Salute to our Heroes

Salute to The Kaufman Herald

Our Heroes

#FIRSTRESPONDERS I’ve alwayse seen first responders as unsung heroes and very special people because, when everyone is running away from danger, they run into it.”

-Dwayne Johnson, “The Rock”

Thank You We commend all of our first responders in Kaufman County. From police officers, firefighters, paramedics, sheriff deputies, 911 dispatchers and constables. These brave men and women put themselves on the front lines of danger and traumatic events in the line of duty to keep us safe.

Carl Thomas, Wendy Thomas and Family

The Kaufman Herald

PAGE 2B

Thursday, September 19, 2019

Fire marshals deal with flames, water, building plans

BY MELANIE MAZUR Publisher As far as varied jobs go, the Kaufman County Fire Marshal’s Office is about as extreme as it gets.

In one day, the marshal and his deputies can go from trying to find the source of a grass fire to looking at weather factors involved in a burn ban. They also check building plans for stores ranging from mom-and-pop shops to 50,000-square-foot warehouses to see if they meet international fire codes, then inspect those buildings during and after construction.

While a lot of that commercial building is taking place in Terrell and Forney, there’s enough going on elsewhere in Kaufman County to keep them busy, as well.

Recent issues the marshal and his staff are handling include the county-wide burn ban that went into effect Aug. 21. Although there was two inches of rain in a few hours just a few days later, that moisture dried back up after a few days of hot weather and winds, explained Marshal Randy Richards.

North Texas fire behavior is so unpredictable, he’s seen multiple agencies have to respond to a grass fire, not because it’s large, but because it is burning grass on a muddy field, and firetrucks get stuck in the mud, so firefighters have to work by hand to douse the flames.

This year’s burn ban should remain in effect until Oct. 6, he said, at which time he can ask the county court to issue another one if he believes it’s necessary. When considering when to ask for a burn ban, he monitors a drought index that ranks counties on a scale from 0 to 800. Now that Kaufman County has entered the 600 range, he knew it was time to ask for a ban on open fires.

Even with the ban, his staff investigated two grass fires on Sept. 3. They couldn’t find the source of one of the fires, but the other was from a burn by a property owner before the fire ban went into place, when a smoldering tree stump caught some dry vegetation on fire a week later.

With all of the commercial building in the area, Richards said his department has increased call volume and staff hours for building inspections, while the number of THE KAUFMAN HERALD/MELANIE MAZUR fire calls has remained about the same.

Marshal Randy Richards, Administrator Tina Enderle, and Assistant Fire Marshal Chad Woosley display the Fire MarRichards said anyone with questions about fire safety, construction issues or property burns can call his office at shal’s new logo on a departmental vehicle. Other department staff members are Deputy Fire Marshals Mat Ewaskiw and Adam Holder, as well as Reserve Deputy Fire Marshal John Grafflin.

(469) 376-4110.

A SALUTE TO OUR BRAVEST I’d like to take a moment to thank our local first responders for their hard work, bravery and dedication to protecting and saving lives. Their tireless efforts make our community a safer place to live.

Barry J. Pierce, CPA Certified Public Accountant Charted Global Management Accountant

1004 S. Washington, Suite 100, Kaufman

972-932-9086 barry@bpiercecpa.com

www.barryjpiercecpa.com

Don’t miss stories on the news you care about!

Visit us online at

www.kaufmanherald.com

THE KAUFMAN HERALD/MELANIE MAZUR Combine Volunteer Fire Department members include, from left, Derek Vest, Erin Miller, Maggie Aguilera, Mike Campbell, Chief Larry Settles, CEO Stan Hopkins, Dalton Bramhall and Alexander Newton.

Combine Volunteer Fire Department turns 51 HERALD STAFF REPORT

The Combine Volunteer Fire Department will host the community’s only annual gathering from 5 to 8:30 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 19.

Celebrating its 51st year, the department will host a barbecue dinner with homemade desserts. Items in the silent and live auctions, include saddles and

Dallas Cowboy tickets.

Chief Larry Settles said all are welcome to attend the event, which is the major fundraiser of the year for the department.

A CareFlite helicopter is scheduled to land, and there will be drawings and door prizes.

To donate items for the auction, please call (972) 476-2632.

SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR FIRST RESPONDERS FOR ALL YOU DO TO KEEP US SAFE!

