Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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CM Emp \f AII IVI4A# V VIUII Two'Clinton Mills' employees devote a considerable amount of their time to serving as members of the Clinton Volunteer Fire Department. Wilgus Fortney, a Clinton Maintenance Electrician, Marcell "Nub" Barker, a Plant No. 1 Loom Techni cian, meet two nights a month with 25 fellow volunteers to stay abreast of the latest fire fighting techniques. Fortney, who found his way to Clinton Mills following discharge from the Air Force, has been with the department since 1972. "I served as a volunteer fireman with the Combs, H Hi WILGUS FOBTNEY Buchanan Heads Laurens Primary PTO Clinton Mills Training Director James Buchanan has been elected Dresident of the I^aurens Primary School Parent Teacher Organization. James holds a degree from Carson-Newman and a M. Ed. degree from Clemson University. loyees Ar ir City Fir Kentucky Fire Department before entering the Air Force, and I guess that got me enthusiastic about fire fighting," said Fortney. Fortney was stationed at Shaw Air Force base in Sumter, and he attributes this for his "settling" in South Carolina. A former music major at Morehead State University, Fortney lists his other hobbies as trombone play ing, photography and drag racing. He's a mechanic for the Richard Johnson-Murphy Timmerman Drag Racing team. While in the Air Force, he developed a considerable skill in radio communica A v. ? Our C Michael and Brandie bisi Dixie Bishop. Michael is 41*, is a Plant No. 2 Weaving Sei grandparents are Gholdie am 2 employees, respectively. e err.en tions while serving as a sergeant in a forward air control platoon. "We average about 10 or 11 fires a month," says Fortney. "We're equipped with some of the latest fire fighting equipment and this minimizes the risks." "Volunteer firemen are paid $5 a fire," he added, "but that doesn't have anything to do with the dedication an individual has for this work," he added. Marcell "Nub" Barker has been a volunteer fireman for 31 years. "There were two houses on fire on Davis Street one night," said Barker. "It was about 1:00 a.m. and I went down to see if I could help, and I've been a volunteer ever since." Barker noted that the department has had an "unbelievable" amount of improvement over the years. "In the early days, all we had was a chain driven pumper truck, and we'd virtually wash the furniture out of a house by using so much water," he recalled. "This is in contrast to using sprays, foams, etc. today," he added. ?: 1 o<ii mi iuu>u i uusseu over two fire drills and schools in his 31 years with the department. "Of all the fires I've attended," he continued, "I've never gotten a serious injury. However, before they started giving us protective clothing, I ruined a lots of clothes." Barker, who has been with Clinton Mills for 36 years, says that improved equipment, changes in building construction and better fire fighting technology have all added to the improvements in a fireman's duties. hildren ? nop are the children ot Mike and and Brandie is 2 years old. Dixie rvice Operator. Their maternal d Evelyn Simmons, Plants 1 and TJDH HH |1L |f MARCELL (NUB) BARKER H ; *z^ ^ \ " Mjf v^> _., v El * V\ L 4 v^^M|^< BPtfc*^? - * , r* lw GHOLDIE SIMMONS Simmons S Large Vote Gholdie Simmons, Plant No. 1 I^oom Technician, has < been Executive Committe- 1 man of the Clinton Mills ! Precinct for 10 years. "We've got a lot of voters 1 who have moved out of our 1 precinct," says Simmons, i "but we'll probably vote i about 300 people in this Presidential Election." "I've always had a good v group of box managers and ? workers," he added, "and e this makes my job easier." js ^jfl ji ,'^H si ./',h*^i , aafaT^gf ? Vy J^H 'v^^HnfenL- i^K 2 kJH m J^^kI F *^fll F JB ees a. .a. NOV. 2 "We need to encourage ;very employee to vote - too many people just will not stop at the polls," he noted. "I'm not a politician, but I enow the boxes have got to 3e run, and that's why I'm billing to take my time to do t," he continued. Simmons, a loyal Clinton mployee with more than 29 rears continuous service, ays he encourages everyone ligible to vote to do so on Jovember 2.