Patriot Day is held in memory of nearly 3000 people who died during terrorist attacks in New York, Washington DC and Shanksville, Pennsylvania, in the United States.
ROCHESTER, WA-- On September 11, 2001, four planes were hijacked. The hijackers then deliberately flew three of the planes into two important buildings, the Pentagon in Washington DC and the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York. The fourth crashed into a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania. The loss of life and damage that these hijackings caused form the biggest act of terrorism ever on United States soil. Nearly 3,000 people died in the attacks and the economic impact was immense. It is important to take time out to hold prayers or thoughts for the victims and families of the attacks. This event and special day does not usually affect life for more than a few minutes, but it is important to take those few minutes to remember the effect.
Many members of the community joined us for the ceremony September 11, 2011 at 8:30am to honor those who lost their lives and the 343 Firefighters and Law Enforcement who gave their lives that day protecting others. Mills and Mills Memorial Park was gracious in helping to make this a spectacular event on this special "Patriot Day". They lent us 343; 9'x5' flags that were set in the ground on 12’ poles to act as a reminder of the friends, brothers and sister that fell that fateful day. We will remind all Americans that their country remained strong in the face of massive terrorist attacks.
West Thurston Regional Fire Authority Press Release
Rochester, WA September 12, 2011 -- A elderly couple of was left saddened when fire destroyed an unoccupied mobile home that they used for storage. The fire broke out approximately 2:13pm in the 5500 block of 183 Ave SW. Firefighters responded after the owner saw flames in their wrecking yard, which they live on site. The first arriving unit reported an approximately 5 acre fire in the wrecking yard portion of their property and spreading rapidly to the open area beyond the fenced area. West Thurston RFA, DNR, East Olympia, Tenino Fire and Mclane/Black Lake Fire responded with tenders and engine companies, Battalions and a rehab unit. In all, approximately 20 firefighters from 4 fire agencies and 20 wildland firefighters from DNR were able to get containment of the fire by 3:40pm under the unified command of West Thurston Fire and DNR. Riverside Fire Authority from Centralia covered calls for West Thurston while fire crews battled the blaze.
The couple lost everything in the mobile home that they used to store family heirlooms. In addition several vehicles used for parts in the wrecking yard sustained damage. Adjacent property was under threat with 9 horses, but the firefighters contained the fast moving fire before it could spread. The fire is under investigation, but it thought that a cigarette from an earlier customer may have started the fire by accident.
Please call Lt. Lanette Dyer (PIO), West Thurston Regional Fire Authority, with any questions.
Interested parties should submit a sealed bid to Station 1-2 (10828 Littlerock Rd SW, Olympia WA 98512) no later than Friday, July 15th 5:00pm. Items may be viewed by contacting Chief Robert Scott (360.273.5582) to set up an appointment.
Fire Commissioner Frank Hamilton announced his retirement to the Board effective April 15th, 2011. Commissioner Hamilton expressed his need to relocate closer to the Olympia healthcare centers.
Commissioner Hamilton has spent the greater part of his life in public service. The Commissioner resided on the Board through major capital development and many changes including the fire department consolidation and development of the Maytown Fire Station. From all of us at West Thurston we ask that you join us in thanking Commissioner Frank Hamilton for his service.
In April, former Citizen Advisory Chairman Dave Pethia was appointed to fill the remaining term of retiring Commissioner Frank Hamilton. Newly appointed Commissioner Pethia will serve the remaining term as Fire District 11 Commissioner and West Thurston RFA Governing Board member.
In 2002 Dave and his wife Katie built a home in Fire District 11 (Field of Dreams) and shortly after became supporters of Fire District 11. That led to Dave becoming the Chairman of the Citizens Advisory Committee.
Commissioner Dave Pethia attended college at Colorado State University. In 1960 he entered flight training in the U.S. Navy where he flew a variety of aircraft and retired as a Lt. Commander. In 1966 he began a career of flying Boeing 707 with Northwest Airlines. Before retiring in 1995 from Northwest Airlines he had flown Boeing 727's, 747's, DC-10's and married his favorite flight attendant. Commissioner Pethia and his wife Katie have two daughters who live close by in Olympia. As an airline pilot Dave worked with the Airline Pilots Association as an Air Safety Chairman and Accident Investigator. The Pethias have resided in many communities including Issaquah, Friday harbor, Bellevue and Ellensburg before settling in Olympia for the past 32 years. They also farmed on San Juan Island and Ellensburg during their free time raising corn, timothy, small grains and cattle.
The Pethias have participated three times in an International 1000 mile race to Alaska, the longest sanctioned power boat race. On The third attempt in 1999 they won the cups which were on display in the Capital Dome.
Over the past months, the West Thurston RFA has conducted a strategic planning process. This document represents the efforts of many and has been developed with involvement from all levels of the agency. The plan reflects West Thurston's commitment to the process of working better together, and recognizing our dependence on the success of each member. The plan illustrates the West Thurston RFA philosophy, values and goals. Successful implementation will be dependent upon the full involvement of the membership.
Purpose
This strategic plan serves as the agency's master document; compiling, organizing and presenting results collected from various planning and administrative processes. The information contained within provides a clear and concise overview of the most recently adopted goals, objectives, budgetary commitments, and assessment of the agency's activities.
This document offers a set of concepts, procedures and strategies designed to assist the membership and management in exercising control, coping with change and developing a basis for decision making. Utilizing this plan will assist in fundamental decision making and will define agency actions that shape and guide what West Thurston is, what it does, and why it does it.
A reasonable attempt has been made to effectively analyze internal and external factors; sometimes critically. However, this analysis is neither criticism for its own sake nor an attempt to develop a document that avoids challenging analysis with aimless, fluffy commentary and lofty, unrealizable goals. This document is established as a means of providing honest, continual agency improvement.
