On Wednesday, May 9th, workers were delivering roofing shingles to a house in Lake Sherwood.  While one worker was moving the boom, he struck overhead power lines with it.  An electric shock was delivered to his partner who was standing on the ground securing materials to the truck.  When New Melle firefighters arrived, they found the victim in cardiac arrest.  The patient was flown to a hospital by helicopter.

Occasionally, an owner of a vacant house that will be demolished will contact the fire district and allow us access to the inside of the house for training purposes.  We are lucky enough to have one such house right now and conducted a training exercise there on the evening of Tuesday, May 1st.

On Saturday night, March 31st, New Melle firefighters were called to a vehicle accident on Highway T. Crews arrived to find a car that had struck a utility pole and overturned. The driver was seriously injured and had to be extricated from the vehicle. They were flown by helicopter to the hospital.

The New Melle FPD firefighters (paid and volunteer) have a private account, the Firefighters Fund, which is funded from time to time with donations from the public or from small fundraisers of their own.  This account is in no way funded from any tax dollars.

For the eighth year in a row, the New Melle FPD firefighters have decided that they wish to offer a scholarship opportunity to their public.  This scholarship award may be applied for by any resident within the geographic district covered by NMFPD, and is open to anyone, regardless of age, sex, or race, who is applying for any higher education program.  While this scholarship could be applied to a full-time college education program, it could just as well be applied to a technical school curriculum or an EMT course, etc.

In addition to monies from the Firefighters Fund, the full-time paid firefighters of New Melle FPD have decided to chip in with additional funds from their own separate account, again a private account that is in no way funded from tax dollars.  They were motivated to do this based on the significant public response to the program in the last seven years.  Consequently, the total scholarship amount being offered by all NMFPD firefighters this year is again for $1,000, matching last year’s award.  And again this year, the $1,000 will be offered as two (2) $500 scholarships, benefiting two (2) recipients.

One-page applications will be available for pickup at New Melle FPD’s Station #1 at 3705 Mill Street in New Melle, starting on April 2, 2012; you may also print an application from our website.  All applications must be hand-delivered to that same station by no later than April 30, 2012.  The NMFPD  Scholarship Committee will review all applications and select the recipient of the  scholarship no later than May 11, 2012.  The recipient will be announced on New Melle FPD’s website, at www.newmellefire.org, under the News tab, and in the next available issue of the Boone Country Connection.  Payment of the scholarship proceeds will be made directly from the Firefighters Fund to the education institution at time of the recipient’s enrollment.

Any questions regarding this scholarship opportunity may be directed to Firefighter Jeff Capstick at 636-262-6974.

Daylight Savings Time starts at 2 a.m. Sunday. Please remember to change the batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.

Check out and “like” our New Melle Fire Protection District Facebook page.  It is another source for news and information about our department.

On February 10th, 2012, Daniel Boone Elementary School conducted an earthquake drill.  The students and teachers practiced taking shelter under their desks and tables.  New Melle Firefighters checked out the excellent job everyone was doing and discussed earthquake safety tips with the administration and some of the teachers.

On October 8, 2011, New Melle Fire was dispatched to a vehicle overturned on Benne Road.  A pickup truck was found on its roof with the driver still inside.  The occupant did not complain of any injuries, but was trapped.  New Melle firefighters cut out the back window of the truck and the driver crawled to safety.