PRim imee Answering the Call
Six-year-old Cooper Waindel and all the kids attending the Cresson Station 2 grand opening had a great opportunity to suit up in authentic firefighter bunker gear.
Granbury welcomes largest rookie firefighter class Page 4
Off-duty officer enters burning house to save woman Page 6
Granbury salutes July 4th the old-fashioned way Page 20
Granbury, Texas July 2016
www.quailparkofgranbury.com/HoodCountyNews 2300 Paluxy Highway | Granbury, TX 76048 | 2
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CONTENTS 4 Record rookie class 6 Lifesaver 8 Family of firefighters 10 Banana pudding goes fast 14 Compassionate paramedics 17 Where in the Hood? MARY VINSON | HOOD COUNTY NEWS
Volunteer fire departments participate in Granbury’s July 4th Hometown Parade. Lipan Fire Department members and friends take their turn greeting a crowd of thousands in the patriotic parade. This year’s parade is Monday, July 4, at 10 a.m.
22 Dedication drives firefighters
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Answering the call
MARY VINSON | HOOD COUNTY NEWS
Members of the county’s largest rookie firefighter class listen to Training Captain Matt Hohon during a recent classroom session. Most classes are held at Granbury’s Station 2, but other sites are also utilized during the 21 class sessions.
The Fourth of July is a time to celebrate all things American. And one of the
best things about America is its heroes. As we celebrate our independence, let’s also celebrate and honor the heroes among us: first responders who put themselves in peril to save others. Though for some it is a career that earns them a living, many others receive no pay – and not nearly enough thanks. 4
Prime | July 2016
Granbury graduates largest rookie firefighter class BY KATHY CRUZ
M
any little boys and girls dream of becoming firefighters when they grow up. Some of them actually do it. In Hood County, more and more residents are stepping up to serve their community as volunteer firefighters. Granbury recently graduated its largest rookie class ever. Twentyseven people signed on to answer the call when their neighbors need aid. “Most people want to give back to the community,” said Granbury Fire Chief Brent Blackmon. “Some people are wanting to start a career in firefighting, and they want the experience.” The Granbury Volunteer Fire Department conducts training for all nine of the county’s volunteer fire departments. Classes are one night a week for 21 weeks. Each session can last up to three hours. “We’ve had more and more departments want to send their guys to it,” said training captain Matt Hohon. Trainings follow state certification guidelines, and participants graduate at least at a Firefighter 1 level, Blackmon said. Each week, the class focuses on a different as-
pect of firefighting. Trainings cover such things as vehicle extracations, vehicle and propane tank burns, structural fires, wildfires, rescues on hillsides or confined spaces, and even how to tie knots and roll fire hoses.
ALL WELCOME ”We’re constantly hosting rookie school. There are just so many people,” said Blackmon. “One of our goals is to help other departments work together so we’re all on the same page and better understand each other.” Hohon said the training is “all encompassing.” He teaches the classes, but Blackmon sometimes assists. Blackmon has been a volunteer firefighter for Granbury for 14 years. He works full time as a Granbury police officer. Hohon is a corporate pilot and has been a volunteer firefighter since 2010. “It’s something that I had wanted to do for a while,” he said. Hohon said that being a volunteer firefighter doesn’t necessarily require that one be young or in great physical shape. A 70-year-old, for example, can play a supporting role by driving a truck or filling air tanks, he said.
“We’ve got many, many jobs that need to be fulfilled,” Hohon stated, adding that age or physical fitness “should never be a determining factor on your ability to join the department.” Training classes typically meet at Granbury’s Station 1 on West Pearl Street across from the Brazos Drive-In, although the class may move to another site depending on what the lesson is that night.
HOW TO GET INVOLVED Hohon said there are two classes a year. The second class will be started in mid-July. Anyone interested in being a volunteer firefighter can contact the fire station in their neighborhood. Actually, though, any of the county’s fire departments can point those interested in the right direction, Hohon said. Background checks are conducted on those who submit applications. Hohon said that every department needs more help. “There’s never a time that I can think of where we’ve looked at our membership and said, ‘We’ve got exactly what we need and we don’t need any more,’” he said. “We always need help.”
