The Newport Plain Talk

The week of June 13 through 19 witnessed an almost even number of fire and accident involving injury calls with 9 of the former, and 10 of the latter.

One fire that totally destroyed a mobile home on Bassinger Hollow Road was never called in to E911, and consequently, no fire departments responded.

Cocke County Fire Department responded to a false alarm at 475 Industrial Road, a report of smoke on Interstate 40 at the 435 mile marker, attended to a smoke alarm activation on Golf Course Road, rushed to the scene of an alarm at Phoenix Closures that was the result of a broken valve on the sprinkler system, were sent to the scene of a controlled burn on Golf Course Road, and joined Cosby VFD in responding to a brush fire on Roy Road that turned out to be a controlled burn.

Centerview VFD established a landing zone for Air Medevac at the Centerview softball field for a patient who was injured as the result of a metal collapse. They also responded twice to a hay fire on Holt town Road, and were dispatched to a brush fire on Moore Ridge Road, that although categorized as a controlled burn, threatened a collocated barn.

The Newport Fire Department provided emergency medical assistance to two crashes on Highway 25/70 during this period.

The Newport Rescue Squad had a busy week. In addition to attending the Landing Zone exercise at the National Guard Armory on Friday June 13, members conducted their annual roadblock, which included a response to a motor vehicle accident and extrication on West Highway 25/70.

They were called and cancelled enroute to an accident on I40 East, worked Friday and Saturday nights doing first aid standby at the Newport Drag Strip, and conducted their annual barbecue on Sunday. In the midst of the barbecue, members Randy Ball and Floyd Ray Ford and a scent dog were dispatched to Jefferson County where they conducted a successful rescue of a lost person. NRS topped off the week by assisting Allied Ambulance with a patient lifting assistance near Rock Hill Road.

Parrottsville VFD and ambulance responded to an accident in which a motor-bike was struck by a truck. While I am on the subject of Parrottsville VFD and ambulance, it is my extreme displeasure to report that the Parrottsville Ambulance Service will cease regular operations as of 1 July 2008.

According to Fire Chief Kenny Thentham, because of losses of funding from Cocke County, the ambulance corps is suffering a budget shortfall of $15,000 to $20,000, and cannot provide the level of service previously provided. EMS personnel and EMT's need to be able to earn a living, and that money is just not available. The service will attempt to assist the public as long as there are volunteers willing to answer calls, but that will occur on an as available basis.

The Cocke County Sheriff's Department and the Newport Police Department responded to 225 and 217 E911 calls respectively during the week. Folks, if you divide that out by 168 hours in a week, our law enforcement officers are called to investigate just under three calls per hour; and that doesn't include direct calls to either department. Given that most of us sleep for at least 6 hours a night, if you divide that total by 126, our officers are responding to more than three-and a half calls an hour. Does this give you any pause for thought? Do you believe that our law enforcement don't earn their pay? What may we do as citizens to make our county a safer place to live? Give it some thought.

Newport Fire Department Battalion Chief Darrell Overholt will retire effective 28 June, 2008. He will have served with NFD for 33 years and 10 months. Chief Overholt was born in Bybee on 22 May 1944, and is the son of Carl and Mae (deceased) Overholt. He has two living siblings, Sanford and Jimmie, and a deceased sister, Carless.

He attended Centerview and Northport schools, and is a 1963 graduate of Cocke County High School. Chief Overholt attended Walters State College and has an associate degree in Business Management and is a trained Fire Science Technician. Prior to joining the Newport Fire Department, Chief Overholt served three years in the United States Army, where he functioned as a construction engineer. Upon return, he worked for a time at Newport Hardware, and was employed by Enka Corp. for 10 years. He joined NFD on 1 September 1974 as a firefighter, advanced through the ranks to Lieutenant and Captain, and became a Battalion Chief in January of 2007.

Chief Overholt remembers the transition from a county to a county/city structure, and recalls that in his early days the shift was 24 hours on/24 hours off. He is proud of the fact that during his tenure, the city established their own fire department, and operates from two stations. He has been involved with the department's Toys For Tots drive, as well as the department's scholarship program, city health fairs, the fire education for city students, the annual distribution of smoke detectors, and the Cocke County Business Women's Club.

He has been married to his wife, Ruth, for 44 years, and they have 3 sons, 1 daughter, and 9 grandchildren. He has coached little league baseball and football for thirty years, and looks forward to spending his retirement involved in travel, using his metal detector, and enjoying his grandchildren. He is a licensed realtor and will continue to be employed by Mason Realty of Cocke County.

On reflection, Chief Overholt has messages for his successors: "Firefighting is a young person's job, but it's the best job you'll ever have. Take advantage of the wonderful training available today. You'll always have damage, but reflect on what you have saved." "Teach your kids right from wrong; no is not a bad word." Darell also says: " I'm retiring with much satisfaction with the City Council. They have provided a retirement program that is fair, and is for the betterment of the citizens of the county".

We wish Chief Overholt great success in his new career, and many long years of a good life.