Families in the south end of Hardeman County could soon get help faster in a medical emergency. A new Middleton ambulance station is being set up at the University of Tennessee’s Lone Oaks Farm. Hardeman County Ambulance Service (HCAS) is partnering with the farm to keep an ambulance at one of its residences, 9385 Lake Hardeman Road, near where Lake Hardeman Road meets Sain Road.
Residents and visitors in the Middleton area may already be seeing more ambulances and EMS units on the road. County officials say that presence will keep growing until the station is fully staffed.
Why a Middleton Ambulance Station Matters
EMS Director Rusty Thigpen took the job in April and has been pushing for what he calls an “EMS South Station.” According to the Magnolia Post, he said people in the southern part of the county have dealt with long ambulance response times for close to 30 years. His first risk assessment, he said, made a southern station a must.
Thigpen said several towns in the county offered buildings. However, each of those sites needed major repairs or upgrades, which would have taken money and, more importantly, time.
The timing also matters because of the Sain Road bridge replacement. The sudden closure has forced detours in the area, and Lone Oaks Farm sits on the south side of it. You can read more about that closure in our earlier report on the Sain Road bridge.
Goal: 24/7 Coverage by the End of October
There is no firm date yet for when an ambulance will be based at the farm full-time. Thigpen said the deal came together so fast that he could not line up enough staff ahead of time. Now that it is confirmed, HCAS can start building shift schedules.
Location: a Lone Oaks Farm residence at 9385 Lake Hardeman Road, Middleton
Goal: an ambulance on site 24 hours a day, seven days a week, before the end of October
Arrangement: short-term, with hopes for a permanent home later
A Busy Spot for South Hardeman County
The site does more than shorten drive times south of Bolivar. Lone Oaks Farm draws steady traffic of its own, including the 4-H camp, “The Clays” target shooting facility, school field trips, and a planned WET Center. The farm also hosts community events such as hunter education classes.
Hardeman County Mayor Todd Pulse helped seal the arrangement. He credited County Commissioner Johnny Lanier and Thigpen with spotting the opportunity and doing the early groundwork, then worked out the final details with Lone Oaks Farm Director Jeremy Burnett.
“It’s about working together, finding solutions, and doing what’s best for our citizens,” Pulse said, according to the Magnolia Post.
Everyone involved calls this a temporary solution and says they hope a permanent location becomes available soon. Tippah News will share updates as HCAS sets a start date for full-time coverage.
Jon Ross Myers is the executive editor and publisher of the Mississippi News Network, Mississippi's largest digital only media company. He can be reached at editor@tippahnews.com