The Kaufman Herald

Thursday, September 19, 2019

PAGE 3B

Kaufman County Sheriff’s Department seeing hightened activity as population grows

BY ANDREW BARNES Managing Editor As a rapidly growing municipality, Kaufman County has experienced many of the benefits associated with a growing economy. Housing opportunities across the county are rising in number, new jobs are being created with the launch of new businesses, and Kaufman County Judge Hal Richards has even been involved with the state-wide Council of Urban Counties in Austin to help take the needs of Kaufman County to the state level.

But along with these benefits has come challenges. Higher traffic has resulted in an increased need for infrastructural renovations, and aging public buildings like the Kaufman County Courthouse have been operating above their capacity for years.

Along with all of this increased activity, first responders around the county are experiencing significantly higher levels of activity. And first and foremost among them is the Kaufman County Sheriff’s Office.

As far back as May, Kaufman County sheriff Bryan Beavers warned the county commissioners that a rise in crime would likely continue as he delivered a report that illustrated activity increases in just about every area of coverage for his department.

“You’ve got to remember, these are the slow months,” Beavers warned. “I think you’re going to be shocked by where these numbers are headed.”

“You can tell the growth of the county has impacted us and we’re trying to keep up with it. With the new budget, I think we’re moving forward to try to offset that.”

-Bryan Beavers Kaufman Co. Sherrif

The Kaufman Herald has reported on some of the strain that the county’s growing population has put on the county’s deputy sheriffs over the last several months. A rise in family-related crimes has led to county District Attorney Erligh Wiley to request a new position in her office in order to mitigate the volume of family violence cases the office takes. The Kaufman County Correction Facility’s population has been steadily increasing (and was even at capacity this summer), and

the general activity of the Sheriff’s Office is at an all-time high. Already this year, the county’s number of incident reports is up by more than 700 and the sheriff’s department has received more than 4,000 calls. But with new funding in the recently passed Kaufman County budget, Beavers is confident that his team will be able to keep up with the growing activity.

“The whole impact of the sheriff’s office is really busy,” Beavers said. “You can tell the growth of the county has impacted us and we’re trying to keep up with it. With the new budget, I think we’re moving forward to try to offset that.”

Of course, funding is one thing, but personnel is another matter entirely. As the sheriff’s office continues to deputize new officers as well as retain the benefits of some of the more experienced troopers on staff, Beavers is pleased with the strength of his staff.

“I say I’m only as good as what I’m surrounded with and I’m surrounded with great individuals that do a great job,” Beavers said. “We’re going to strive to keep moving forward.”

While the sheriff’s office has seen increased activity in all spheres, the county has particularly seen a massive increase in the number of animal-related cases over the last year. While the county currently coordinates with an outside shelter to help curb its sizable stray population, Judge Richards has been working with Kaufman Assistant City Manager Mike Holder to or-

ganize the creation of a new regional animal shelter that would work in tandem with responders and city governments across the county to address this growing issue.

Money for this project has been accounted for in the new county budget and Richards has repeatedly assured responders and residents that continued movement in this arena is coming for Kaufman County.

Although there are many issues that will need to be addressed as they pop up, one area that Beavers is particularly proud of is the county’s reaction to the rise of narcotics cases. As overdose death rates across Texas have increased over the last year, the importance of narcotics cases, particularly with those related to dangerous drugs like heroin and opioids, has grown. Kaufman County’s local addiction treatment center, The Treehouse had, a fundraiser this summer that raised enough money for nearly 700 doses of life-saving Narcan kits that are currently the most effective treatment to save those who have overdosed. Those kits will be distributed to first responders across the county this month. But in the meantime, Beavers is pleased with the internal strides his team has made to address the growing problem.

“We have really over the last year improved our narcotics and K9 division,” Beavers said. “We’re at over 200 narcotics cases filed; we’re really proactive at dealing with that. Our criminal and addiction group is doing outstanding. We’ve got a lot of good things going right now.”

NEW DEPUTIES at KCSO

THE KAUFMAN HERALD/COURTESY PHOTO New deputies at the Kaufman County Sheriff’s Department are Deputy James Thornton, left, Deputy Orlando Azuniga, Deputy Justin Snow, Sheriff Bryan Beavers, Deputy Brett Tate, and Deputy Hudnal Tisdale .

