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June 6, 2009
A Denton Publication
Recognition
Helping Hand
Sweet Music
Barbara Nephew honored with the 2009 Elizabeth Heins Survivorship Award.
Plattsburgh Public Library receives a Hannaford grant for reading program.
Cumberland Bay Barbershoppers celebrate 50 years of keeping harmony.
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Technical Rescue Team trains for high-altitude emergencies By Jeremiah S. Papineau jeremiah@denpubs.com PLATTSBURGH — If you ask Donald G. Uhler, he’ll tell you that you can never be too prepared. Uhler, who heads up the Saranac Technical Rescue Team and serves as chief of the Saranac Volunteer Fire Department, worked with firefighters from the Saranac and Morrisonville fire departments last weekend on high-altitude rescues. The three-day training session involved the rescue team receiving classroom instruction from a representative of Rescue Tech International, Billings, Mont. The training also involved a simulated tower rescue at the former Clinton County Airport off State Route 3 in the town of Plattsburgh. The reason behind training for a high-altitude emergency was simply because it could always happen, said Uhler. “We’ve been doing technical rescue for quite a few years now and we’ve got experience on the water and for other emergencies, but one of the things nobody’s ever done in the county are tower rescues,” said Uhler. “We felt there was need to ven-
ture into tower rescues as part of ler, having the rescue team at the the evolution of our rescue ready in the event of an emerteam.” gency would only be an asset. A tower rescue is completely “The object is for us to hopedifferent than rural, mountainfully be trained to a level that if type rescues, explained Uhler, there were ever a large-scale sitalso utilizing different tools and uation, we’d be trained to a levtechniques. Towers, whether el where we could assist them if they are for requested,” energy transUhler. “We felt there was said mission or And, as more need to venture into and more concommunication, can be tower rescues as part of struction projvery dangerects come to the ous, especial- the evolution of our res- area, this type ly considering cue team.” of training can they’re manalso apply, said made, he said. Uhler. Donald G. Uhler “Big rock “These rescue Rescue Team Captain techniques cliffs are big rock cliffs,” would work the s a i d U h l e r. same if some“We can deal with those, but be- one needed to be rescued from fore you even get on a tower you scaffolding, 25-30 feet in the have to inspect the base of it, air,” said Uhler. check it for ground wires and to The idea of inviting other desee if any residual electricity is partments in on the training sesrunning to it.” sion was to share knowledge “That’s probably the biggest that could one day save a life, rehazard with a tower rescue,” gardless of where an incident Uhler continued. “Lots of chiloccurs. dren are killed every year play“It’s great having departing on towers or utility workers ments working together. Manmaking a wrong move and being power is always limited and so electrocuted.” is equipment, so if you can get While utility companies predepartments joining together, dominately have safety personit’s a good thing for everyone.” nel trained in rescues, said Uh-
Firefighters from the Saranac and Morrisonville volunteer fire departments train on tower rescues with the Saranac Technical Rescue Team last Saturday. Here, Shawn Emerson from the Saranac department, far left, oversees a simulated rescue effort on a tower at the former Clinton County Airport in the town of Plattsburgh. Kim Gordon from the Morrisonville department performs rescue techniques on fellow Morrisonville firefighter Kevin Randall, who played the role of the victim. Photo by Jeremiah S. Papineau
Scleroderma Walk to be held in memory of Randy Duprey
Continuing coverage
Foundation. Having lived with the disease since being diagnosed in September 2005, Duprey’s husband was adamant both a cause and cure needed to be found. “Later on in his illness, he just kept saying he didn’t want anyone else to suffer and go through this disease,” said Duprey. After her husband’s death, Duprey pressed on with planning an event, motivated by the desire to heed her husband’s wish. “I don’t know where I’m finding the mentality and the energy to be
By Jeremiah S. Papineau
Kate Duprey stands with her husband, Randy, in this 2008 photograph after returning home from Duke University in North Carolina where Randy received a stem cell transplant and physical therapy while battling scleroderma. Duprey, holding their son, Alek, will host a walk/run event in her late husband’s honor next Sunday, June 14.
MORRISONVILLE — Suspicious brush fires are continuing to occur in and around the hamlet of Morrisonville, trying the resources and patience of local firefighters. According to Morrisonville Volunteer Fire Department Fire Chief Francis E. Brousseau, there have been at least five more suspicious fires reported within the past few weeks, bringing the total to more than two dozen since April 13. “Last Monday, was by far our largest,” Brousseau said, referring to a May 25 fire. “We
See WALK, page 6
File photo
See FIRES, page 6
By Jeremiah S. Papineau jeremiah@denpubs.com BEEKMANTOWN — It will be five months this Saturday since Kate Duprey of Plattsburgh lost the love of her life to complications from scleroderma. And, despite the pain of her loss, she has found the strength to help others suffering from the life-threatening disease. It was before her husband, Randy, passed away in January the two discussed holding an event to raise awareness of scleroderma and raise money for the Scleroderma
Departments strained as suspicious fires continue jeremiah@denpubs.com
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