MARY VINSON | HOOD COUNTY NEWS
The Granbury Volunteer Fire Department, which offers training for all nine of the county’s fire departments, recently graduated its largest class ever. Twenty-seven volunteers stepped up to answer the call when Hood County residents need help. The class is pictured here, outside of Granbury’s Station 2 on West Pearl Street. Prime | July 2016
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Lifesaver Jon Ubinger entered Shelia Brown’s burning house to rescue her
MARY VINSON | HOOD COUNTY NEWS
Fire victim says off-duty officer was a Godsend in that smoke,” said Brown, who has been a waitress at Pam’s Restaurant in Granbury Jon Ubinger gazed at the face of the for 20 years. “He didn’t know what he was woman he had just pulled from a burning going into. It increased my appreciation for house and feared the worst. the police. Especially in the times we’re in “I thought she was dead,” said the former now, they’re not much appreciated.” Granbury Police officer, even though the Brown doesn’t remember the fire or her woman’s eyes were open. “Her eyes were rescue. It’s believed she was unconscious ashen gray. Blood was after falling and hitting coming out of both ears her head after seeing and her mouth.” flames coming from the Ubinger checked and kitchen. was relieved to find that “If he had waited for the the woman, Shelia Brown, fire department, it would --Jon Ubinger had a pulse. She was have been too late,” said breathing on her own, alShelia’s grateful husband though it was shallow. Gary, who was on his way The off-duty officer had saved the life of home that afternoon from Fort Worth, his neighbor. where he works for the postal service. “I’d Brown and Ubinger were reunited redo anything in the world for him, that’s for cently, about six weeks before the six-year sure. I just appreciate everyone that helped anniversary of the incident, which heavily her.” damaged her home in Country Meadows Her husband recalled that Shelia told northeast of Granbury. him she woke up once and asked God to She gave credit first to God, then to Ubhelp her. inger, who now works for the Fort Worth “That was the last I remembered,” said Police. Shelia, who was flown by air ambulance to “God uses people to get his work done. I the burn center at Parkland Memorial Hosdo have to give him a lot of credit for going pital in Dallas. BY MARK WILSON
‘I thought she was dead.’
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Prime | July 2016
She remained for almost a month. Gary noted that Shelia told him she must have just gotten out of the shower and likely spared burns to her head because her hair was still wet. “It was a miracle that she survived,” Gary said. “There were a lot of things that came into play that day. It was too perfect. If it had to happen, it couldn’t have been a more perfect scenario.” Shelia said, “When something like that happens to you, it changes your life, in the way you think. I’m more positive and upbeat (now). I definitely appreciate life. I wasn’t ready to die. It makes me want to live even longer, because it could have been over then.”
LIFESAVING AWARD Granbury Police Chief Mitch Galvan awarded Ubinger with the department’s lifesaving award at the next City Council meeting. Ubinger, who still lives three doors down from the Browns, worked the night shift but was watching a Rangers game that afternoon when his wife, Lori, came in and said noticed smoke that appeared to be rising from the back of the neighbor’s home.
Ubinger first assumed that it was probably from a backyard grill, but his wife insisted he should check it out. “She said, ‘No, Jon, something’s not right.’� He gave his wife lots of credit for insisting that he walk to their neighbor’s house and check it out. Ubinger didn’t know the Browns at the time and wasn’t familiar with their work schedule. But her car was in the driveway, and another neighbor alerted him that Shelia was probably at home. By then, Ubinger’s wife was on her cell phone calling 911. “I turned to look at her and said, ‘Tell dispatch I’m going in.’� said Ubinger. After realizing the back door was already “blistering hot,� Ubinger went to the front door, found it locked and did what had to be done. “I kicked the door, seven to 10 good times,� Ubinger said, noting that busting through a heavy, deadbolted front door isn’t as easy as it might appear in a television show. Finally, he crashed through the door. “Smoke comes billowing out. When I knocked the door in, initially it hit me in the face. It knocked me backward,� Ubinger said, recalling that he could barely see what appeared to be the hair of someone on the living room floor as he started crawling inside. “I grabbed her
T-shirt. I pulled her out, almost to the street,� Ubinger said. “Then the EMTs arrived and loaded her in the ambulance.�
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NO TIME TO THINK Ubinger went in wearing shorts and a T-shirt, without any sort of cloth to cover his face. “Quite honestly, I didn’t have time to think about it,� he said. “Once I saw her, I just made the decision I was going in the house. I could hear the flames, but I couldn’t see them. The smoke was just too thick. I never thought about the heat. If the door had shut behind me, it may have been a different story because I couldn’t see anything.� A few minutes later, the reality of what had happened set in for Ubinger. “When you have that adrenaline jump, it got pretty emotional,� Ubinger said. “You think about maybe what could have happened to you. You’re thinking about leaving behind your wife and kids. It could have gone bad, had the house (fire) flashed over.� Brown not only had to be treated for third-degree burns on her shoulders, but doctors had to perform a tracheotomy because of her breathing difficulty. She was unable to speak for months. Her husband learned how to dress her wounds.