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PAGE 4B

The Kaufman Herald

Thursday, September 19, 2019

Texas Brotherhood Ride

THE KAUFMAN HERALD/ MELANIE MAZUR (ABOVE) After a lunch stop at the Kaufman Fire Department, the Texas Brotherhood Ride prepares to head out on Aug. 20 for Dallas. Firefighters, Kaufman police and constable deputies joined the riders during their stop, thanking them for raising funds for First Responder families.

(RIGHT) The Texas Brotherhood Ride left the Kaufman Fire Department on Aug. 20. Thirty-four cyclists and 10 support volunteers rode this year from Hempstead to Austin, raising funds for families of fallen first responders.

This year’s ride honored the following: Loren Y. Vasquez-Waller County Sherriff Office Raymond Bradley Jimmerson-Nacogdoches County Sherriff Office M.V. Hudson-New London Volunteer Fire Department Earl James “Jamie” Givens, III-Dallas Police Department Rogelio Santander, Jr.-Dallas Police Department Paul Scott Ragsdale-US Department of Justice-ATF David Charles Sherrard-Richardson Police Department Garrett Willis Hull-Fort Worth Police Department Andy Loller-Weatherford Fire Department Caleb Scott-North Richland Hills Fire Department Damon Charles Allen-Texas Department of Public Safety K9 Pastor-Waco Police Department Charles Whites-Round Rock Police Department Devon Coney-Austin Fire Department

Firefighting a rewarding career Firefighting can be a rewarding career and exciting opportunity to serve one’s community. Firefighters protect homes and businesses when fires unexpectedly break out, saving millions of dollars in potential property loss. These invaluable workers also make emergency medical calls and may help preserve lives until paramedics or other medical services can respond.

The United States Department of Labor reports that there are more than 300,000 professional firefighters across the country. More than 90 percent of all those firefighters are employed by local governments.

Despite the risk involved in firefighting, many find it to be a very satisfying career. The requirements to become a firefighter vary depending on the locality, but people willing to put in the time and effort to become a firefighter can likely find a department that will give them a chance. The application process to become a firefighter can be competitive, and the training is physically demanding. The following are a few tips for men and women mulling a career as a firefighter: • Meet the basic requirements. Confirm the schooling and age requirements for the job. Depending on where they apply, firefighters may need to have high school diplomas or some college credits. Age requirements are common as well, as many departments mandate that applicants are at least 18 or 21 upon submitting their applications.

• Refrain from drug use and illegal activity. Firefighters must be physically fit and undergo a criminal background checks and drug screenings.

• Undergo CPR and EMT training. Firefighters may be called upon in emergency medical situations. As a result, many firefighters are required to have an Emergency Medical Technician, or EMT, license. Even if a license is not a requirement, it is a helpful to have and may increase your odds of being hired.

• Take fire technology courses. According to FireRescue1, a resource that features the most current news and analysis from some of the top experts in fire service, taking a semester of building construction and fire behavior can be helpful.

Such coursework can educate prospective firefighters about how buildings are built and may make them more attractive candidates.

• Speak to current firefighters. Visit a local firehouse to speak to current firefighters. Ask questions of the firefighters and get their impressions on training and testing. They may offer some job leads, and some may even offer some first-hand advice from their time in the field.

• Become a volunteer firefighter. Volunteer as a firefighter while enrolled in training or while studying. This can provide you with a pretty accurate idea of what the job entails. Gaining hands-on experience prior to applying for a permanent position or even if the decision is made to keep volunteering can be quite handy.

• Take the tests. Firefighting tests vary depending on the agency, but many include a written examination, oral interview and physical aptitude/agility exam. A person may not pass the first time around, but he or she will gain experience and understand which areas to work on for future examinations.

Becoming a firefighter takes commitment, physical and emotional strength and a willingness to help one’s community.

The Kaufman Herald

Thursday, September 19, 2019

PAGE 5B

Emergency responders need support, too Emergency responders, which includes the police, firefighters and paramedics who are the first to arrive at the scene of an incident, are in the business of protecting others and helping to save lives. These workers are on call during natural disasters, technological failures, terrorist attacks, and many other potentially traumatic events. Emergency responders are the unsung heroes of many communities that they work hard to keep safe and secure.

