Community Has Jewel, Knows It

Community service is a way of life for Russ Schenck, a man who never wanted to live anywhere but in the Clark Fork River Valley.

Schenck is the person everyone calls when keys are locked inside a vehicle. As the local fire chief, he’s more popular than a Dalmatian. He manages Lightning Creek Trailer Park and Storage, yet still finds time to repair computers and make computer house calls.

He and his wife Pam are raising three children: twins Tel and Orrin, and daughter Stacy. Both he and his wife teach trainees for the Clark Fork Valley Ambulance.

Schenck also is an advanced emergency medical technician, available 24 hours a day for the all-volunteer Clark Fork Valley Ambulance.

“Knowing that for years it’s been Russ, someone from the neighborhood, is so comforting,” said Dee Miller, who on July 19 survived a head-on collision near the Pack River Bridge that killed two young women. “As thrilled as I was when I realized I was still alive, I felt even better when I realized Russ and Pam were coming.”

“He’s a honey, to be sure,” agreed Joyce Pence, a 10-year EMT with the Clark Fork Valley Ambulance. “He’s totally indispensable.”

Not only does Russ have time and the training to save people’s lives, he also writes grants to help the 13-member ambulance volunteers provide equipment and services. When the 911 system went into effect, the ambulance needed new radios that were compatible with the countywide calling system.

Schenck tackled the paperwork and obtained a $12,000 grant from the state of Idaho Emergency Medical Services, receiving the biggest share of dollars awarded by the state for that grant period. The grant provided 75 percent of funds for the new radios. Donations from the community provided the additional 25 percent.

But the radios did not solve the communication gap. In such a spread-out district, from the Pack River Bridge to the Montana border, with mountains, water and treacherous back roads in between, it became evident that a repeater station was required.

Schenck set to work. Residents Mary and Glen McFarland willingly leased a piece of their land as a site. Former Clark Fork Junior/Senior High School student Jared Scott arranged the free rental of a trencher from Rentex Rentals in Sandpoint, where Scott works.

Helen Van Stone, music director at the Clark Fork Methodist Church, obtained the donation and installation of a 60-foot pole from Northern Lights, where she works.

Local surveyor Bob Lamburth donated his expertise.

Avista Utilities provided the electrical hookup.

Several others were involved, including Jack Miller, who was driving his sport utility vehicle when he and wife Dee ended up in Pack River after the July collision. Miller built a shed for the repeater equipment, with the willing assistance of several friends.

“Probably the reason I stick with the ambulance and do so much work for it is because no matter what we want and can show a need for, the community always backs us up,” Schenck said. “If it weren’t for the community support that we receive, there wouldn’t be an ambulance, plain and simple.”

After a thoughtful moment he continued.

“It’s addictive when you start doing community service work, and it just makes you want to do more and keep helping out. It makes you feel good.”

Russ Schenck will turn 39 in March. Residents of the Clark Fork River Valley can look forward to many more years of his service.