Ambulance, sheriff "not quite there yet' with Geo-Comm

Seven months after issuing an ultimatum to Geo-Comm regarding the functionality of its automated vehicle location system (AVL) in Callaway County, local officials say they are not quite ready to give up on the company despite having blown through several deadlines.

Although all of the kinks have not yet been worked through, Callaway County Ambulance District Director Charlie Anderson and Sgt. Clay Chism with the Callaway County Sheriff's Office said they appear to be very close to finally having a workable solution.

"They made some changes to some IP address settings and that seems to have made a big difference," Anderson said, noting there still are issues with a server locking up. "I would say that the changes they've made seem to have it working as we might expect to based on cellular reception.

"Are we ready to say it's a success and to accept it? Not quite yet, but it's close."

To help the tornado-stricken people of Dumas and surroundings, donations can be made to the Delta Area Disaster Relief Fund, care of the Delta Area Community Foundation, P.O. Box 894, Dumas, AR, 71639, or through the Arkansas Community Foundation, 700 S. Rock St., Little Rock, AR, 72202.