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The Salem Area Community Betterment Association (SACBA) is pleased to announce the nominee honor roll for volunteer work done in 2014. A large group of individuals was nominated and they include Jim Boulware, Rae Pelletier, Larry Gray, Chris Thomas, Laura Wemhoener, Rachel Privett, John Strebe, Faron Teague, Bambi Holtz, Sandra Radford, John Hambacker, Dick Haxton, Bonnie Gray, Penny Shirah, Junior Hubbs and Deloris Gray-Wood. These organizations were also nominated for the Gift of Time Awards and they are the Healthy Dent County Board, the Task Force for a Healthier Dent County, the City of Peace Garden Club, the Salem R-80 Art Teachers, the SHS Chamber Choir, His Place Soup Kitchen, The Lifeway Center, the Salem United Methodist Church, the Salem R-80 Band Parents and the Salem Fitness Center Volunteers. The Gift of Time awards will be presented and all nominees will be honored at the Volunteer Recognition Dinner on Thursday, February 19^th. The dinner will be held at The Gathering Place at the Grace Community Church starting at 6:30 p.m. The Common Grounds Bistro will cater. Tickets may be purchased at the Salem Community Center at the Armory, the Visitors Center and from SACBA board members for $20.00. The ticket deadline is February 13^th. For more information call 729-8163 or email judy@salemtcrc.com.

The Dent County Fire Protection District Board of Directors held their meeting Tuesday night at the fire station. After approval of the agenda and the minutes from the previous meeting, the Board then reviewed and approved bills. During the calendar review it was noted that a letter to the state auditor was filed. The monthly reimbursement report for January showed a total of 29 calls that included: seven calls for structure fires, three calls for flue fires, five calls for brush fires, one call for a landing zone, four first responder calls, five calls for a vehicle accident, one mutual aid call, one haz mat call, one call for a fire alarm and one call for training. Total calls to date are 42. The report showed 21.4% of the yearly calls were structure fires with 16.7% for first responder, 11.9% for brush fires and 19% were for vehicle accidents. The current average cost per call is about $84.46 with the yearly reimbursement total at $3,547.50. In old business, the building use policy and the drug use policy were presented for final readings, accepted and approved by the Board. These policies replace the current building use and drug use policies. In new business, Board member Liz Gruendel discussed replacing the frame on the current sign on the front of the building and placing a fish for Healthy Dent County in the front of the department. During reports, Chief Nash gave a presentation of fire scenes of last months fires with pictures of firefighters at work to give an idea of what a fire scene is like, how equipment is used and what firefighters encounter. Nash reported that he had talked with the Chamber director to get on a web page, which is currently working with City Administrator Ray Walden to complete this. Nash presented a department survey report, from responses from the personnel in the district that covered items that they felt needed attention from the bottom all the way to the top. The board felt the information was good and asked to be kept informed as changes were made and improvements met. He also discussed a new procedure he is developing to assist the department in duties. They include but are not limited to: building maintenance, training, uniform gear and trucks. Assigned personnel will be responsible for inventory and reporting, maintenance and upkeep and will report to the officers and the Chief. This program is to promote morale, some kind of ownership and a better all around end result for the district. Chief Nash presented a document for job descriptions to take the department to the next level. The report defined job qualifications and overall responsibilities for the Chief. If approved by the Board, then he will create job descriptions for officers as well as firefighters. The end result will be to include a new application process for new hires and should allow the district to be more efficient in hiring as well as in the duties of personnel. The Board then set their next meeting for Tuesday, March 3^rd at the fire station beginning at 6:00 pm and the meeting was then adjourned.

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