Toyne—Stockdale (PA) Volunteer Fire Department pumper. International HV607 cab and chassis; Cummins L9 350-hp engine; Hale Qflo 1,250-gpm pump; UPF Poly 500-gallon water tank; stainless steel body; FRC telescoping lights. Dealer: Randy Smalley, Tri-State Fire, Monongahela, PA.

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Jasper County Emergency Services District 4 has received a donation of a .772-acre tract of land from the Martin W. Dies family, and the plan is to build the Beech Grove Volunteer Fire Department a station on the plot.

“Well, it’s taken longer than expected but the time is finally here!,” the department writes on Facebook.

“BGVFD FIRE STATION COMING TO THE DIXIE/BEVILPORT COMMUNITIES

“As part of the BGVFD and Jasper County Emergency Services District # 4 master plan, we are excited to announce that we have secured the donation of a .772 acre tract of land from the Martin W. Dies family to build our second fire station! This will be located on the northeast corner of FM 2799 and CR 099.

“Last year we announced that our community and the BGVFD had received our first ever Fire rating from the Texas State Fire Marshal and ISO/PPC. This rating became effective June 1, 2021 and is applicable to all residents living within 5 miles of our existing fire station, located at 10230 FM 777.

“However, the Dixie and Bevilport communities, although within our district, are beyond that 5 mile range.

“But thanks to the generosity of Martin W. Dies and family, we now have a home for Station 2.

“It will take a few years to bring this project to fruition, mainly due to finances, but we are working as hard and as fast as we can to better serve all communities within our district.

“In the coming weeks we’ll be completing the land survey and will start clearing the property.

“More good things to come!”

The proposed $23 million price tag for the municipal campus project was a thorn in many attendees’ paw during this week’s Peterborough (NH) Budget Committee meeting, reports ledgertranscript.com. As such, the committee chose to delay its vote on whether to recommend the town’s warrant articles to the March 15 meeting.

The project—building a fire station on Elm Street next to the community center—has been in the planning phases since June. The estimated price of $23.34 million was simply too high for some members, the report says. In addition, they had trepidation regarding the size—currently planned for 30,000 square feet—and site plan decisions.

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Residents, too, expressed concerns about the cost as well as the size of the facility, the report notes.

With market values being heavily skewed amid economic volatility, officials say the price could keep rising each year the project continued or is delayed.

However, architect officials say a more accurate cost estimate will be available at a future committee meeting.

The committee will meet on the night of the Select Board’s next scheduled meeting, March 15, at 6 p.m. to finalize votes, according to the report.

The Eureka Fire Protection District has received both praise and criticism after one of its apparatus was spotted at a truck convoy protesting COVID-19 mandates as it passed through the area earlier this week, reports myleaderpaper.com.

The trucker convoy came through Eureka this am. Impressive protest. The City was prepared and handled the crowd well. pic.twitter.com/Gf0bB5MJl7

— Sean Flower (@Mayor_Flower) March 1, 2022

Displaying an American flag, the apparatus was parked on the Central Avenue overpass Tuesday as the convoy passed below on I-44. The convoy is one of many headed to Washington, D.C., to protest, the report says.

Some people didn’t like it, and some people appreciated it, officials say.

Related: Eureka (MO) Orders New Apparatus, Works on Stations

Officials say the apparatus was present because Eureka Fire was asked to be there, and the district usually attends events when invited. A district apparatus was at a Eureka Black Lives Matter march held in 2020, the report says.

The report notes that the district said its presence at the convoy was not a political statement, and that, any time it partakes in such an activity, it has the ability to respond to calls.

In any case, the episode may lead the district to review its policy for trucks showing up at events, according to the report.