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One Big Family They fight fires together and more
BY DEBBIE SCHNEIDER
Y
ears ago, a train stopped on railroad tracks delayed firefighters’ response to a major grass fire in the northern part of Hood County. It took the Granbury VFD awhile to get to the scene, recalled North Hood Fire Chief Mike Bell. That’s when community members decided it was time for a fire department to serve the northern part of the county. “We just wanted to get something started to help the community,” Bell said. North Hood VFD became a reality in 1991 through the efforts of the Bell family. The roster at North Hood now has 18 members, including many Bells. Bell family members involved in the fire department include the following: Q Mike’s parents: Kenneth and Kathy Bell. Q Mike’s wife: Linda Bell. Q Mike’s brother and sister-in-law: Stephen and Julie Bell. Q Mike’s brother: Kenneth Bell Jr. is on the reserve roster, since he lives out of the area. Q Mike’s daughter and son-in-law: Cheryl and David Cline are also on the reserve roster. Q Mike’s niece: (Julie’s daughter) Haley Bell, 18, is in support. Q Mike’s niece: (Julie’s daughter) Destiny Leaven is with the Granbury VFD. Q Mike’s niece: (Cheryl’s daughter) Angel Cline, 18, is a junior firefighter. The North Hood VFD fire station is on Sky Harbour Drive. Equipment includes two engines, three grass trucks and a rescue truck. Training is every Thursday night at the station. Members also attend fire schools. The annual fish fry benefit began in 1994. It’s the main fundraiser for North Hood. Around 200 people attend the fish fry, which sometimes includes a silent auction or bake sale.
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Mike Head carries a tray of fish at the North Hood Volunteer Fire Department annual fish fry. The Bell family (above) was instrumental in starting the North Hood Volunteer Fire Department and many continue to serve as volunteers. Family members at the annual fish fry include (standing) from left: Beth Bell, Kenny Bell, Fire Chief Mike Bell, Ken Bell and Steve Bell; and (seated) from left are Linda Bell, Kathy Bell and Julie Bell.
Prime | July 2016
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Get there late and you’ll miss the banana pudding BY DEBBIE SCHNEIDER
S
he says there’s nothing special about it. But hungry patrons of the North Hood Volunteer Fire Department Fish Fry would disagree. If you get there too late, the banana pudding is gone. Linda Bell, wife of North Hood VFD Fire Chief Michael Bell, has been making the banana pudding for some time. “We started out with peach cobbler, then switched to banana pudding,” she explained. Health issues have forced Linda to slow down a bit. She now gets banana pudding help from her daughter, Cheryl Cline. Of course, there are other desserts. You’ve got a variety of cakes and cookies. But most people are hoping for some cake, cookies AND banana pudding. “It’s just Jello boxed pudding,” Linda said of the recipe. “I get vanilla pudding, add some vanilla flavoring, bananas and Vanilla Wafers. “There’s really nothing special to it,” she stated. “When we started serving pudding at the fish fries, it looked kind of pretty. Now, it’s more about the quantity,” she said with a laugh. The annual fish fry is the biggest fundraiser for North Hood. “People are real good about supporting the fire department out here. We appreciate the donations,” Linda said. Everybody in the “North Hood family” gets involved with the
MARY VINSON | HOOD COUNTY NEWS
They come for the fish fry and don’t leave without banana pudding. The Memorial Day weekend fish fry is a major fundraiser for North Hood Volunteer Fire Department. Linda Bell (right) has been making the banana pudding for some time. fish fry. Some work in the kitchen or the serving line; others are outside frying fish.
