Beginning in January, the Washburn Ambulance Service will have two new full time EMTs on staff taking over weekday duty. According to the Daily Press, Heather Atherton and Eli Wilson have been serving as on-call EMTs for Washburn. Bringing Atherton and Wilson on full time was made possible when voters agreed to pay higher taxes in order to fund the two EMTS as well as on-call pay for personnel and raises for police officers. Washburn’s staffing dilemma is something happening across the country, with budgets tight and a shortage of willing volunteers needed to staff EMT and fire service positions. City Administrator Scott Kluver encourages anyone interested in volunteering to come forward.