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Wednesday, October 15
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  • Public Safety
    Tragic Discovery

    Volunteers Answer the Call After Tragedy in Rarden 

    Sheriff night 2

    Late-Night Chaos at Wheelersburg Hotel Ends in Eviction 

    Bite Marks and Broken Rules: Phone Fight Lands Teen in Trouble 

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    Dog Locked in Truck Sparks Concern: Housing Instability Forces Owners to Make Tough Choices

    Maxwell McGuire

    No Consequences? Parole Violator Maxwell McGuire Busted Again in Copper Theft Case 

    SWANIGAN, ARTHUR

    Portsmouth’s Most Familiar Face: Arthur Swanigan Arrested Again 

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    Kelly Dummitt

    Arrest of Kelly Dummitt: Troubled Past Catches Up Again 

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    KFC Chaos: Woman Arrested After Threatening to Kill Trump 

    Officers Step In to Save Lives on the Front Lines of Mental Health Crisis 

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    New Details Emerge in Portsmouth Family’s Gross Abuse of a Corpse Case 

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    Flames Race Up Hillside Near Swauger Valley Road — Cause Still Under Investigation 

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    Mike Mearan Gene Meadows

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    Gene Meadows Mike Mearan

    Gene Meadows: Attorney Turned Alleged Predator 

    Mike Mearan

    The Florida Connection: Who is Albert Schaub? 

    Mike Mearan

    The Kentucky Link: Daren Biggs 

    Mike Mearan

    From Courtrooms to Football Fields: Marc Rash 

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    The Keeper of Secrets: Who Hid the Files? 

  • Lawrence County
  • Politics

    Democrats Blast Bryan Davis: “Quit Collecting a Paycheck You’re Not Earning” 

    Robert Horton

    Update in Robert Horton Corruption Case 

    Davis Commish

    No Updates, Just an Empty Seat: Powell and Smith Say Davis Drama is Out of Their Hands

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    Parking, Murals, and an Indicted Commissioner: Sparks Fly at Portsmouth City Manager’s Conference 

    Bryan Davis Due Back In Court October 21 

    Sean Dunne Next Mayor of Portsmouth?

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    Portsmouth Council Weighs Asking Davis to Resign 

    Turning Point USA

    Student Democrats Deny Role in Petition to Ban Turning Point USA at SSU 

    Turning Point USA

    Portsmouth Politics Escalate: SSU Students Petition to Ban Turning Point USA

    Recorder Gary Jenkins

    Scioto County Recorder’s Office Increases Fees 

    Scottie Powell

    Commissioner Powell Responds to Conflict of Interest Questions 

    FOP Endorses Malone, Neff in Portsmouth City Election 

    Bryan Davis

    Where’s Bryan Davis? GOP Says Step Down — Court Says Suspended

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    Where’s Bryan Davis? After Two Missed Meetings, GOP Says It’s Time to Step Down 

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    Bryan Davis

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    Scottie Powell

    Powell Calls on Commissioner Davis to Resign 

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  • Feel Good

    Honoring Scioto County’s First Town — and Its First People: New Heritage Trail Sign Dedicated at Earl Thomas Conley Park 

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    Cyn Mackley

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    Kid Misses Bus, Deputy to the Rescue 

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    Man Says He’s Trapped in Armory 

