The new year has begun and I have been trying to work with this program

                        in an attempt to keep you informed. The calendar page is up to date, the   

                        basic NIMS courses have a link, and some pictures were added. You may

                        have some ideas, if you do e-mail them to me. My e-mail is under my

                        name.

The summer is going fast and I have neglected my duty to this page. A lot has happened since the last update. I have yet to figure out how to work this program and the promised help has not shown up. The events that follow will give you an update as to what has gone on in the months that have passed.

I have spent a great deal of time both applying for new grants and managing grants we have received. The following is an update.

          I have applied for the following grants

                    Air compressor with fill station and 6000 psi cascade

                    Water tender (new term to me but that's what the winners use)

                   Burn trailer (This one will costs us but everyone says go for it)

          I have received the following grants

                    Training program-CBT for FFI and II

                    PPE (finally)

                    MDC for a portable pump, water tank, chainsaws, and GPS.

Other events that have occurred

          First breakfast-a great success

          Firefighter I and II class on our own and doing good

          County fair parking and command-Great job done by all

          Propane bobtail class, Haz-mat awareness, EVO, acquired house burn with fire fighter live burn practical skills performed, and

         exposure protection drill with class A foam. Another job well done.

          Mutual aid training, Outdoor search and rescue drill, Greatly enhanced district training, hose testing and many other things that

          we have been doing to occupy our time and watch the summer go by.

So far it has been a busy summer. Despite the heat we have fought our house fires, extricated victims, drilled, and did the many things fire departments need to do to meet their mission. What we did not want to do is to bury one of our own. We lost one of our brothers to a fatal accident on 6-10-10. We responded to the call and the members worked their hardest to give our brother the best chance for survival. In the end we lost him. The loss was hard on all of us. Although it is not the way to find out what we are made of, we did find out how we can all come together to honor one of our own, how we can organize and put together a professional tribute, and learn how important our neighboring emergency services organizations are to us and we to them. Despite the personal loss, we did a great professional job in putting together a fire department funeral, with an honor guard of our own members, the Missouri state honor guard, and a procession of emergency vehicles unseen of in this part of the county. To all those who participated, I know the family is well pleased at how much we did.

In the last week one of our emergency services partners suffered a loss as well. TCAD lost one of their recently retired managers to an unexpected medical problem. We joined with them in honoring him as well.

I hope we can avoid these events and work safely so everyone goes home. Until next time, be safe.