FRIED JALAPENO CHIPS Their newest craze? Fried jalapeno chips. “The guys like to out-do each other with the best peppers,” she explained. When longtime VFD leader Paul Painter died, the department skipped a year with the fish fry. “We still use Mr. P’s recipe for the spices. It’s been tweaked a little,” Linda said.
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MARY VINSON | HOOD COUNTY NEWS
Jodi Fries and her fellow Texas EMS staffers enjoy the camaraderie at the station between calls. Pictured from left are medics Casey Hallmark, Jonathan Walker, Fries, Bryan Wooten, Karyssa Stead and Casey Weaver.
Paramedics: Courageous, compassionate, calm BY MARK WILSON
L
ongtime Texas EMS employee Jodi Fries said the man almost died. First responders made the difference in saving the man’s life. “Last year we got called out for a cardiac arrest, and the team saved the guy’s life,” said Fries, an EMT, paramedic and shift captain now in her 12th year working for Texas EMS. “That’s something that is an amazing feeling.” The event made an impact on her, despite seeing so many critical care incidents. She said that few cardiac arrest victims survive. “Feelings can be overwhelming sometimes,” Fries said. “Especially if a heart has stopped and you know that because of your actions they’re alive. “Compassion’s huge in this business. If you lack in that category, you’re not going to do well in this job.” Medical personnel played a major role in responding to the tornado that devastated the Rancho Brazos neighborhood, killing six people, in 2013. “The tornado was a very humbling experience. I’ve never in my life experienced anything like that,” Fries said. “The amount of people in the community that came together to help one little subdivision – people just came out from everywhere.”
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Jodi Fries, an EMT and paramedic who has been with Texas EMS for 12 years, said first responders go into “autopilot” when arriving at an emergency, dealing with emotions later. AUTOPILOT When first responders arrive to deal with life and death situations, they shift into a different mode, according to Fries. That’s so they can get the job done without letting natural human emotions – shock, sadness, anger – hinder their work. “We go into what we call autopilot,” Fries said. “Emotions come later. We improvise, we adapt and we overcome.” Fries is only one example of what first responders are all about – but she’s an excellent one according to George Grim, Texas EMS operations manager. Grim said Fries not only is “very caring” Prime | July 2016
for members of the community, she is also “one of the best paramedics I’ve ever seen.” Fries said she has observed that fellow first responders have dedication to the job. She said they can best be described as strong and courageous. “It is a true calling,” said Fries, who resides with husband Toby Fries in the Acton area. “There are only a few who can do this job. I’m a true believer that the ones that do end up in this profession, they never leave it. “There’s a saying that emergency medical services personnel have the hardest job in the world. We work abnormal hours and have abnormal sleep patterns. “The public doesn’t know the emotional toll that it has on EMS employees. Being in public service, we have to find a way to de-stress.” Fries noted that first responders have access to a local peer support program called Critical Incident Stress Management to help them deal with difficult job-related emotions. “It’s a place to speak about feelings and cry if you need to,” Fries said. “It’s a huge way to relieve ... and deal with emotional stress.” When not on duty with Texas EMS, Fries finds time to volunteer with the deCordova EMS unit. “If you do what you love, it’s not working at all,” Fries said.
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The helmet alone weighs about 6 pounds. Many re ghters store items on their helmet such as a ashlight and goggles for eye protection, which adds more weight.
weigh? Bunker gear generally weighs around 45 pounds. When it gets wet – it weighs even more. Bunker gear refers to the helmet, hood, pants, coat, gloves, boots and air pack. Without protective gear, re ghters could not safely perform their job.
Re ective striping makes the re ghter more visible at night or in smoke.
By itself, the breathing apparatus weighs around 27 pounds.
PPE (personal protection equipment) pants generally have knee pads that can be replaced when worn, saving the high cost of replacing the entire set of pants. Boots are made of insulated rubber or leather with steel toes and shanks to protect against crushing and piercing hazards. Prime | July 2016
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Smokin’ hot Tolar firefighters light up community with their prize barbecue
ROGER ENLOW
Tolar volunteer firefighters Sam Morrison (left) and Kevin Fron smoked the winning brisket at the Tolar ISD Roadkill Cookoff this spring. Tolar firefighters cook up tasty barbecue for Tolar community events throughout the year.
