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  • N.C. Insurance Commissioner Wayne Goodwin, right, accepts a gifts from Edgecombe County Fire & Rescue Association President Allen Dennie, Thursday night during the organizations' quarterly meeting in Conetoe. Staff photo by Calvin Adkins

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March 4, 2013

N.C. Insurance Commissioner calls volunteer firefighters "heroes"

THE DAILY SOUTHERNER Staff reporter

CONETOE — CONETOE – State  Insurance Commissioner Wayne Goodwin discussed the importance of volunteer fire departments Thursday during Edgecombe County Fire & Rescue Association's quarterly meeting. Goodwin called the firefighters and rescue personnel heroes and assured them his office is on their side.

Goodwin used the analogy from a telephone conversation he had with his 5-year-old son Jackson while he was traveling out of town during a similar meeting. goodwin said his son asked him if he was with super heroes. Goodwin answered, “No.” When I got back home and thought about it. I gave him the wrong answer.

"I changed my answer and I told him that super heroes are real. They don’t have to be in the comic book, they don’t have to be in the movies. It's regular folks like you who are willing to take care of your neighbors, their families and people in the community. I’m surrounded by people who save the day.”

The Edgecombe County Fire & Rescue Association consists of 16 volunteer fire departments, two paid departments and two rescue units. Thirteen departments are in Edgecombe County, while five others are out of the county but responds to calls on their respective borders.  

Quarterly meetings are held to give financial updates, discuss training opportunities and ideas that can improve firefighting and rescue techniques.

One of the most recent changes made was the decision for four fire departments to respond a house fire call instead of three. Allen Dennie, president of the association, said the change was necessary because of the lack of a quality number of volunteers in each department and the fact some volunteers don't live in the community of their respective department. While the change prompted the fire district lines to be redrawn, it assures a good response to what could be a difficult situation.

During a telephone interview, Dennie stressed the importance of volunteer fire departments.

“The state mandates that a paid fire department have 22 firefighters,” Dennie said. “Then you have pay salary and benefits for all of them, plus you have to buy a building. Taxpayers can’t afford paid firefighters in rural areas.”

Although they are volunteers, Dennie said the vast majority of them “love” what they do. He said they spend countless hours saving property and lives.

Dennie, who has been a volunteer well over 20 years, admits things have changed drastically since he started. Today, there is more complex training involved.

“Farmers, clerks and people in other professions used to respond to calls and extensive training was not involved,” he said. “It’s not like that now. There are requirements that each firefighter must obtain. Therefore, when firefighters respond today, they are professionals.”

“The “professionalism” pays off for homeowners. Each department is given a rating by the Insurance Commission. The better the rating, the cheaper the property insurance.

“The purpose of the Insurance Commission is to take care of people who take care of us,”

I want to thank you for what you do,” said Goodwin. “People don’t know the full value that you have on your community. That selfless dedication to the work you do to make North Carolina great

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Local News
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Dr. Deborah Lamm, president of Edgecombe Community College, received the national ACT Career Preparedness Award on behalf of the college Tuesday. Shown from left to right are Dr. Jon Whitmore, ACT CEO; Scott Montgomery, ACT vice president; Sid Baker, education program specialist, NC Office of the State Superintendent; Dr. Lamm; and Virginia Edwards; editor-in-chief, Education Week.

Sports
  • 14-Under softball tryout

    The Tarboro Parks and Recreation Department and Edgecombe County Girls Softball League will be having tryouts for 14-under girls fast-pitch softball Wednesday, May 29 from 7 - 8:30 p.m. at Farmington Park in Rocky Mount. The is located at 319 Wellington Dr. There will also be a tryout Thursday, May 30 at Indian Lake Sports Complex on field 1 in Tarboro from 6 - 7:30 p.m. There is a $10 fee for Tarboro residents and a $35 fee for non-residents. For more information call the sports complex at 641-4202, Kathy Webb 252-813-4697 or Jamie Lindsey 252-883-0883 or sftbllgrlunc@hotmail.com.

    May 24, 2013

  • Thorne tabbed Regional Player of the Year
Opinion
  • My 13 years have been lucky

    It was 13 years Sunday that a drought was broken in Big Spring, Texas, After that, we ate Mexican for dinner with a gathering of family and friends.
    The next day, a Saturday, Stephanie and I joined one another in marriage under a beautiful little gazebo by Comanche Trail Lake, fed by the historic spring from which the community draws its name.

    May 20, 2013

Lifestyles
  • 5246-WED-Corbett.jpg Corbett/Chasse Wedding

    Brittney Joyce Corbett and Kenneth Robert Chasse, Jr. were united in marriage on April 6th, 2013, at 5:30pm at the Imperial Centre in Rocky Mount. The Rev. Carrol Bradbury officiated the ceremony.
    The Rehearsal Dinner was hosted by Shirley and Donald Foreman, Grandparents of the Groom and also Elisha and Kenneth Chasse, Parents of the Groom, at Pizza Inn in Rocky Mount.
    The Bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Durwood Corbett of Macclesfield, NC. The Groom is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Robert Leonel Chasse, Sr. of Pinetops, NC.

    May 13, 2013 1 Photo

Obituaries Archives
Food
  • fondue-setup.jpg Great fondue

    My husband and I love to entertain. We also love fondue. I have 4 or 5 fondue pots. I use them regularly. Some of them I have had for a long time.
    Fondue began as a way to use up old, hardened cheese. The original fondue was cheese with wine. You then dipped hardened pieces of bread into the mixture. In America, the 1950's was the height of the fondue craze. However, it appears to be making a comeback.

    May 22, 2013 1 Photo

  • Budget Friendly Deliciousness
  • Barbeque Bests
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Events
  • Edgecombe Events May 24

    Edgecombe Events should be submitted by noon the day before publication. Items eligible include notices of local meetings and activities of non-profit organizations, clubs, schools and civic groups in the community. Information should be brief and typewritten, neatly printed or via e-mail. Questions? 823-3106 or e-mail: events@dailysoutherner.com. Leave  a daytime contact phone number.

    May 24, 2013

Our Community
  • DeeLong-GardenClub.jpg Edgecombe Garden Club honors members

    The Edgecombe Garden Club met May 1 for their noon luncheon at the Fountains of the Albemarle. After President Pauline Nicolosi greeted everyone, Sandra Joyner, Devotion Chairman, read “Torch” which was about our tongues torching good or evil.
    Hostess Barbara Getzug described her specially designed flower arrangement of mock orange, snowball, purple columbine, and many varieties of roses. President Pauline, Hostesses Gloria Wall and Louise Fleming did the table arrangements.  They contained wiegelia, azalea, ivy, mock orange, and ligustrum.

    May 22, 2013 1 Photo

  • DAR AWARDS
Tarboro's 2012 Christmas Parade


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