While emergency responders are heroes, it’s important that people know these brave men and women sometimes need assistance, too. The pressure and stress associated with being an emergency responder can sometimes be overwhelming, and it’s times like that when emergency responders need help.

Comprehensive statistics on stress-related medical conditions among first responders are difficult to tabulate because many incidents go unreported or unshared. However, pressures of the job and post traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, can take its toll on paramedics and law officials. EMS World reports that, between January and September of 2014, the United States had around 58 documented fire/EMS suicides. In Canada, 25 first responders were known to have committed suicide in a five-month period in 2014.

Addressing the stress of being an emergency responder can help responders and their families better cope with the pressure and stress of the job. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health recommends that all workers involved in first-responder activities should help themselves and others to reduce the risk of stress-related psychological and physical health effects from their jobs.

Certain symptoms and behaviors may present themselves when emergency responders are having difficulty coping with

the demands of the job. These symptoms may include: • Changes in sleeping patterns • Passive or fatalistic behavior • Frequent conflict and argumentative behavior • Limiting social networks and general withdrawal • Poor problem-solving abilities • Poor concentration • Inability to rest • Self-medicating with alcohol While there is no single method to cope with the physical and psychological demands of a first reponder’s job, a combination of therapies can help. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advises that responders need to take care of their own health to maintain the constant vigilance they need for their own safety. These steps can put workers on the right track.

• Form a support network in which each responder looks out for one another. Knowing support is available can be a big help.

• Take frequent breaks to clear the mind and rest the body. Try to take breaks away from a work area.

• Accept what cannot be changed, such as chain of command or long hours.

• Take advantage of mental health support services when they are made available. Recognize that it is not indicative of weakness to discuss difficult emotions.

• Maintain a healthy eating pattern and try to get adequate sleep.

• Exercise, which can reduce feelings of stress and be a healthy way to clear the mind and strengthen the body.

• Recognizing that emergency responders are not invincible and may need some emotional support can be the first step in getting these workers the help they need and deserve.

to all of the first responders for keeping our community protected!

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The Kaufman Herald

PAGE 6B

Thursday, September 19, 2019

Kaufman County Precinct 1 Constable’s Office THE KAUFMAN HERALD/ MELANIE MAZUR Shawn Mayfield, left, is the Constable for Precinct 1 in Kaufman County. His deputies are Sherre Chitty, Chris Whatley and Daniel Hutchinson.

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Thursday, September 19, 2019

The Kaufman Herald

PAGE 7B

Kaufman ISD Police

THE KAUFMAN HERALD/MELANIE MAZUR Officer Ryan Yvon prepares to leave on a call at Kaufman High School. Other district police staffers are Chief Pete Ferrara and officers Jerry Cato and Kristi Holt.

Scurry-Rosser ISD Police

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Thank You. THE KAUFMAN HERALD/COURTESY PHOTO Chief Erik Scott and Sgt. Betsy Segura are the officers for the Scurry-Rosser Independent School District.

We would like to extend our deep gratitude to the first responders that work tirelessly every day to protect our communities. We thank you for keeping our friends, neighbors and loved ones safe.

POLICE FIRE EMS DISPATCHERS

THANK YOU for making our safety your priority.

The Kaufman Herald

PAGE 8B

Thursday, September 19, 2019

Kaufman Police Department

Chief Dana Whitaker

Sgt. Ryan Wagner

Sgt. Tommy Black

Criminal Investigation Department

THE KAUFMAN HERALD/ COURTESY PHOTO (BELOW) Police Cadets Tyannah Bolden and Taylor Huddle are the newest members of the Kaufman Police Department.

Capt. Les Edwards

Sharna Ellis

Sgt. Johnny Law

Robin Smith

Cody Sexton Officer

Sgt. Jason Stastny

Admin. Assistant to Chief of Police

Public Service Officer

Criminal Investigation Department

Sgt. Colter Leftwich

Sandra Brown

Edward Boteo

Cody Rice

Sgt. Adam Atteberry

Criminal Investigation Department

Officer

Officer

Officer

Joel Norris

Animal Control Officer

> Adam Wall Officer

Ronald Potts Officer

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To schedule your free in-home informational visit call (972) 962-7500 • vnatexas.org 874 Ed Hall Drive • Suite 105 • Kaufman, TX 75142