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BY RICH JACQUES cooking torch to the newer Where there’s smoke there’s ones. usually fire. And where there’s Whatever the secret to their firefighters there’s usually culinary success is, it seems to some pretty decent barbecue be working. going on. Beating out about 15-20 That’s definitely the case at teams each year, Tolar firethe Tolar Volunteer Fire Defighters have won the first partment, where what they two annual Roadkill Cookoff put on the fire is almost as imevents that benefits the Ryan portant as they fires they put Turner Education Foundation, out. which helps loHow does cal schools. their barbecue The competistack rank in tion has been Hood County? intense. “We like to “This year, the say we are the old guys won. best,” says Matt Last year it was Hutsell, the dethe new guys,” partment chief said Hutsell. for 13 years. The 35-mem--County Commissioner What makes it ber department Steve Berry so good? also cooks each Maybe it’s the year for the Tolar cooking rivalry Homecoming Hutsell says exists between event. some of the younger guys and County Commissioner Steve some of the older ones that Berry said firefighters are a adds a special flavor to the special breed that pride themmix. selves on their cooking skills Maybe it’s because they start and community service. training new cooks early. “They are giving up that day “When you’re a rookie, to give back to the commuyou’ve got to cook,” said Hutnity,” said Berry. “It’s the same sell. people that are going to show Maybe it’s the guarded up if mom and dad are having recipes developed through the a heart attack or if your house years by firefighters. is on fire.” Maybe it’s the tradition of With no competition befirehouse cooking passed on tween local fire departments, from one generation of fireit’s hard to say for sure whethfighters to the next at the staer Tolar actually does have tion, like that between 30-year the best barbecue or brisket veterans Sam Morrison and around. Kevin Fron (the old guys) and But if there was a competiyounger firefighters Brian Rotion, Tolar would probably be thy and Brian Gall (the youngfirst to sign up. er guys). “We’d be up for it,” said HutHutsell said the older firesell ... if the other guys want to fighters have sort of passed the compete.”
Prime | July 2016
‘They are giving up that day to give back to the community.’
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MARY VINSON | HOOD COUNTY NEWS
The people of deCordova Bend Estates are always proud and quick to support Hood County veterans. Over the Memorial Day weekend resident veterans were also honored through activities at the clubhouse, where a row of American flags proudly waved along the drive leading in.
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A quilt in the Hood County Courthouse depicts Hood County history. The courthouse has long been considered the heart and soul of the community. A rededication ceremony took place in 2012 after undergoing a restoration. Ranked with the best, the courthouse has been named winner of the Best Restoration category, under 100,000 population, in the 2013 Texas Downtown Association (TDA) Presidents Awards Program.
1 MARY VINSON | HOOD COUNTY NEWS
Granbury Depot once was a hub of early commerce in Hood County. The building is believed to be in relatively the same condition since originally constructed in 1914. Granbury’s founding town fathers donated $25,000 to bring the Fort Worth and Rio Grande Railroad to Granbury in 1887. Farmers, ranchers and businessmen used the depot to ship their goods.
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MARY VINSON | HOOD COUNTY NEWS
In 2012 an effort was made to transport an old C-119 Flying Boxcar airplane from the Pate Museum near Cresson to Granbury. The disassembled plane was trucked to the U.S. Veterans Museum, 601 Thorp Springs Road. The museum is closed, but the plane remains.
Prime | July 2016
New truck will benefit all fire departments BY KATHY CRUZ
Christmas is expected to come early for the Granbury Volunteer Fire Department. A special order Light & Air truck is scheduled to be delivered in November. The fire department has two other Light & Air trucks, according to training captain Matt Hohon, but they are older vehicles. Light & Air trucks provide supplemental light and SCBA air bottles. SCBA stands for Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus.
The trucks have onboard air compressors and the ability to refill the SCBA bottles while in the field. “I think it’s going to be outstanding,� said Granbury Fire Chief Brent Blackmon, who traveled to Wisconsin in late May for meetings with engineers about the truck that is being built specifically for Granbury. “It’s something that we’ve needed for quite awhile,� he said. “It’s going to be a great asset to the department.�
The City Council approved the funds for the new truck last year. The truck and SCBA units are vital when firefighters battle large fires. According to Assistant City Manager Sheri Campbell-Husband, the Granbury VDF has provided training to other departments on how to use the SCBA units. This has resulted in a higher level of safety and efficiency at major incidents where several departments respond, she said. 0HPEHUVKLS %HQHĂ€WV
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MARY VINSON | HOOD COUNTY NEWS
Granbury celebrates the Fourth of July the old-fashioned way, with a patriotic hometown parade on the historic square. The celebration features more than 100 arts and crafts and food vendor booths, a classic car show, rodeo, live music, parade and fireworks show.
