FIRE CHIEF LEAVING FOR NEW JOB

Cape Girardeau Fire Chief Robert Ridgeway has accepted a position in Gastonia, N.C., and will begin his new job July 8.

Ridgeway, who came to Cape Girardeau in March 1993, will oversee seven fire stations and 130 employees in Gastonia.

It is a step up from his current job, where he oversees 57 employees and four stations. The position's pay is higher, too -- $61,000 annually compared to the $49,800 Ridgeway received in Cape Girardeau.

Located 20 miles west of Charlotte, N.C., Gastonia has 60,000 residents and a manufacturing-based economy.

"I'm not afraid to try something new," Ridgeway, 52, recently told the Gaston Gazette newspaper. "I think that the most important thing I plan to do is to listen to my people and ask a lot of questions."

Ridgeway has scheduled a Cape Girardeau press conference Saturday.

The chief has 29 years of experience in fire service, working for departments in Prince George's County, Md., and Mashpee, Mass., before coming to Cape Girardeau.

While here, he developed the city's first responder program. Now properly trained firefighters are first on the scene of medical emergencies. Because the firefighters are in four stations, their response time is quicker than any other medical professionals'.

Ridgeway also developed the fire department's fitness program, which helps assure employees can handle the physical stress of fighting fires and evacuating victims.

Danny Crew, Gastonia's city manager, said Ridgeway was the clear choice for heading the city's fire department.

"We had some strong finalists, but the thing we liked about (Ridgeway) is that he has obviously taken some risks, moving from smaller departments to larger departments," Crew said. "The references we checked were just excellent. It appears he has the education and experience to be successful here."

Cape Girardeau Mayor Al Spradling III said he appreciated the improvements Ridgeway made during his three years here.

"He has been a motivating force to increase training in the department," he said. "It sounds like he's moving on to a better opportunity, and we wish him all the best."

The city will begin advertising for a new police chief soon, according to City Manager Michael Miller, looking for applicants inside and outside the fire department.