East Side News
OCTOBER 25, 2008- EAST SIDE CELEBRATED ITS 40th YEAR WITH AN OPEN HOUSE AT
ALL THREE STATIONS PLUS THE ADMINISTRATION AND TRAINING BUILDING.  THERE WAS
A SMOKEHOUSE FOR THE KIDS TO LEARN FIRE SAFETY, A VERTICAL VENTILATION
DEMONSTRATION AND A VEHICLE EXTRICATION DEMONSTRATION.  THE RED CROSS,
SALVATION ARMY, AND RANDOLPH HOSPITAL ALL HAD TABLES SET UP THAT TOLD
ABOUT THEIR RESPECTIVE AGENCIES AND THE SERVICES THEY PROVIDE.  
APPROIMATELY 200 MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ATTENDED THE EVENT.  THANKS TO ALL
WHO HELPED MAKE THE DAY A SUCCESS.  VIEW PHOTOS

OCTOBER 6, 2008-  WE CONDUCTED OUR ANNUAL MEETING AT BROWERS CHAPEL
CHURCH.  WE THANK BUD SMITH FOR COOKING THE MEAL AND THE MEMBERS OF
BROWERS CHAPEL CHURCH FOR ALLOWING US TO USE THEIR FACILITY.  

SEPTEMBER 2008- SATURDAY, OCTOBER 25th IS THE DATE SELECTED FOR THE 40 YEAR
ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION FOR THE EAST SIDE FIRE DEPARTMENT.  OPEN HOUSES
AND DEMONSTRATIONS WILL BE HELD AT ALL OF THE STATIONS.  WE URGE THE PUBLIC
TO ATTEND AND SEE WHAT YOUR DEPARTMENT IS ALL ABOUT. THE CELEBRATION WILL
BEGIN AT 11 A.M. AND END AT 3 P.M.  A HOT DOG LUNCH WILL BE PROVIDED FREE OF
CHARGE AND DOOR PRIZES WILL BE GIVEN OUT.

AUGUST 2008- MEMBERS FROM EAST SIDE TEAMED WITH OTHER LOCAL DEPARTMENTS
TO TAKE PART IN A CHARITY SOFTBALL TOURNAMENT.  THE MONEY RAISED WAS
DONATED TO OPERATION RED SLEIGH.  ALTHOUGH THE TEAM DIDN'T DO SO WELL,  
THEIR WERE SOME ENTERTAINING MOMENTS AND A GOOD TIME WAS HAD BY ALL.

AUGUST 2008- THE ANNUAL MEETING HAS BEEN SET FOR MONDAY, OCTOBER 6th AT
BROWERS CHAPEL CHURCH.  ANYONE HAVING BUSINESS WITH THE DEPARTMENT IS
URGED TO ATTEND.  A MEAL WILL BE SERVED.

JULY 2008- SEVERAL MEMBERS FROM EAST SIDE ASSISTED THE HIGHWAY PATROL WITH
THE ANNUAL OPERATION RED SLEIGH CHRISTMAS IN JULY BIKE RIDE.  WE MANNED
SEVERAL INTERSECTIONS DIRECTING TRAFFIC TO KEEP THE RIDERS SAFE.  PROCEEDS
FROM THE BIKE RIDE GO TO HELP NEEDY FAMILIES AT CHRISTMAS WITH GROCERIES
AND PRESENTS FOR KIDS.  EAST SIDE ALSO HAD TWO RIDERS IN THE RACE.  JOE
HAITHCOX AND HIS SON KEITH BOTH RODE IN AND COMPLTED THE RIDE.  
CONGRATULATIONS ON THIS GREAT ACCOMPLISHMENT!

