Moberly to get air ambulance base

MOBERLY, Mo. (AP) - A helicopter ambulance company that operates in 15 states has chosen the northeastern Missouri city of Moberly for a new base.

Air Evac Lifeteam announced Monday it's preparing to start construction of a heliport and facility on two acres at the Randolph County Ambulance District. The base is expected to begin operating next year.

Air Evac Lifeteam was founded in 1985 in the southern Missouri city of West Plains, with a mission of providing airborne medical transport in rural areas.

The company moved its headquarters last year to the St. Louis suburb of O'Fallon. It now operates 115 bases, with on-call crews consisting of a registered nurse, a pilot and a paramedic.

Randolph County officials say the Moberly base will serve all of northeast and north-central Missouri.

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