By Mannix PorterfieldRegister-Herald Reporter

Raleigh County voters heard the distress call from the hills and hollows and came to the rescue Tuesday of 13 struggling volunteer fire departments, approving a special fire levy with a little room to spare.

With all 87 precincts in, the levy attracted 7,447 votes, or 63.36 percent, while 4,306 other voters, or 36.64 votes, opposed it. All levy issues require a 60 percent majority.

“Happy, relieved — just a gamut of emotions,” exulted Beckley Fire Chief Billie Trump, a leading advocate of the levy, which will pump some $700,000 into the county’s only paid department.

http://www.wvva.com/story/17525332/crash-involving-ambulance-in-mcdowell-county

Annual Training Event
May 17, 2012
8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Registration begins at 7:30AM

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She was born September 4, 1984 at Hendersonville, NC. She was an EMT- Paramedic for the Boone County Ambulance Authority of Danville and also worked part time for Lincoln County EMS. Sarah’s emergency services journey went through Stafford EMS, MICVFD, STAT EMS and Mingo County EMS before landing at Boone County Ambulance Authority.

Sarah was a member of the Spruce River Fire Department, Red Knights Motorcycle Club, West Virginia #3 and the Eastern Star.

She is survived by her fiancé, Rick Thompson; father, Charles Nodurft and his wife, Brenda; mother, Elizabeth Webb; brother, Christopher and Mendye Webb; nephews, Steven, Michael, David and Isaac; and a host of family and friends.

Friends are hosting a motorcycle poker on on June 16 2012 at the Lick Creek Park.

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Coupled with the unanimous passage of HB 4107 was the unanimous passage of Senate Bill 343 – providing volunteer and part-volunteer fire departments’ a grace period to meet eligibility for certain funds allocation.

Through the 2012 Legislative session, we have seen proof positive of a combined effort between the leaders of the volunteer fire service community and State Government to work together in order to achieve positive results. We look forward to working with the Legislature and the Administration in the upcoming Interim Committee meetings and the 2013 session to acquire a permanent solution to our Worker’s Compensation issue.

The West Virginia State Firemen’s Association would like to thank everyone involved in the process to get this legislation passed. Without the help of all members involved in the Association, it would not be possible to achieve such success.

The Putnam County Fire School

May 4-6 2012

George Washington Middle School

Eleanor, WV

If you have any questions email pcfawv@yahoo.com
Or contact Dana Spade at 304-389-2561
Or Travis Gibson at 304-382-5751

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He was the son of the late James Ted Massey and Nina Louise Dickens Massey.

Ronnie was preceded in death by his father; his grandparents, Maylon and Orphie Cantley Massey of Seth, and Lacy and Nancy Price Dickens of Naoma; his father-in-law, Ralph Hensley of Madison, Ohio; and a son, Michael Bayless, who just passed away March 25, 2012, of Geneva, Ohio; and a nephew, Joey Anderson of Naples, Fla.

He graduated from Sherman High School in 1966 and Morris Harvey College, now the University of Charleston, and the West Virginia College of Graduate Studies/Marshall University Graduate School. He attended the Ohio Northern University College of Law, where he was elected the Chief Justice of Phi Alpha Delta International Law Fraternity.

He began his teaching career at Pratt Junior High School in Kanawha County, and then became a teacher and coach at Nellis, Van and Wharton, and principal at Wharton Jr. High School in Boone County. He also taught for Southern West Virginia Community College.

He worked for the U.S. Department of Commerce and the West Virginia Department of Transportation for 31 years as a highway planner and analysis manager. He was a lecturer on database development and pavement management systems at international, national and regional conferences.

Ronnie was a lifetime member of the Racine Volunteer Fire Department with 39 years of service, serving as assistant chief and captain, public information officer, safety officer, secretary and emergency medical technician and treasurer. He was secretary of the Boone County Firefighters Mutual Aid Association and a member of the constitution and by-laws committee of the West Virginia Fireman’s Association. He completed the professional development series at the Emergency Management Institute of FEMA.

He was a member of the International Freelance Photographers Organization, as well as alumni organizations of the University of Charleston and Marshall University. He was an honorary Kentucky Colonel. He attended Toney’s Branch Freewill Baptist Church.

Surviving are his beloved wife, Brenda Hensley Massey of Comfort; son, Mark (Gina) Bayless of Geneva, Ohio; mother, Nina Massey; brother, Danny Massey of Seth; sister, Judy Wolfe of Naples, Fla.; precious grandsons, Drew and Ricky Bayless of Geneva, Ohio; his “princess,” granddaughter, Emily Bayless of Geneva, Ohio; nieces, Lisa (Mike) Anderson of Naples, Fla., Nancy Wolfe of Naples, Fla., Jennifer Miller of Hurricane, and Samantha (Grant) Walker of Ashtabula, Ohio; and great-nieces, Natilie Miller of Hurricane, Clara and Lily Walker of Ashtabula, Ohio; nephews, Bradley Eckert of Alexandria, Va.; mother-n-law, Bonnie Hensley of Madison, Ohio; sister-in-law, JoAnn (Allen) Eckert of Madison, Ohio; brothers-in-law, Timmy (Sharon) Hensley of Ashtabula, Ohio, and Alan (Luci) Hensley of Jefferson, Ohio; special cousins, Tom, Amy, Courtney, and Jacob Hensley of Seth; special neighbor and friend, Danny Keeney of Comfort; numerous cousins, grandnieces, and grandnephews; former students and classmates, fellow firefighters, and many dear friends and neighbors.

Service will be conducted at 1 p.m. Wednesday, April 4, at the Racine Volunteer Fire Department with Pastors Robert Perdue and Roger Halstead and Chaplain Larry Nelson officiating. Burial will be in Pineview Cemetery, Orgas.

Friends may call between 6 and 8 p.m. Tuesday, April 3, at the Racine Volunteer Fire Station in Racine, and one hour prior to the service Wednesday at the fire department.

Armstrong Funeral Home, Whitesville, is in charge of arrangements.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Racine Fire Department of Racine.

Firefighter Safety: Mistakes and Best Practices

Emergency Management: Improving Decision Making Under Stress

Seminar is “No Cost” to the fire service across West Virginia.

Sponsored by the West Virginia State Firemen’s Association and the WVU Fire Service Extension

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