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Posted: Mar 11, 2023

Planet Fitness Donates Cardio Equipment to Jeannette (PA) Fire Department

Renatta Signorini
Tribune-Review, Greensburg, Pa.
(TNS)

Mar. 8—Jeannette firefighters got an exercise equipment upgrade Tuesday thanks to a donation from Planet Fitness’ location behind the Westmoreland Mall.

The cardio equipment will be a great addition to the department’s new fire station, but until it’s built, one piece will be available in the current location while the other two are put in storage, Capt. Joe Matijevic said. As one of three full-time paid firefighters in the department, he likes to get a workout in between calls.

“It’s important for the job, you have to stay loose,” he said.

Planet Fitness donated an Arc Trainer, elliptical and a spin bicycle. The three items were leftover after the gym updated fitness equipment, spokesman Patrick Lloyd said.

“The club manager felt it would be appropriate to donate some equipment that hadn’t been in use for a while in order to help local first responders,” he said.

Matijevic said he works out at that Planet Fitness location and connected with management about the donation. The fire station has minimal workout equipment, including an outdated elliptical and weights. Right now, one person can use it at a time, he said.

Matijevic hopes to find other workout equipment donation opportunities as the city works through the design and construction of the new station, which will allow additional space for exercise.

The fire department received a federal grant last year to build a new station on city-owned property next door to the current South Second Street location.

The $1.2 million grant will replace the station, which is connected to city hall, that was built in 1927 and has sewage problems, black mold, termites and asbestos.

The new station will be big enough to hold all of the department’s trucks. Currently, fire trucks are stored in three locations.

Renatta Signorini is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Renatta by email at rsignorini@triblive.com or via Twitter .

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(c)2023 Tribune-Review (Greensburg, Pa.)

Visit Tribune-Review (Greensburg, Pa.) at www.triblive.com

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Posted: Mar 11, 2023

Athens (AL) Mayor Touts Need for Two New Fire Stations

Erica Smith
The Decatur Daily, Ala.
(TNS)

Mar. 8—ATHENS — Mayor Ronnie Marks’ vision for the city includes two new fire stations and other projects to handle Athens’ rapid population growth, but his outline of plans for Sunrise Park resonated with several people attending his State of the City speech Tuesday.

Marks also discussed improving the Vine Street area.

Jennifer White, 70, of Athens, said after Marks’ speech that she can’t wait for Sunrise Park to be operational, especially the dog park that will be within it.

“I want to see all of it, but I met with the group that had ideas about the park, and the dog park was a big deal,” she said.

The city plans to construct the park in phases on a 32.67-acre property near Pryor Street and Sussex Drive that once was a chicken processing plant. Construction of the first phase will begin this spring.

Marks said phase one will be the children’s area, including a playground and a splash pad. He said there will be a parking lot where food trucks can set up. The first phase is slated to be completed in late spring or early summer 2024, Marks said.

“When we get phase one completed, get it started, then we’ll start the other part,” Marks said. “Maybe even toward the dog park, the green space, and just keep putting it together.”

John Wilson, 37, from unincorporated Limestone County, attended the State of the City program and said he was excited about Sunrise Park. He said he looks forward to taking his two young sons to the park.

Wilson said he was most excited about “the trails, walking, and the boys of course will love the playground and the splash pad. Right now, we have to go to Decatur to go to a splash pad; there’ll be one right here.”

The Athens-Limestone County Chamber of Commerce held the State of the City breakfast in Athens State University’s Carter Gymnasium on Tuesday morning. Marks discussed numerous projects for the city, which has seen its population grow from 21,897 in 2010 to an estimated 27,027 in 2021.

“With the growth that we have (comes) opportunities, but it also is a lot of challenges,” Marks said. “Public safety is our number one priority, that means we’re going to need, at least in the next few years, two new fire stations.”

Marks said one location the city is planning on for a new fire station would be in the Tanner Crossroads area at Huntsville Brownsferry Road and U.S. 31. Marks said he would like it to contain an ambulance and police bay. The other station will be near the Athens Sportsplex and is already in the works.

“We’ve already worked with an architect, we’ve got to redesign it, get what we want, build what we want, and find the land; (I’d) like it to be there close to the new high school,” Marks said. “I hope that we’ll have the architect plans back to the City Council in the next three to four months. And then you’re talking about a building, probably 12 to 14 months, so you’re talking about fall of 2024 (for completion).”

Marks said he doesn’t know what the fire stations will cost because the work has not been put out for bid. However, he estimated the first station might be between $3.5 million and $5 million.

White said she appreciates that city officials are planning.

“I like the fact that the city is looking forward,” she said. “We have City Council members, Limestone County commissioners and they’re always looking forward.”

Dolph Bradford, 56, Athens Street Department director, attended the program and said he is doing a lot of the work at Sunrise Park.

“The park will be nice,” he said. “The added businesses and retail, restau

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Posted: Mar 10, 2023

Fire rips through home just off I-5 in Seattle

Fire ripped through a vacant home Friday morning sending smoke billowing into the air along I-5 in North Seattle. According to the Seattle Fire Department, firefighters were called around 8:00 a.m. to the home on 5th Ave. NE just west of the freeway. Firefighters said flames were shooting through the roof when they arrived.
- PUB DATE: 3/10/2023 3:25:07 PM - SOURCE: KCPQ-TV FOX 13 Tacoma
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Posted: Mar 10, 2023

Firefighters respond to fully involved house fire in Wallingford

Firefighters with the Seattle Fire Department responded to a fully involved house fire in Wallingford Friday morning, according to video from the scene. At about 8:25 a.m., crews were arriving to the fire at a vacant house in the 4300 block of 5th Avenue Northeast. Firefighters on the scene reported seeing flames through the roof.
- PUB DATE: 3/10/2023 3:01:00 PM - SOURCE: KIRO-TV CBS 7 Seattle
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Posted: Mar 10, 2023

Follow Up: Police seek help identifying Tacoma arson suspect

PHOTOS: Police released surveillance photos of a suspected arsonist who allegedly started two fires near the Tacoma Dome on Wednesday morning, and they are offering a reward of up to $1,000 for any information that leads to an arrest and charges. The suspect is described as a Black man, 25-30 years old, with a medium build, according to the Tacoma Police Department, which said he was wearing black Adidas sweatpants with white stripes down the leg, black Nike shoes with a white swoosh, a white stocking cap and a gray backpack.
- PUB DATE: 3/10/2023 1:14:00 PM - SOURCE: KOMO-TV ABC 4 Seattle
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