Harrison County commissioners distribute approximately $240,000 between 16 fire departments

Just shy of $240,000 was distributed by Harrison County commissioners among 16 local fire departments, with each department receiving $14,860.01. The funds were received from the governor’s All County Fire Protection Grant. Commission President Susan Thomas and Commissioner David Hinkle initially had considered distributing the funds to only the volunteer departments within the county, of which there are 14. However, Trey Simmerman, county attorney, was unsure if the statute the funds were received under would allow that as he had not yet reviewed it and could not give an informed opinion. Hinkle was against the approval of the funds to all departments, but the motion carried 2-1.
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‘It’s sort of like losing a family member:’ Naoma business owner reacts to fire that burned his shop to the ground

VIDEO: Carl Jarrell, owner of Jarrell’s Backwoods Towing in Naoma, Raleigh County, is sharing details about the horrific fire that burned his small business to the ground on Monday. Jarrell tells WVVA that he and a few of his employees were in the shop portion of the business around 8:30 Monday morning when they heard strange noises coming from the connected garage. “We were in the store sitting, and they just heard a poppin’ noise, and they thought somebody was over in the garage working, but there was nobody over there, and when they went over to open the door. That’s when they say the flames shoot out and it was just already out of control...the only [thing] we had time to do was get a couple keys off the counter and call 911.” Within a matter of hours, Jarrell’s Backwoods Towing was a pile of rubble.
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How a 911 Levy passage could improve response times and conditions for Putnam County first responders

On a county-wide level, first responders from all eight different fire departments in Putnam County are facing funding cuts and staffing shortages while the demand of 911 calls and emergencies ramp up. However, the power of voting could be a solution to this problem through this year’s 911 Levy. That levy equates to $2.5 million and must receive 60% votes in favor of the levy to take effect. The primary election to vote on this levy is Tuesday, May 14. “This is a replacement. There’s already a fire fee in place. Going to a levy is going to make it easier for people. They aren’t going to have to send in a separate check. It’s just going to be part of their taxes,” Putnam County Commission president Andy Skidmore said. Skidmore said since the fire fee was established in Putnam County in 1986, the environment and population have dramatically changed, making the current funding system outdated.
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