Shelby Shopper Shelby NC
Issue link: http://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/1491518
704-484-1047 www.shelbyinfo.com Our 40th Year • Issue No. 5 • February 2, 2023 "In GOD We Trust" We Appreciate Your Business and We Are Here to Serve You. THANK YOU! THANK YOU! MON.-SAT. 10am-10pm • SUNDAY 11am-10pm DQ.COM DQ.COM 814 S. DEKALB ST. • SHELBY, NC 704-482-6681 704-482-6681 Alaska Pollock Combo Wild Alaskan Fish Sandwich New! Under the Shake Shake City of KM; Gaston Co. partner to provide enhanced EMS service to area residents Kings Mountain; western Gaston County residents will soon see new, bright green QRV unit responding to calls by MICHAEL E. POWELL CF Media michael@cfmedia.info On Monday, Jan. 23, 2023, the City of Kings Mountain Fire Department and Gaston County Emergency Services (GEMS) partnered with each other to provide a new Quick Response Vehi- cle, or QRV, to the Kings Mountain Fire Department. One thing is for sure… you WILL see this emergency vehicle coming; it is painted a bright, neon green and will be VERY visible, noted one of the folks attending the afternoon press and pub- lic meeting. The new vehicle, according to KMFD Fire Chief Tommy Harmon and Gaston County EMS Chief Mark Lamphiear, will help the two entities "address EMS response times." According to a media release given out at the 11 a.m. meeting at the KMFD Fire Station, "EMS response times in Kings Mountain and western Gaston County have been a significant issue, most notably to industry on Canter- bury Rd., two (2) housing subdivisions, and the I-85/US 74 interchange area." Chief Harmon spoke and noted he had envisioned a need for an EMS first response by his fire department. "Chief Lamphiear and I began dis- cussions a while back (September 2019) on the needs and plans for mak- ing our vision come about; to make it a reality," said Chief Har- mon. Harmon noted the response times in the Gaston County portion of Kings Mountain and the western Gaston County area had "…the longest EMS response time of anywhere in the county." To that end, Chief Harmon said Gaston County "…facilitated the implementation of the first responder program by providing radios and dispatch services for calls in Gaston County." He added that KMFD then began "…to respond to all medical emergencies in the Gaston County portion of the city in 2022." In the department's media release, Chief Har- mon also noted the primary reason for locating the new GEMS QRV at the KMFD station (which is just inside Cleveland County) are as follows: "1.) quick access to Canterbury Road indus- try and the housing devel- opments of Linwood and Northwoods; 2.) quick ac- cess to I-85 northbound and the area of Exit 10; and 3.) addressing this area as the next longest EMS response time in Gaston County." Harmon continued, "Additionally, the City of Kings Mountain welcomes this partnership and will allow GEMS to room-in at no cost." The two entities both acknowledge they "enjoy a great relationship," with it being noted in the media release that, "KMFD and GEMS have an excellent working partnership." It is further noted that, "The GEMS QRV is the next step in the expansion and enhancement of services to the residents, visitors, industry, and taxpay- ers of Gaston County in this area." Chief Harmon, in referring to the KMFD first responder program, said the new GEMS QRV is, "…the icing on the cake." Chief Lamphiear thanked everyone for coming out as did Kings Mountain Mayor Scott Neisler, who also thanked See EMS, Page 7 Kings Mountain Mayor Scott Neisler delivers his comments at the GEMS QRV vehicle pre- sentation on Monday at the Kings Mountain Fire department. The new GEMS QRV, Unit 131, stands at the ready inside the bay of the Kings Mountain Fire Department. Kings Mountain Fire Chief Tommy Harmon speaks to the crowd at the Monday, Jan. 23, 2023 QRV presentation. (photos by Michael Powell) The EMS professionals who will assume the duties of QRV Unit 131; left to right, are: Paramedics Jake Hoffman, Nick Wilkinson, Josh Helton, and Selina Rodriguez. SUPER SUPER GAME GAME CONTEST! CONTEST! Win Win $ 100 100 ENTER OUR On Page 3 aserviceinc.com