Please Don't Quote Me Now the quiet and privacy prevail. A modern bridge replaced the dam and even though the two rutted paths, once a major trail meet up top, a big mud hole seemed a portent of things to come so we turned back and, unlike Lewis and Clark, went into Polo for a piece of pie and a cup of coffee. It was, however, interesting to again think of the richness of the past of the place we live and the stories they have to tell.
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Northwest Illinois Ambulance Billing - A Family Business That Just Keeps GrowingAn active interest in their hometown fire department spurred the creation of Northwest Illinois Ambulance Billing by Brian and JoEllen Fisher. The Mendota, IL couple and several family members have seen their business grow substantially since its beginnings in 2001. With the Mendota Fire Department, Brian is a full-time firefighter and paramedic, and JoEllen is a full-time 911 Dispatcher. Brian is also the 911 Board President for the City of Mendota, is Co-Chair of the LaSalle County 911 Board, and he serves with the MABAS Hazmat Technical Rescue Unit for LaSalle County. With their involvement in the business of firefighting, they have a good understanding of how best to serve their customers. "We started the business with the Mendota Fire Dept. right out of the station," Brian told The Prairie Advocate in a telephone interview. "JoEllen did it for a doctor's office, then became a 911 dispatcher. We thought it would be a nice part-time business, and we'd be able to set up a college fund for our kids. It's been growing ever since." Currently, they have one full time employee besides themselves, and several part-time. Their niece, Nicole Fisher, graduated from college, and was looking for part-time summer work with NWIAB. She liked it, stayed on, and her position has evolved to full time. Their part-time employees include Gloria Cogdal, sons Patrick Fisher and Jeremy Fisher, and Brittany Montavon. Brittany attends Marquette University in Milwaukee, WI, and works when she's home for holidays and spring/summer breaks. "She's going to school studying to become a doctor," Brian said. Son Patrick attends Joliet College, and Jeremy serves in the military. "We do ambulance billing for several local fire departments and ambulance services," Brian said. "In Carroll County, NWIAB serves Thomson, Chadwick, Lanark, Shannon, Milledgeville, and Coleta, just south of Milledgeville. We cover a wide area of northern Illinois, from Rt. 39 to Iowa border, and north of Rt. 80. Basically in northern Illinois, we're not really in the Chicago area." Brian added that since Medicare charges residents the same for ambulance service, "The departments take what Medicare pays, so it's not really costing the residents a whole lot, and taxes don't have to be increased. "Through word of mouth, our service area keeps getting larger. Which is good. They know me. When we retire, we can start picking up other departments. We've already signed 5 departments this year." In regards to their son, Jeremy, he serves in the U.S. Marine Corps, and is currently in Afganistan. His tour of duty was extended a month, and has been overseas since February. He is expected to come back to the States in November, near Thanksgiving. After a one-month "vacation," he will return to active service. "We'll be in California, standing there when he steps off the plane," Brian said. "My wife said, 'there will be no trying about it . . . we will be there.' Any more business will just have to wait." The Fisher's couldn't ask for a better Thanksgiving.
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