsmouth Ambulance Incorporated.

WSAZ's Randy Yohe is in Portsmouth today looking into this story. will have more information on this story later tonight. on news channel three at six.

[ Copyright 2009 – WSAZ.com. All Rights Reserved. ]
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Severe Weather and Breaking News Coverage

To send a news tip or submit a story idea, e-mail news@wsaz.com

Latest Comments

Posted by: PA EMPLOYEE on Jan 23, 2009 at 10:47 AM

anonymous-----first of all you dont understand the business world. This contract is not for us as employees to see. Are you crazy? I understand that MTS was under a contract to mange PAS untill the deal went thr. I also understand that according to the contract pals was to pay us. They were suppose to be giving mts our pay and mts would inturn pay us. UNDERSTAND THIS our own people kept our pay from us. There have been many times I could not cash my pay check. Mts tried to help and i thank them for that.
[ Report Abuse ]
Posted by: realemt on Jan 20, 2009 at 10:55 AM

anyone that wants job security, and dosnt wanna work for LIFE's tyrant, should work at ABLE. mark my words, they are for real. they have all the right pieces in place now and they are gonna slowly but surely take over. all the same bad rumors ive heard the last couple years about ABLE sound pretty stupid now. btw, I DO NOT WORK AT ABLE. this is a totally outside opinion. believe it or not. LIFE will not get by with the stuff they've done. everyone pays the piper at some point
[ Report Abuse ]
Posted by: anonymous on Jan 19, 2009 at 11:38 PM

to Lawyer. If that is a fact why not make the so called contract public to the employees instead of hiding behind paper. Even if you are right it seems shady their paychecks were not coming from pas they were coming from MTS and MTS had claimed to be the ones paying them for months as we were told that PAS had not been paying their payroll since Oct. This is all stupid and I am so proud of the employees who chose to go back to PAS. This is a better company than MTS in the public view. For most of you ,you are in this to help people and private EMS gets a bad rap. As for responsibility of pay, MTS claimed they were doing it as if it were a big favor to you. According to IRS, MTS owes you a W2. Hang in there PAS. what goes around comes around.
[ Report Abuse ]
More Stories
Search for WV, OH, KY Local Businesses:
Popular Searches
Powered by Local.com
WSAZ.com Most Popular / Most Comments
National Headlines - CNN.com
First Warning Hour-By-Hour Forecasts
+ Ashland, KY
+ Athens, OH
+ Beckley, WV
+ Charleston, WV
+ Clarksburg, WV
+ Clay, WV
+ Gallipolis, OH
+ Huntington, WV
+ Ironton, OH
+ Logan, WV
+ Morgantown, WV 		+ Paintsville, KY
+ Parkersburg, WV
+ Pikeville, KY
+ Pomeroy, OH
+ Portsmouth,OH
+ Ripley, WV
+ Spencer, WV
+ Sutton, WV
+ Wayne, WV
+ Wheeling, WV
+ Williamson, WV


WSAZ.com Sponsor Sections & Links
WSAZ Olympic Zone web channel
Full 2010 Olympic coverage from the WSAZ Olympic Zone. Coverage begins Friday, Feb. 12, at 7:30p with the Opening Ceremony on WSAZ
Radio City Christmas Spectacular
A glittering holiday show full of fun and surprises for the whole family! Children thrill as Santa takes them on a magical ride to his workshop.
Healthy Connections Healthy Connections
Find a local health professional
Moms4Moms Mom4Moms
A collection of resources here to help Moms weather the daily storms that come along with parenting.
SOMC
Very good things are happening here
WV Lottery
Nightly drawings and numbers
Big Sandy
For all your furniture and appliance needs
Healthy Tri-State
Tips to live a healthier lifestyle