News in Worthington, Indiana
A journal of current events and local hometown news
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Entries in Worthington-Jefferson Volunteer Fire Department (9)
WJVFD Report in April
Sunday, April 13, 2008 Worthington-Jefferson Township Volunteer Fire Department Fire Chief Michael McCafferty gave the following activity (for the preceding month) report for the WJVFD to the Town Council at their regular monthly meeting in April: 18 fire and EMS runs, one of which was for a fire.
McCafferty said a first responder class is currently in progress and some local firefighters are enrolled.
"We've been pretty short on manpower during the daytime, but we have three from the WJVFD taking the class," said McCafferty.
McCafferty said he's looking forward to them completing their training so more personnel will be available to make runs during the day when several WJVFD firefighters are at work and out of town.
WJVFD to get internet access into fire station
Sunday, April 13, 2008 The Worthington-Jefferson Township Volunteer Fire Department has a couple of new computers and they're going to get internet access into the station.
The WJVFD got the computers free-of-charge from Greene County Emergency Management - through a Department of Homeland Security program.
At the April meeting of the Worthington Town Council, President Hal Harp told the council members that the WJVFD is now in need of Internet access.
Fire Chief Michael McCafferty said the computers and Internet access is necessary for the WJVFD to take care of their business, get information, file reports, etc.
After some discussion, the Council voted to provide Internet access to the fire department and approved the installation of new cables in the Municipal Building to provide the access into the fire station.
Community support helped make the day special
Tuesday, July 24, 2007 Numerous organizations and individuals deserve recognition for ways in which they contributed to making Saturday's events happen. So many, someone could easily be left out unintentionally. We can't possibly name them all.
Members of the American Legion were out at the Triangle early in the day to raise the flags of all 50 states on this special day. They also hosted a morning open house for the family and their friends complete with breakfast and snacks before the service. Later their Color Guard and all members stood at the cemetery in salute of Alfred as his procession entered the lane back to the gravesite.
The Worthington-Jefferson Volunteer Fire Department had their trucks out and the Rescue truck and First Responders joined in the procession and stayed at the cemetery, just in case.
The Greene County Sheriff's Department was on hand with numerous deputies who stood at every intersection the procession passed, their cars blocking traffic.
The Bloomfield Fire Department and the Jasonville Fire Department both brought their ladder trucks into town, positioned them on either side of the entrance to the cemetery area and hung a giant U.S. flag between them so the procession would pass under the flag. All of their members were standing out with a salute as the procession passed by.
The Worthington Police Department was out in force providing traffic control and help with the procession.
A Color Guard from the Veterans of Foreign Wars and all of their members were also at the cemetery, positioned on the opposite side of the lane from the American Legion. And they hosted an Open House for the family, their friends, the community, and all the military men and women who were involved in the service. The tables at the V were decorated patriotically, a memorial table was set up with momentos and pictures of Alfred, dinner was served by the Worthington Assembly of God - the food was fantastic! And someone had made specially decorated cakes for the day.
Pictured below, from inside the cemetery, a view of the flag hanging from the ladder trucks. And a couple of bikes from the motorcycle group leaving the cemetery. And K&V from the Times family who waited until the crowd cleared to pay their respects.
More pictures from Dennise Leslie procession
Saturday, July 7, 2007 Members of the Worthington-Jefferson Township Volunteer Fire Department were out to honor fellow firefighter Dennise Leslie of Freedom, Indiana, a member of our neighboring Coal City Volunteer Fire Department. She was killed in the line of duty last Monday enroute to a fire.
After a memorial service at the Owen Valley School in Spencer, the funeral procession carrying her to her final resting place in Coal City traveled through Worthington. Many townspeople were out to show their respect as well as other nearby fire departments including Jasonville and Bloomfield.
