Lake County Fire Station 21 dedicated its new fire engine in honor of the late Amos Roach, who served as a Lake County Fire captain and who donated the land off Highway 44A that the station sits on today, dailycommercial.com reported.

His grandson, country music artist Michael Ray, was in attendance with his family on Monday to honor his grandfather. 

Ray, who was very close to his grandfather, attributes his love of music to growing up playing guitar with him, the report said. At Ray’s Grand Ole Opry debut, just one month after his grandfather’s passing, he took the stage with his grandfather’s guitar, the report said. 

Roach was an Army veteran, retired from the phone company as the “telephone man,” and served as a Lake County firefighter, according to the report. He died in 2015.

Amos’ son Jerry served in the Lake County EMS system for many years and on Monday unveiled the dedication, which read “Amos” on the side of Station 21’s new fire engine, the report said. 

The city’s three fire departments will get new radio equipment through a federal grant program, replacing outdated equipment, according to a city council member and former fire chief, NHRegister.com.

U.S. Rep. Rosa L. DeLauro, D-CT, announced the $977,333 in funding through the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Assistance to Firefighters grant program, which will provide mobile, portable, and base radios for the departments, the report said.

Allingtown District Fire Chief Michael Terenzio said in a statement that the radios are the “only lifeline to communicate with outside resources for assistance” for firefighters entering life-threatening environments and situations, according to the report.

The current radios were purchased in 2008 and have been obsolete since 2017, the report said.

The Greer Fire Department held a push-in ceremony Monday to pass the torch to one of its brand-new fire engines, wyff.com reported. The new engine replaces one that’s been with the department for more than 20 years.

The new engine was one of several moves city leaders have made to help its growing city. The U.S. Census reported that from 2010 to 2020, the city of Greer grew by almost 10,000 people, the report said. During that time, the city has added three new fire stations and firefighters operate out of a fourth station at Taylors (SC).

The new fire engine started answering calls Monday afternoon.

VIDEO/PHOTOS: A large fire broke out Thursday morning at the American Legion post in New Haven, Illinois. Post 1141 shared photos of blaze, which appear to have destroyed the building. Their caption just says “No words!!!” Many residents shared comments with memories. “My parent met there,” said Melissa Blake Kittinger.
- PUB DATE: 2/3/2023 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WFIE-TV NBC 14 Evansville

At age 44, there are days when Virginia Beach Fire Captain Matt Chiaverotti doesn't have the energy to pick himself up from his recliner that sits by his living room window. Cancer is making him weak. On Aug. 23 of last year, he got a grim diagnosis: late-stage anaplastic thyroid cancer, a rare disease making up 1% to 2% of thyroid cancer cases.
- PUB DATE: 2/3/2023 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WVEC-TV ABC 13 Hampton