John Mason is reporting in the Register-Star Columbia County's Emergency Management Services has been named EMS Agency of the Year for 2015. The county EMS system includes the Greenport, Valatie, Northern Dutchess and Community rescue squads. According to officials, the cooperative has responded to more than 12,000 standby assignments and more than 2,000 911 calls since it was established. Columbia County EMS has reduced response time an average of almost seven minutes per call. Before the new system was created, the county had 10 individual ambulance agencies, all operating independently. The county EMS brought them together to ensure all areas of the county are covered at all times. Read the full story in the Register-Star.