The Jasonville and Bloomfield Fire Departments positioned their ladder trucks on either side of Main Street, beside the WJVFD Fire Station and hung a giant U.S. flag between them so that Dennise's procession would travel under the flag as it came around the Triangle and proceeded through Worthington. WJVFD trucks blocked traffic at the corner of Main and Jefferson.
The line of fire trucks in the procession was impressive - Wayne Township, Clay City, Spencer, Ellettsville, Wright Township, Richland-Taylor, Gosport, Bloomington, Highland Township, Patricksburg, Charleston, and many, many more.
Additional pictures from today's procession are below.
(Main trucks in all of these pictures include trucks from Ellettsville Volunteer Fire Department, Bloomfield Volunteer Fire Department, Patricksburg Volunteer Fire Department, Gosport Volunteer Fire Department, Highland Township Volunteer Fire Department, Jasonville Volunteer Fire Department and Worthington-Jefferson Volunteer Fire Department, and Indiana State Police cars and motorcycles.)
Worthington honors South Carolina's Fallen Firefighter Mark Kelsey as procession carries him home to Washington, Indiana
Sunday, June 24, 2007 The body of Washington, Indiana native Mark Kelsey, one of the nine firefighters killed in Charleston, South Carolina this past week, arrived at the Indianapolis airport late this afternoon. After a short memorial service at the airport, a procession of fire and state police motorcycles and vehicles accompanied him on the journey home.
The route brought him through Worthington. Many townspeople came out to honor him by standing quietly along the highway as the procession passed by. Lights were on, but there were no sirens.
The Worthington-Jefferson Township Volunteer Fire Department trucks were pulled out of the station up to the highway, silently flashing their lights as Kelsey passed by. WJVFD firefighters, past and present, and many family members, stood in front of the Worthington station in honor of a brother.
American Legion members had arrived in downtown Worthington early to fly the flags of all 50 states on the Triangle plaza - other flags flew at half-mast. Since the Legion now owns, and has fully restored, Worthington's first fire truck, it was stationed along the highway in front of the Legion Hall.
Firefighters from Highland Township Volunteer Fire Department near Calvertville and Wright Township Volunteer Fire Department, Jasonville, were also in town for this event. Other Greene County fire departments were stationed at other locations along SR 67 and 57. At the "Lighthouse" junction, ladder trucks from the Bloomfield and Linton fire departments were parked on their respective sides of the highway with their ladders extended, reaching out over the intersection, with an American flag hanging between them.
Pictures below are of the American Legion fire truck and members who raised the flags, Wright Township firefighters waiting for the procession, the procession led by Indiana State Police motorcycles, another Wright Township truck joining in to motorcade, all taken downtown by Anna, followed by more pictures taken on the south side by Virginia.
Groundhog killed in Vinegar Hill accident
Thursday, June 14, 2007 
An accident on Vinegar Hill claimed the life of a Worthington groundhog last Tuesday. Jason Pruett, also of Worthington, was on a scooter heading north into town, just up the hill from the Worthington Cemetery, when the groundhog crossed his path and was hit, causing Pruett to lose control. After WJVFD First Responders and an ambulance arrived, Pruett was transported to the hospital with a broken ankle.
Duke Energy remedies mid-day power outage in Worthington
Monday, June 11, 2007 
Duke Energy quickly remedied a power outage in Worthington, Indiana today. Late this morning, a loud pop, heard for many blocks, was followed by flames shooting out of a transformer (or something) located inside a Duke Energy "Danger-High Voltage" fenced area behind Michael's Truck Parts Store on SR 67. The fire lasted long enough for the Worthington Times publisher to turn the car around, pull off the highway and get photographer Virginia in position to take the picture. As the smoke cleared another small fire appeared higher up from the first.
The power was out all over town. Town Marshal Dennis Conaway of the Worthington Police Department was the first to arrive, followed by the Worthington-Jefferson Township Volunteer Fire Department engine and several firefighters.
Duke Energy then arrived, fixed the problem, and power was restored around 1:00 p.m. There are three men working in the picture below.