  • Obituaries
    Thelma Terry

    Thelma Isabelle Branham Terry, 91, of South Shore

    Ashley Nicole Lavey

    Ashley Nicole Lavey, 30 of Portsmouth

    Michael Van Swearingen

    Michael Van Swearingen, 89, of Portsmouth

    Donald H. Adkins

    Donald H. Adkins, 79 of South Shore,

    Suzi Bumgardner, 85 of Peebles

    Mary Lou Ratliff

    Mary Lou Ratliff, 90 of Portsmouth

    Gerry Conchita Kazee Mershon Osborne

    Gerry Conchita Kazee Mershon Osborne, 72, of West Portsmouth

    Thomas Marshall Redmon

    Thomas Marshall Redmon, 90 of Portsmouth,

     Larry Randall Williams

     Larry Randall Williams, 82 of West Portsmouth

    Marilyn Rosemary Bailey, 62 of Ironton

    Julia Mae Duke

    Julia Mae Duke, 83 of Piketon

    Dana LaMonte Messer

    Dana LaMonte Messer, 68 of Portsmouth

    Heath Aaron Pollard

    Heath Aaron Pollard, 43 Jackson

    Betty Kathleen Rowe

    Betty Kathleen Rowe, aged 91 of Wheelersburg

    Diana J. Todd

    Diana J. Todd, 81 of Sciotoville

    David W. Bauer

    David W. Bauer, 94 of Wheelersburg

    Dorothy Sue Stringfield

    Dorothy Sue Stringfield, 62 of Portsmouth

    Garry Arnett Hurless

    Garry Arnett Hurless, 83 of Piketon

    William Ratliff

    William C. Ratliff 72, of Portsmouth

    Annetta Collins

    Annetta Collins, 68 of South Webster

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Volunteer Firefighters & EMS Are Unsung Heroes

Mark Craycraft by Mark Craycraft
5 years ago
in Public Safety
Volunteer Firefighters & EMS Are Unsung Heroes

Photo: Trey Payton

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Volunteer Firefighters & EMS Are Unsung Heroes

Why should everyone be familiar with the beautiful American tradition of helping others in a time of need? More than one million volunteer first responders take their firefighting duties very seriously. For more than 250 years, local fire departments across America have relied on the generous donations of volunteer firefighters to keep their communities safe and healthy. 97% of these volunteers serve communities with fewer than 25,000 residents. Of those, 49% protect small rural areas with fewer than 2,500 residents.

Each year, generous donations from the public, along with crucial support from local governments and businesses, enable fire departments across America to respond to emergency situations in some of the most remote regions of any county. Those residents would be at life-threatening risk if it weren’t for their amazing neighbors who have joined the local volunteer fire department.

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Dog Locked in Truck Sparks Concern: Housing Instability Forces Owners to Make Tough Choices

Volunteer fire departments have been around for a long time. Where did they originate and who started them?

The first volunteer fire department began in Philadelphia in 1736. It was started by Benjamin Franklin. Yep, that’s right. He had seen the massive tragedies that occurred in his previous hometown of Boston. When he moved to Philadelphia, he vowed to make a difference in local emergency response. Little did he know that Volunteer Firefighters & EMS would continue to be the backbone of emergency response throughout the country for nearly 300 years.

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What do volunteer firefighters do?

They are called to duty when emergency situations arise. emergency call-outs can vary from structure fires, car accidents, and traffic collisions to medical calls. Normally, a firefighter attends the scene of the emergency and performs first-responder duties such as search and rescue, first aid, and suppression activities. In addition, firefighters sometimes are dispatched to assist in the crime scene investigation and serve as witness protection agents in emergency court situations. In some cases, a firefighter may be dispatched to an emergency situation because he or she is the closest first-responder available.

What is a Public Duty?

When a member of the public calls 911, the dispatcher will dispatch first-responder personnel. These folks are all volunteers and are often referred to as public-duty firefighters. Some municipalities only have one first-responder fire station, while others have several different fire stations. Public-duty firefighters usually respond to residential fire and motor vehicle accidents. In addition, they are called upon to rescue people from utility falls, car accidents, and even severe weather conditions.

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Who are Volunteer Firefighters & EMS?

Volunteer firefighters are not paid for their services. they often leave behind their family, friends, and loved ones in order to ensure that the public is safe. Because firefighters are working 24-hour shifts, some firefighters get two weeks of full-time work, followed by two weeks of on-call duty. Afterward, they return to their families and jobs.

Is being a volunteer firefighter hard work?

It’s very hard work. firefighters typically work 6 days a week for 12 to 14 hours a day. Furthermore, they usually train at least 3 hours a day. They must also attend firefighter training courses, including CPR and CPR/First Aid. These courses are usually held in the evenings, so most fire departments require their firefighters to work during the day. Additionally, firefighters must carry equipment and supplies on their persons at all times, as well as have the knowledge to operate them effectively. Furthermore, they must be able to work in extreme weather conditions, including heat, rain, snow, and freezing temperatures.

How can I learn more about being a volunteer firefighter or EMS worker?

In Ohio, visit the Ohio Emergency Medical Services Website for all the details.

For our friends reading from other States, you may easily find a State by State directory through The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) website.

Volunteer Firefighters & EMS Are Unsung Heroes



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