New Kilgore EMS building unveiled last night

News Herald Photo by Kathryn Penrose Ronnie Spradlin, councilman; Janice Hancock, Mayor Pro Tem; and Harvey Mc- Clendon, last night, toured the new Emergency Medical Services building at 509 W. State Highway 31. After wandering through the new city EMS (Emergency Medical Services) building last night, city council convened in the facility's four-bay ambulance area and dedicated the building to the residents of Kilgore.

Joe Parker, Kilgore mayor, thanked city personnel for their hard work and made special mention of Ronnie Moore, director of public safety and Richard Wimberly, who oversaw the project.

"We saved the city and taxpayers a lot of money by building this facility in-house," Parker said. "It is an honor to be the mayor of this city, especially when I can see growth and things happening."

Jeff Howell, city manager, said the concept of building the EMS facility in-house, became necessary when the city decided to re-open firestation 3, which was occupied by Champion EMS. The decision came after council determined that adding bays to Central Firestation or hiring private sector builders would not be as cost effective. The city built the EMS facility for just more than $200,000.

Howell said it is his hope that the facility will serve Kilgore and its residents well into the future.

Bob Barbee, Gregg County Pct. 3 commissioner and his road crew were slated to finish the facility parking area today. leaving only landscaping to be completed in the coming weeks.

Arnie Spiers, EMS director, said the facility is great.

"You don't know what it does for the guys to come home to a new fresh home; the come the come to when they start their shift," Spiers said. "They spend a third of their lives in their EMS home away from home."

Each council member expressed their pleasure with the outcome of the facility, but Randy Renshaw, councilman, despite fact that he was once opposed to the location of the new facility said the occasion brought to his mind a quote from Ronald Reagan, former United States president.

"Reagan said this many times and I think of this quote when I think of Kilgore," Renshaw said. "There is no limit to what a man can do, or where he can go, if he doesn't mind who gets the credit."