I expect that each and every one of you will go out there and do your best to make sure the public has a nice clear picture of Dave’s mug
Think of the awards ceremony next year:
“With the teamwork, ingenuity and bravery that the fire service is known for, Firefighters Joe Smith and Jane Jones are our Gold Medal winners this year. On February 18, 2009, Firefighters Smith and Jones, in a blinding snow storm, with a wind chill index of 30 below, braved the elements to reach Sadie Smith’s home aboard Engine 1. Mrs. Smith was clearly in distress when the firefighters got to her. The problem needed to be solved quickly and without further harm to Mrs. Smith. The firefighters entered the home knowing what needed to be done. Carefully working their way to the den of the one story, single-family home the firefighters were now face-to-face with a situation only a few firefighters have ever had to deal with. But being trained professionals, Smith and Jones went to work without saying a word to each other. FF Smith used his left arm to reach around on one side. FF Jones used her right hand. Smith was able to grab the horizontal hold button. Jones, the vertical hold. Together they almost immediately stabilized the situation. For the first time in 24-hours Mrs. Smith had a clear digital picture on her 1978 Zenith Chromacolor II. Her digital conversion was now complete. Tears streamed down her face as Drew Carey’s image flashed across the screen. Her only comment to the firefighters was ‘I sure miss that Bob Barker’.”
This scene may not be far from the truth. In Duluth, MN, Fire Chief John Strongitharm is defending the plan to have his crews help residents with the pending February 17 digital conversion of over-the-air TV. The department has received $10,000 in grant money to target seniors who need help with their TVs. It is modeled after a program in Wilmington, NC.
Some elected officials are criticizing the plan considering there was just a special tax levy for the fire department.
Excerpts from the Duluth News Tribune:
Councilor Todd Fedora said during Thursday night’s agenda session. “It’d be hard for me to believe that people would be supportive of that levy increase if they knew firefighters were going to go out and install digital television converters.”
Duluth Chief Administrative Officer Lisa Potswald added that the city was involved with the project because TV is an important resource for the city to communicate with the public during an emergency.
However, if the Fire Department is receiving too many calls for assistance, “we’ll have to re-evaluate it,” she told the council.
