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Rescue squad opens satellite station
2006-07-31
by Anna C. Irwin
of The Daily Times Staff

Saving time can save lives so emergency responders try to get to the scene of an emergency situation as quickly as they safely can.

A new Blount County Volunteer Rescue Squad satellite station located at Punkin Center Motorcycle Resort off U.S. 129 will dramatically reduce response time to southeastern Blount County.

For example, the satellite station will cut 35- to 40-minutes off response time to the Dragon -- an 11.2 miles stretch between Tab Cat Bridge and the North Carolina state line that attracts motorcyclists from around the world.

Punkin Center Motorcycle Resort owners Jody and Sherry Montgomery had the idea that bringing an emergency response unit to the area might get help more quickly for injured or ill bikers and for the rest of the community in their part of Blount County. They decided to donate property to build a small station after conferring with Rescue Squad Chief Ken Shelton about what was needed.

The structure was turned over to the squad Saturday. The squad will have a truck and crew at the satellite station during busy periods on the Dragon. Jody Montgomery said the structure is a ``memorial to Kevin Grigger, of Dinwiddie, Va., who died May 27, 2006, in a crash on U.S. 129 near Robbinsville, N.C. while staying at Punkin Center Motorcycle Resort.'

Shelton said that in addition to cutting response time, the new station will save wear and tear on squad vehicles by shortening the distance for responses. Extending the lives of their vehicles is important to squad members who volunteer their time and operate on a tight budget.

The 16-feet-by-16-feet concrete block building is air-conditioned and being furnished with bunk beds, a refrigerator, telephone, DirecTV hook-up and other comforts so rescue squad volunteers can relax between responses and enjoy their duty at the campground.

Materials and labor to build the satellite station have been donated, purchased with cash donations for the project, or contributed by Punkin Center Motorcycle Resort.

Montgomery listed the following contributors:

Micky's Garage, Bill Correll's Concrete Works, Willocks Block Company, Brown Truss Company, Rapid Flow Market (Rite Stop on U.S. 129), Tennessee Metal Products of Sweetwater, Harrison Construction Company, Leonard Burchfield (grading and septic work), Dowdle Gas Company, Jeff Harper and Troy Lee Butler (painting), Donnie Radford (insulation), Dora Lee's Carpets and Morris Carey (carpet installation).

Montgomery said donations to maintain the satellite station are being accepted at Punkin Center Motorcycle Resort. The campground is located at 7304 Old Railroad Bed Road.