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Gatlinburg Fire Chief Greg Miller addresses Newport Rescue Squad
Supporters of the Newport Rescue Squad were told at a Friday night banquet that the organization is awaiting the delivery of a new "body wagon", costing $30,000. Outgoing Captain Rusty Williams said the squad makes lots of trips to Knoxville, transporting bodies for autopsies. The new vehicle will replace the current 1982 model truck. He said squad members in 2016, volunteered a total of 5,815 hours, including two drownings in one day. The squad responded to a total of 470 calls last year. Williams said it has become very difficult to recruit volunteers. The squad had expenses totaling more than $5,500, more than it's income. Cocke County contributed $25,000 and Newport provided a contribution of $10,000. Josh Hall was installed as the new squad Captain, and Newell "Hop" Byrd was recognized for his 55 years of volunteering with the squad. The keynote speaker was Gatlinburg Fire Chief Greg Miller. He declined to talk about the late 2016 wildfires that swept through his community, saying he is under a gag order which prevents him from discussing the issues surrounding those fires. In response to a question, about 15 squad members indicated that they had responded to assist "when tragedy swept through Sevier County". Miller said he began his career in emergency services, as a volunteer with the Jefferson County Rescue Squad, while studying as an Emergency Medical Technician. He applauded the rescue squad volunteers, and suggested our country needs a program to encourage more volunteering. "I feel every incoming college freshman should be given a scholarship stipend that would pay for fifty percent of their education, if they volunteer with a rescue squad, as a volunteer firefighter, ambulance service or law enforcement. If they do that for the four years they are in higher education, half of it would be paid for. But what they will learn is that, life isn't easy. that there are struggles that alot of people have, that bad things happen to good and bad people." He suggested that after the volunteering, the lives of the students would be changed, no longer having the "everybody gets a trophy" mentality and instead understanding that if you want something you have to work for it, and "if you do something stupid, good people have to come and clean up your mess." Chief Miller argued that such an experience would be character building for young people.
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Return to Today's News Stories - Front PageThursday, April 29, 2021
US 411 Project News
Mill Creek Wildfire Update
More Bad News For Smokies' Fans
Wednesday, April 28, 2021
Mill Creek Wildfire doubles in size
Goodbye Smokies?
Keep Cocke County Beautiful
Cocke Co. High School Remote Learning today!
Tuesday, April 27, 2021
The fireflies are coming!
Burnout Operations on MillCreek wildfire today
Gas prices drop
Tennessee keeps all US House seats
Monday, April 26, 2021
Boat accident victim ID'd
Traffic stop yields drug arrest
Cocke County Wildfires
Friday, April 23, 2021
Leaving WNPC
Mathis announces candidacy
Newport drug roundup
Cruise Against Cancer
Jobless numbers
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