Established
in 1937
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Letters to the Editor
(Editor's Note: Views and commentary, including statements made as fact, are strictly those of the letter-writers.)
* * *
Typed, double-spaced letters written solely to this newspaper
are considered for publication. Hand-written letters that are
double-spaced and legible also can be considered. Only one letter per contributor per month will be published
Cards of thanks are not accepted as letters.
* * *Firefighter outlines her service to I.V.
From De Spellman, ‘8970’
SelmaI have served the people of the valley for the last five-and-a-half years as a Volunteer Firefighter. I have served with integrity, commitment and compassion.
It has always been my wish to make a difference. I have run kids classes, adult education, and programs like free smoke detectors for low-income residents.
I tried to pull the valley together with the Fire Safe Council to improve communication and information on living in the woods with fire, and making people’s spaces in the woods survivable. What the fire district knows is not top secret, and it is the responsibility of residents to gain the knowledge to survive a fire.
It has been my great honor and privilege to be there when people call for help. I know that when folks call 911 it’s usually not to say that everything’s going really well. In my opinion it is important for people to know that the people coming to help care about them.
The valley always has known its volunteer fire/rescue people as their neighbors and friends, someone to make things a little better for them.
During my service I have responded to a great number of calls for help. I have been a part of saving some lives; been to some calls where the family was the one that needed help; and then there are the ones that all you can do is be there so they don’t pass over alone and in fear.
On every call we give a little of ourselves, and
everything anyone gives they get in return. I have met a lot of really wonderful people and know that if I touched someone’s life they also touched mine.On Sept. 1, the head of the fire district called me to his office to charge me with the most ridiculous charges that speak to my integrity. On the basis of these charges, he terminated me as a volunteer fire/rescue person.
I put in writing a request for a hearing of these charges; however, I was told by the president of the district board that I did not have the right to dispute the charges nor have copies of the charges.
I do not want to be in the fire district as long as it is headed in the present direction. I have a fundamental difference of opinion about the role of the district. I believe it is about caring, not a business. It is very personal to me when people call for help.
At this time what I want are the many false charges against me dropped, and I will take a leave of absence based on my differences of opinion on the role of the fire district.
I hope to serve this community again.
The valley’s fire/rescue volunteers are neighbors and friends. They are there to help, not to judge or hassle residents. Volunteer firefighters are still unarmed, and all you have to say is, “Get off my land,” and they will leave.
Let’s not let an aggressive city cowboy mentality start something that will get friends or volunteers hurt or killed.
People should think about what they read, because they know their valley and listen to their scanners. This community has always supported its volunteers and would not harm them.
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