Granbury salutes 4th with old-fashioned parade, fireworks over Lake Granbury From the top-rated fireworks show over Lake Granbury to the old-fashioned parade and celebration on the square, the 4th of July is jam-packed with activities. The 2016 Old-Fashioned 4th of July Celebration is Saturday, July 2 through Monday, July 4 in historic downtown Granbury. Merchant booths and food vendors circle the courthouse square. The 4th of July parade is big – more than an hour long. The parade is preceded by the decorated bike contest. Bicycles, tricycles and wagons decorated in red, white and blue gather at the Granbury ISD administration building. The D&D Rockin’ Rods Classic Car Show is July 2 at Jerry Durant Hyundai on Highway 377. The show features 42 awards including Best of Show, Granbury’s Choice, Under Construction, Special Interest, Late Model, Rat Rod, Cycle and more. The car show is free to the public. For more information visit www.ddrock-
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inrods.com or call 817-797-1197. The fireworks extravaganza is presented by the Granbury Chamber of Commerce in partnership with the city of Granbury. The 2016 show has 200 more shots than last year. In 2010, the annual fireworks show was recognized by Yellow Pages. com as one of the Top 10 Fireworks Show in the Southwest United States and one of the top 50 in the nation. Thousands of phone calls have been logged at the chamber office asking specifically about the fireworks show, officials report. The fireworks show starts at 9:40 p.m. on Monday, July 4. Best places to watch the show are: off Highway 377 between Mi Familia and the Highway 144 Bridge; by boat on Lake Granbury near town; or at Granbury Reunion Grounds after the Ranch Rodeo. For more information, visit www. granburychamber.com or find the event on Facebook. Prime | July 2016
| OLD-FASHIONED 4TH OF JULY Saturday, July 2 10 a.m. - 7 p.m. Arts and crafts/food vendors on the square. 6 - 10 p.m. D&D Rockin’ Rods Classic Car Show on Highway 377.
Sunday, July 3 10 a.m. - 7 p.m. Arts and crafts/food vendors on the square. 7:30 p.m. Free concert at Hewlett Park, 634 E. Pearl St., featuring the Open Rhodes Band.
Monday, July 4 8:15 Kiwanis Firecracker 5K run (7 a.m. registration at Tidwell Field). 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Arts and crafts/food vendors on the square. 9 a.m. Tom Ward Decorated Bike Contest at Granbury ISD administration building. 10 a.m. Parade leaves from Granbury High School traveling on Pearl Street to the square. 6 p.m. Bucking bulls at Granbury Reunion Grounds. 9:45 p.m. Fireworks show over Lake Granbury.
Citizens On Patrol keep lookout for suspicious activity BY RICH JACQUES
Granbury’s Citizens On Patrol serves as a valued set of eyes and ears to local law enforcement first responders throughout the year. Designed to reduce crime through nonconfrontational volunteer patrols, COP volunteer members are trained by local police to recognize and report suspicious or criminal activity. The unit operates under the direct control of the police department. The force uses a marked vehicle supplied by the GPD. “They basically mirror us in a lot of ways,� said officer Cris Brichetto, sergeant of community service for the police department. Even though the volunteer force doesn’t enforce laws or carry weapons, their role in the community is an important one. “They are beyond valuable,� said Brichetto. “We need officers, and we just don’t have them.� On average, the eight-person COP force puts in about 150-200 hours per month, according to Brichetto.
RICH JACQUES | HOOD COUNTY NEWS
From left, Citizens On Patrol members Capt. Ken Clough, patrol officer Jean Pilling and Sgt. Jorge Mendoza stand near a Chevy Tahoe as it is in the shop being outfitted for service.
“They are basically the equivalent of a complete officer,� said Brichetto, who has been in charge of the operation since 2011. To become part of the COP, applicants must first complete the Citizens Police Academy and then become a qualified member of the Police Academy Alumni. To apply, recruits must be: Q At least 21 years of age Q In good health. Q In possession of a valid driver’s license.