JUNE 2008-  CHIEF HOFFMAN AND CAPTAIN LAMBE RESPONDED IN 197 TO HYDE
COUNTY TO ASSIST WITH THE EVANS ROAD FIRE.  CHIEF DIXON AND LT. BROWN FROM
FRANKLINVILLE FIRE COMPLETED THE CREW.  WE SPENT FIVE DAYS ASSIGNED TO TASK
FORCE 1 ALONG EVANS ROAD AND LAKE PHELPS.  CREWS SLEPT IN A GYMNASIUM ON
COTS AND ATTENDED MORNING BRIEFINGS BEFORE HEADING OUT TO THE LINE.  THE
FIRE EVENTUALLY CONSUMED OVER 42,000 ACRES OF POCOSIN AND WOODS IN
HYDE,TYRELL, AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES.

MAY 2008- THE OFFICERS AND BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR THE DEPARTMENT HOSTED
THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AT STATION 24.  THIS WAS AN INFORMATIONAL MEETING
TO SHOW THE COMMISSIONERS WHO WE ARE, WHAT WE DO, AND HOW WE USE THE
MONEY ALLOTTED US BY THEM.  WE HAD 100% ATTENDANCE BY THE COMMISSIONERS
AND ARE PROUD TO HAVE THEIR SUPPORT.

APRIL 2008- STATION 24 WAS OFFICIALLY OPENED FOR SERVICE.  THE STATION IS
LOCATED ON BUFFALO FORD ROAD NEAR THE INTERSECTION OF IRON MOUNTAIN
ROAD.  AN ENGINE AND A TANKER ARE IN SERVICE AT THE STATION WHICH ALSO
HOUSES TWO LIVE-INS THAT RUN CALLS AND STAFF THE STATION AFTER HOURS.

MARCH 21,  2008- EAST SIDE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS AWARDED A GRANT FOR
RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION OF FIREFIGHTERS THROUGH THE SAFER GRANT
PROGRAM.  THIS GRANT IS WORTH $172,000.00 OVER ITS FOUR YEAR LIFE.  THESE
MONIES ARE EARMARKED FOR EXPENSE REIMBURSEMENT, EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE
AND SUPPLEMENTAL INSURANCE FOR OUR MEMBERS.

MARCH 14-16, 2008-  SIX FIREFIGHTERS FROM EAST SIDE TRAVELLED TO MARION FOR
THE McDOWELL COUNTY FIRE COLLEGE.  MEMBERS RECEIVED TRAINING IN A WIDE
VARIETY OF TOPICS RANGING FROM HAZARDOUS MATERIALS TO THE N.C. RESPONSE
RATING SYSTEM.

DECEMBER 2007- THE ANNUAL CHRISTMAS PARTY WAS HELD ON DECEMBER 16TH.  
APPROXIMATELY 70 FIREFIGHTERS,RETIREES, BOARD MEMBERS AND THEIR FAMILY
MEMBERS ENJOYED AN EXCELLENT MEAL PREPARED BY ASST. CHIEF MIKE MACON AND
FIREFIGHTER ROY WRIGHT.

NOVEMBER 2007-  WE WERE NOTIFIED THAT WE HAD RECEIVED A GRANT FROM
RANDOLPH HOSPITAL FOR THE PURCHASE OF A DEFIBRILLATOR.  THIS UNIT WILL BE
PLACED IN SERVICE AT STATION 24.

ALSO IN OCTOBER, SEVERAL MEMBERS TRAVELLED TO THE WESTERN PIEDMONT FIRE
SEMINAR IN MORGANTON.  MEMBERS RECEIVED TRAINING IN WILDLAND AND
STRUCTURAL FIREFIGHTING AS WELL AS HAZARDOUS MATERIALS.

OCTOBER 2007- THE PROPERTY FOR STATION 24 WAS GRADED OFF AND THE METAL
SHELL FOR OUR BAYS WAS ERECTED.  ALSO, MUCH OF THE VINYL SIDING WAS
COMPLETED AND THE CONCRETE FOR THE APRON WAS POURED.  THE WHOLE
PROJECT IS REALLY TAKING SHAPE.  

