THE GAIAX IJmS JULY 225 1971 PAGE $ you cute. coAjdiaLLy, weJ^come, io vLew ou/i /iampLe/i of dLdiJjicH-ve, /iiuJe and. iaJjonJinj^ wwsg OP WOWG Ladies^ d Gent^s Custom Tailoring "Gift Items” made by the finest HANDICRAFTSMEN FROM THE ORIENT^ FINEST PETIT POINT AND BEADED HAND BAGS BEADED, EMBROIDERED d CUT-WORK CASHMERE SWEATERS, BEADED AND METALLIC SLIPPERS AND GLOVES, LUNCHEON TABLECLOTH AND APPLIQUED GUEST TOWELSj PURE SILK TIES, EMBROIDERED HANDKERCHIEFS AND SCARVES, ADULTS AND CHILDREN ^ S HAPPYCOATS, ETC m fi en/Lu. and. Beiiy. ll/ong. noxi i.0 ihe. Sione. Larvte/uy HJjghJjmdLd, FIRE DEPARTMENTS HISTORY TOLD R OTAR IANS purchase a lycO Oldsinobile ambulance, A few years lator a new 1967 Ford ambu lance was added which will be sold when Bobby Houston, Town Commissioner and As- the new equipment costing some $9>600 is sistant Chief of the Highlands Fire Depart-delivered next month. ment outlined progress made in the past 20 years to a capacity crowd of Rotarians and guests at Phelps House Tuesday. There were 18 visiting Rotarians from seven states and four visitors, in addition to local members, Houston opened his remarks by de scribing the equipment available in 19^3 when the present Department was organized by Police Chief Nelson. At that time a buggy which could be pulled by a Jeep or truck idLth a hose reel was kept in a frame building located on the site of the pre sent fire station, liJhen the alarm sounded anyone who cared to would go to the sta tion, hook the wagon to his vehicle, and go to the fire. The equipment was of no use unless a fire plug could be reached as there was no puinper. The first modern piece of equipment was a 300 gallon pumper, still in use, which was purchased in 19^3. A system of selling memberships to property oi'mers living outside the corporate limits for $10.00 per year was started to raise money to finance the purchase of needed equip ment. Holders of the memberships are ex empt from the $100.00 fee charged in case of a fire call to their hoihes. The need for an ambulance was recog nized in 1959 and a fund dxive organized The new fire truck now in use xms paid for one half by Town funds and the other half entirely by activities of the firemen. This carries a 750 gallon tank and a 1000 gallon per minute pumper. l^kintenance of the ambulance service is financed by nominal charges made for local calls and extended trips, but re placement of equipment must be paid for through donations and special events. Since 1966 ambulance attendants must be licensed after a couirse of training in many skills and equipment is inspected re gularly by representatives of State De partment of Health. A roster, changed each week, of available ambulance attend ants is maintained at the fire station, the town hall, and the hospital to care for any emergencies. In Highlands the Rescue Squad is the same as the Fire Department, as is the ambulance service. This is one of very few communities that combine all three services in one depart ment. If Highlands did not have its own ambulance service x^e would have to rely on Franklin and in case of emergency who would want to wait for the Franklin people to make the 20 mile trip? Cooperation between fire departments in the area is excellant. On several Continued on page 12