Q Clear of Class B misdemeanor convictions within the past 10 years. Q Free of family violence or class A misdemeanor or felony convictions. Q Able to pass a background check. Q Fluent in reading, speaking, writing and understanding English. The Citizens Police Academy features 30 hours of instruction and training covering topics such as criminal investigations, crime prevention, family violence, juvenile law and DWI procedures. The class meets once a week for 10 weeks. The CPA trains new recruits once per year through a 30-hour block of instruction designed to give the public a working knowledge of the police department’s personnel and policies. Classes are held on Thursday nights from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. for 10 weeks with dinner provided nightly. Members of the COP are chosen from the pool of Citizens Police Academy members. Academy alumni members help support the relationship between police and the community. Members man intersections at parades and help with local events. There are about 30 active alumni members.
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‘A breed different’ Firefighters driven by dedication, not pay 2004 and promoted to captain about six ood County residents won’t soon months later. forget the tearful day that 3-yearMcKinney said he learned after joining old Aaryan Thacker drowned near a the deCordova department that volunteer boat pier in Sandy Beach. firefighters are “a breed different” than Paul McKinney, a what he was used to when 74-year-old firefighter he was on the city of Fort with almost half a century Worth’s payroll. of public service, certainly “These people are riskwon’t forget. ing their lives for nothMcKinney, one of the ing, but they want to help people searching for little people,” said McKinney, Aaryan, pulled him out of who has had property in the water and started CPR. Hood County with his It was too late. Aaryan wife Becky since 2002 in could not be revived. Sunset Cove Estates. “That’s the saddest Looking back on his thing,” said McKinney, work as a paid firefighter who is believed to be the in Fort Worth, McKinney county’s oldest firefighter said he wasn’t doing it for still on the active roster. the money then, either. “There’s no way you can “I would have gone to get used to children being work if they went bankmistreated or drowned. rupt because I was that --Volunteer firefighter It just kicks in for you to dedicated,” said the Army Paul McKinney go to work and do what veteran, noting that the you’re trained to do.” firefighters in Fort Worth The Fort Worth native retired from the developed close relationships. Fort Worth Fire Department at age 62 after “The best thing is, you have brother firemore than 30 years there, including the fifighters. It’s the same way with a volunnal 20 years as a lieutenant. teer fire department except you don’t get McKinney became a member of the paid. There’s no other incentive other than all-volunteer deCordova department in wanting to help.” 2003. He was elected lieutenant in early McKinney was elected fire chief for deBY MARK WILSON
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‘There’s no other incentive other than wanting to help.’
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Prime | July 2016
Cordova in 2005, a position he held for 3-1/2 years. He has served three terms as assistant chief. Steve Boynton – a current Fort Worth firefighter as well – is the current deCordova fire chief.
EARLY EQUIPMENT ISSUES McKinney said his rookie year as a firefighter was 1971. Equipment during that era was either lacking – or nonexistent. Air packs weren’t required until 1980, McKinney recalled. “We didn’t wear air packs,” McKinney said of those early days. “I had about nine
MARY VINSON | HOOD COUNTY NEWS
or 10 years of fighting fires without an airpack.” Despite that, McKinney never had to be hospitalized for fire-related incidents. That doesn’t mean McKinney didn’t have close calls – like the time he had to dive out the front door of a mobile home when the flames moved a little too close. “I was hurting (from the heat),” McKinney said. He said he had been crawling, with the temperature at ceiling level estimated to be as high as 800 degrees. “You can withstand 400 degrees for a short period of time,” McKinney noted.
LIKE FATHER The McKinneys have two sons – Ricky, 48, of Weatherford, and Robby, 44, of Atlanta, Georgia. When Ricky once told his dad he “always wanted to be a firefighter,” and went to work for the Fort Worth Fire Department, it made him proud. “It did,” said McKinney. “I loved the job. I had to force myself to retire. I loved it, and he does too.” McKinney is also a longtime entertainer, having performed country, old-time rock ’n’ roll and other favorites professionally since 1968. Prime | July 2016
Seventy-four-year-old firefighter Paul McKinney (above) has been in public service for almost half a century.
He’s handy playing guitar and harmonica. He sings well enough that he was invited to do vocals for a 1978 USO tour to entertain military servicemen with Bob Hope’s famous traveling crew. McKinney said he turned down the opportunity but later played for an audience as large as 600 people.
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