Selectmen said a 49 percent raise for Fire Chief Fred Mitchell Jr. is justified because the town "got a great deal" and "a bargain" when it hired him three years ago. Mitchell, 51, a Rhode Island native, was hired in October 2015 at $63,359 with a contract that boosted his pay annually at 3 percent per year.
- PUB DATE: 7/18/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Newburyport Daily News

Many residents of Sullivan County are in mourning following the unexpected death of a long-time community leader. Clay Shidler, chief of the Hymera-Jackson Township Fire Department, died Monday at Terre Haute Regional Hospital after crashing his vehicle in northeastern Sullivan County. Shidler, 60, of Hymera, was a 31-year member of the fire department and volunteered for many community organizations.
- PUB DATE: 7/18/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Terre Haute Tribune-Star

The County Commission approved a proposed settlement agreement Tuesday in a two-year discrimination, then retaliation, lawsuit filed by a Marion County Fire Rescue employee against the county. Marion County Fire Rescue Division Chief Shari Hall filed suit against the county in May 2016, claiming the county discriminated against her based on her gender when she was passed over in 2015 for the fire chief position, which was given to now-retired Paul Nevels.
- PUB DATE: 7/18/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Ocala Star-Banner

Two Austin firefighters received four-hour suspensions after damaging department equipment during incidents in May and June. The first happened on May 16 when fire specialist Chad Benestante closed a bay door on a fire engine while leaving a station to respond to a call, suspension paperwork said. The second happened on June 10 when firefighter Dustin Mills was working with an aerial ladder.
- PUB DATE: 7/18/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Austin American-Statesman

Braden Varney was coming home, but not in the way anyone expected. His body was going to be carried through his hometown in the back of a white SUV. Its destination: the Stanislaus County Coroner’s Office. The Varney family has lived in Mariposa for decades, longer than anyone could remember, although no one could say exactly how long.
- PUB DATE: 7/18/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: SFGate.com