SEPTEMBER 2007- EAST SIDE FIRE WAS NOTIFIED THAT IT HAD RECEIVED THE
ASSISTANCE TO FIREFIGHTERS GRANT.  THE AMOUNT IS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF
$58,000.00 AND IS EARMARKED FOR PHYSICALS FOR ALL MEMBERS AS WELL AS
PHYSICAL FITNESS EQUIPMENT. WE WERE ALSO NOTIFIED THAT WE HAD RECEIVED A
GRANT FROM THE FOREST SERVICE FOR THE PURCHASE OF WILDLAND FIREFIGHTING
EQUIPMENT.  THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF THIS GRANT IS $4000.00.

SEPTEMBER 14, 2007- DO NOT FORGET ABOUT THE ANNUAL MEETING ON OCTOBER 1,
2007.  ALL MEMBERS AND RESIDENTS OF THE DISTRICT ARE URGED TO ATTEND AND
FIND OUT WHATS GOING ON AT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.  THE TIME IS 7:00 PM AT
BROWERS CHAPEL CHURCH.

SEPTEMBER 11, 2007- THE GARAGE HAS BEEN REMOVED FROM THE HOUSE TO MAKE
ROOM FOR THE BAYS AT STATION 24.  GRADING AT THE SITE SHOULD BEGIN SOMETIME
NEXT WEEK.

SEPTEMBER 7, 2007- BUILDING PERMITS FOR STATION 24 HAVE BEEN SECURED FROM
THE COUNTY AND WORK IS BEGINNINING AT THE SITE ON BUFFALO FORD RD.

JUNE 25, 2007 -  EAST SIDE FIRE DEPARTMENT RECIEVED A NEW TAX RATE FROM THE
COUNTY.  OUR TAX RATE WAS SET AT .08 CENTS PER 100 DOLLARS EVALUATION.  THE IS
A ONE PENNY INCREASE AND WILL HELP US WITH THE OPENING OF OUR THIRD
STATION IN THE NEAR FUTURE.  WE WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE COMMISSIONERS AND
THE MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY WHO HELPED AND SUPPORTED US THROUGHOUT
THIS PROCESS.  ALTHOUGH WE DIDN'T GET ALL OF THE INCREASE WE REQUESTED, WE
WILL BE ABLE TO CONTINUE MOST OF OUR CURRENT PROGRAMS.

JUNE 7, 2007 -  FF DANIEL BROWN HAS GRADUATED FROM EASTERN RANDOLPH HIGH
SCHOOL.  WE CONGRATULATE HIM ON HIS ACCOMPLISHMENT.  FF BROWN PLANS TO
ATTEND GUILFORD TECH IN THE FALL.

JUNE 6, 2007 - ASST. CHIEF MACON BECAME A GRANDFATHER TO A NEW BABY BOY.  
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE ENTIRE MACON FAMILY.

MAY 2007 -  FF STEVE LAHR GRADUATED FROM UNC-G WITH A BACHELORS DEGREE IN
COMMUNICATIONS.  FF LAHR HAS DECIDED TO JOIN THE MARINE CORPS AND WILL
REPORT TO BASIC TRAINING AT THE END OF JULY.  WE CONGRATULATE HIM ON HIS
OUTSTANDING ACCOMPLISHMENT AND WISH HIM LUCK WITH HIS CAREER CHOICE.

MAY 14, 2007 - THE DEPARTMENT CHIEFS AND BOARD MEMBERS MET WITH MEMBERS OF
THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS. COMMISSIONERS PRESENT WERE ARNOLD LANIER,
PHIL KEMPE, DARREL FRYE, AND HAROLD HOLMES.  A POWER POINT PRESENTATION
WAS GIVEN BY CHIEF HOFFMAN.  THE ACTIVITIES OF THE DEPARTMENT WERE
DISCUSSED AS WELL AS OUR PROJECTED BUDGET NEEDS IN THE COMING YEARS.  WE
ARE THANKFUL TO THE COMMISSIONERS FOR ATTENDING THIS MEETING.  

MAY 1, 2007- LT RICHARD LAMBE HAS BEGUN WORKING PART TIME FOR THE
DEPARTMENT 24 HOURS A WEEK.  HIS PRIMARY FUNCTION WILL BE MAINTAINING THE
TRUCKS AND EQUIPMENT AS WELL AS AIDING WITH OUR DAYTIME RESPONSES.