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About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 29, 1992)
Pag» 8 The INDEPENDENT, Jan. 29,1992 Kevin Roberts is the choice for Fireman of the Year For Kevin Roberts of the Vernonia Volunteer Fire De partment, 1991 was a banner year. Not only was he named Fireman of the Year at the de p a rtm e n t's annual aw ards banquet, he was promoted to the rank of Captain, as well. Achieving the rank of cap tain in the department isn't as easy as it m ig ht seem ; though the crite ria are not standardized, they are implic itly understood as they are applied in evaluations by su perior officers and peers. Candidates for promotion are nominated by fire depart ment members and elected to the position, with nominations generally based on tenure, e xp e rie n ce , p e rfo rm a n ce , c h a ra c te r and le a d e rs h ip qualities. Roberts has gone through the process several tim es, starting with the department as a high school trainee fif teen years ago and becoming a re g u la r fiv e yea rs later. Since then, he has advanced in the hierarchy through 3rd, 2nd and 1st lieutenant, being scrutinized, evaluated, nomi- nated and elected at each stage by fellow department members. The new ranking brings new responsibilities, including assumption of command at a fire or o th e r em e rge ncy scene to which the depart ment responds, if he is the top ranking member, and a collaborative role when a su perior is present. Roberts is also chairman of the Impaction Committee which evaluates the depart ment’s physical needs, mak ing recommendations and, ul timately, application for im pacted area fu n d s from Columbia County's gas fields. In the interaction of fire de p a rtm e n t re c ru its , a very strong bonding is apparent, as Kevin says, "We spend, on average, about 24 hours a Butterfly Renaissance ADULT FOSTER CARE Call about our waiting list 185 C Street, Vernonia - 429-5220 VERNONIA DRUG 429-6254 PRESCRIPTION SERVICE Firemen plan to expand Toy and Joy involvement When Al Jesse, supervisor of the Columbia County Vol unteer program, a division of the state Dep't. of Human Re sources, approached the Ver nonia Volunteer Fire Depart ment about participating in Toys for Joy, a program that provides Christmas gifts for needy children, he was ask- ing about p a rtic ip a tio n for next year. M em bers of the d e p a rt ment thought it was such a good idea that they adopted the program immediately and set about doing it on th e ir own, this past Christmas. Headed by Joe Thornton at Vernonia Auto Parts, gifts VERNONIA VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT -1991 ANNUAL REPORT FIRE COMPANY EMS COMPANY 173 Incidents (73 Rural, 100 City) 27 Different types of incidents 342 Man hours on the scene and putting equipment back in service 1,232 Firefighters responding 7.1 Firefighters responding to each call (23% of roster) 16.65 Minutes per firefighter on scene at each call 367 Total equipment responses 197 Equipment hours on inci dents 233 Calls (107 Rural, 126 City) 172 Patients transported (40 Advanced Life Support, 72 Ba sic Life Support) 78 First aid (no transport) 4,271 1/2 Personnel hours 706 1/2 Training hours 227 1/2 out of town training 33 Stand-by calls (at fires, foot ball games, Jamboree Logging Show, etc.) 8,946 Miles driven Fire District: were solicited from customers in his store as well as from other sources, providing 40- 50 gifts. A gift wrapping party was held at the fire station and names of the recipients were attached. Then, on the Fri day before Christm as, with Greg Schaumberg as Santa Claus, these gifts were com bined w ith g ifts do n a te d through Sentry Market s Gift Tree and delivered by Santa Claus, in a Vernonia Fire De partm ent vehicle, to happy children throughout the com munity. "Toys for Joy was so suc cessful and so rew arding," Thornton said, "that we are already planning to join in the program on a county-w ide basis next year." Valentine's Day Values Russell Stover Candies ue to respond. The change would be only in the adminis tra tio n , w h e re one bo ard , elected by all the people of the combined district, would be responsible for organizing and budgeting. There won't be any change in the costs because the same expenses will be there. There would be one b u d g e t, a rg u e d , d is cussed, com prom ised, and published annually. There will be one tax rate, although it may get 'squeezed' a bit in side the city because of the infam ous M easure 5. N o body knows quite how that will work out. The city has to have fire protection — it’s required by state law. The rural has to have fire protection — insur ance rates are p ro h ib itive without it. Everybody, sooner or later, may need an ambu lance. The most efficient way to p ro v id e th e se se rvice s would be to consolidate our administrations. Quality Parts - Professional Service Because there are no unimportant parts™. V E R N O N IA A U T O PARTS AND SAW SHO P 429-2311 • 429-N A P A 292 Bridge Street, Vernonia, OR 97064 10 % Off COTYPRODUCTS AND GIFTS FOR ALL OCCASIONS American Greetings Cards FREE CALENDARS FOR OUR CUSTOMERS K & K Photo • Veterinary Supplies Kenneth & Margo Sutherlin 510 Bridge Street, Vernonia When rising fuel prices make your heating cost so a r.. From page district which would have its own tax base, and would pro vide fire and ambulance for- both. T here w o u ld be no change in the service — the sam e p e o p le d riv in g the same vehicles, would contin month together at training, fire and accident scenes. We get to know each other very well and depend on each oth er." Roberts is happy to be a Captain— and proud. Bring them down to earth with A NEW Thermo PrRte High Efficiency Gas Furnace High Efficiency Oil Furnace I f you believe all high efficiency furnaces are alike, take a look at Thermo Pride. 82% + efficiency and a heat exchanger with a lifetime warranty makes the cost o f owning a quality piece like Thermo Pride less per year be cause of its higher efficiency and longer life. Whether oil or gas, let us convert your electric heating- Sales, Service, Installation - Free Estimates Wilcox & Flegel 110 Panel Way Longview, WA 98631 CCB »13753 1-800-438-9656
