Lakeland Fire mechanics Jonathan Beale and Matt Warner restored Lena to her former glory. They said 3 years ago saying they saw a diamond in the rough.

But Meridian mechanic Terry Wilson did just that.

    It took Wilson and fellow mechanic Tony Todd seven years to build a three-pit smoker. The vehicle, which once extinguished fires, now satisfies the palate with all sorts of delicacies at catered events.

    The former fire truck was once a part of the Damascus Volunteer Fire Department in Kemper County.

    "My dad bought it and was going to make a dump truck out of it," Wilson said. "I walked one time around the truck and said I wanted it. I saw a barbecue smoker in it. After a couple of years, my dad decided he wasn't going to do the dump truck and let me have it."

    Wilson said the smoker became operational in 2013. The first catered event using the new smoker was Run for the Wall bike ride just before Memorial Day at the Lauderdale County Agri-Center. Some 400 meals were prepared during that particular event.

The North Corning Fire Department added a new fire engine recently to strengthen the department’s fleet.

The new engine was built by Midwest Fire in Luverne Mn and replaces two of the department's aging engines.“It’s an all in one truck versus having two separate trucks,” North Corning Fire Chief Dave Wyre said.The engine measures out at 33 feet and 60,000 pounds, officials said. It carries 3,000 gallons of water and is suitable for a variety of circumstances.

The truck cost $270,000. The department paid for the truck via a loan through Community Leasing Partners.The department also purchased a modified 2013 GMC truck alongside the new engine for transporting additional firefighters and extra tools.