This summer the PROGRESS is celebrating its 30th anniversary. The newspaper began operations in September of 1987 under the direction of its founder John Z. Robison. Since that time the PROGRESS has covered three decades of community issues, news stories, local businesses, youth sports, politics, elections, Moapa Valley personalities and much more.
Over the next couple of months, we are highlighting the PROGRESS’ role in documenting the day-to-day goings-on in the Moapa Valley communities. We have selected some of the more interesting stories which have appeared in past editions.
So keep an eye out for the PROGRESS over the next few weeks. There will be plenty to look back on; and look forward to.
Editor’s Note: The following story was published on the front page of the PROGRESS during the week of December 23, 1987.
By PHIL PRISBREY
A bitter cold wind coming from the north, Sunday December 13, 1987, seemed to hurry the volunteer crew of Rescue 72 as they busily set about the task of stripping supplies from the old unit #2951, a 1978 For Econoline 350, which had been a part of the Moapa service since early 1970. The supplies were being transferred to a shiny new Ford 1986 Econoline 350 XS Wheeled Coach designed in Orlando, Florida. This unit is a box type body with all the latest features.
Susie Prisbrey, Gail Lindsey, Stephanie Howard and Vern Madewell will never forget the only baby delivered in Ambulance #2951. While en route from Warm Springs to St. George, Utah, they delivered an 8 lb., 2 oz., baby girl as they sped over the bridge crossiong the railroad tracks at Moapa on Highway 168. The expectant mother had travelled from Hiko, Nevada.
Ted Deakin, a lont time driver, tells of being called out late one night on a possible 419 (dead body). After an extensive search of I-15, they found a man with a dead car battery.
On another occasion, while transporting a patient to Las Vegas, an aerosol can exploded sending bits of can and glass from test tubes everywhere. What a scare I’m sure they had, not to mention the smell from the can of disinfectant!
Another time we almost scared the baby out of the expectant mother when we were transporting to St. George. The ambulance suddenly filled with smoke nad by the time we were able to stop, no one knew what was on fire. After c hecking, we discovered that the new exhaust system recently installed was too close to the floorboard and had caught the exterior paint on fire.
As an all around rating we have to give old Unit #2951 at least a “10” in the way it has servied us over the years. Our respect of our patients has been reflected over hte years by the many cards and letters sent to Rescue 72, some as far away as Canada.
Each and every member that has run on Rescue 72’s unit #2951 has a special moment that he or she will always treasure.
Moapa Fire District Gets New Vehicles
Editor’s Note: The following story was published in the PROGRESS during the week of October 31, 2012.
By STEPHANIE BUNKER
Volunteer Fire Stations in Moapa Valley were excited to replace their 15 year old equipment with new trucks and rescue vehicles last month. Moapa station 72, Logandale Station 73, and Overton Station 74 received $884,000 worth of equipment which is expected to last them through the next 15 years. The equipment has updated technology and improved efficiency for the Volunteer Department.
Although it is a lot of money, Clark County Fire Department Rural Coordinator Chief Mike Johnson said, “To put things in perspective, we did really well with bidding competitively.”
Johnson said that the district could have spent a lot more for the same equipment. Each ambulance cost $186,000, and each fire truck cost $153,000. The water tender was priced at $206,000.
Moapa Station 72 received a rescue (or ambulance) and a type 6 engine fire truck (also called a squad). Station 73 in Logandale received an ambulance. And the Overton Station 74 got a new squad and a water tender. A new fire truck is ordered for Logandale Station 73 which is expected to come at the beginning of the new year.
The water tender is replacing an old one that Overton Station 74 had. A tender doubles the amount of water that firefighters are able to carry. The old tender had a capacity to hold 1,500 gallons of water. With the new tender the firefighters can carry 3,000 gallons. The ability to carry this much water is a particular benefit for local firefighters due to times when there is no fire hydrant close by.
“There are a lot of places in the valley that don’t have water service,” Nelson said.
For example, Nelson explained that Cottonwood Ave. in Overton only has one fire hydrant for the entire length of the street. Moapa has even more areas without accessible hydrants, he said.
The new squads are a big improvement for the stations in Moapa Valley. They are able to carry 300 gallons of water. But the biggest enhancement of the F550 trucks is the crew cab, it has the ability to sit four people. The old fire trucks would only seat the driver and a passenger making it difficult to transport multiple men to incidents. Nelson explained that it was an issue fitting 3 grown men into one seat.
“A lot of our accidents are out at Lake Mead and so we were crammed in the cab all the way down there,” Nelson said.
The district’s old equipment was donated to other needy stations around the area.
