Fire department awarded grant, hires firefighter

The news that Jackson's fire department received a $103,500 federal grant capped off a productive week for fire chief Brad Golden. And it was only Wednesday.

U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson and U.S. Sens. Kit Bond and Jim Talent announced the release of the Homeland Security funds, which will go to help purchase equipment. Golden said the money will be used to buy 22 air tanks, which will stay in the fire trucks. The department currently has 17 tanks on hand, roughly half of which were purchased in 1998. The others were purchased before Golden became chief.

Also on Wednesday, Golden said he hired his third new firefighter. The board of aldermen approved three additional positions in December in order to meet requirements made by the Insurance Services Office.

In order to keep Jackson at a 5 rating and prevent insurance rates from going up, the board approved the purchase of a used ladder truck that was put in service on Monday.