AED to be installed at courthouse

Tina Werner and Director James McKenzie of the Vernon County Ambulance District open the Automated External Defibrillator for presentation to commissioners, while Vernon County Northern Commissioner Neal Gerster steadies the device and Presiding Commissioner Bonnie McCord watches. The district donated the defibrillator, which will be mounted on a wall on the second floor of the Courthouse for easy access to all floors -- and, as McCord pointed out, to people on the Square as well. McKenzie said the district also offered training on using the device, which was attended by about 17 people -- a large turnout for such an event. "We had people interested on all three floors," of the courthouse, Gerster said. "We have about three or four calls a year," at the courthouse, McKenzie said. The district has distributed more than 20 of the devices throughout the county to schools, medical facilities and other places where people gather; some first responders also have the devices available.