I am adding my voice to my fellow citizens who are pleading with the county bosses not to change from Riggs to an out-of-county ambulance firm.

I needed their assistance for the first time last week. What a comfort it was to have Mr. Peterson come in and talk with me and lift me onto the stretcher to go out to the ambulance.

Also the kind young man who sat by my side all the way , and talked with me.

Riggs has done a wonderful job for years and years, and are local people that we know and trust so why bring in an out of our area firm and take jobs away from our competent local people.

Is there something we are not being told?

I also want to say how fortunate we are to have our wonderful new Mercy hospital. I was in there four days and received excellent care from the nurses and aides.

Please, let us appreciate our local people and not begin outsourcing when we have excellent people here.

ELSIE KEMPF

Merced