Malia Riggs
Elmore Autauga News
The Autauga County Commission met Tuesday evening and read two proclamations highlighting National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week and National 4-H volunteer week.
The Commission recognizes April 14-20th as National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week. These telecommunicators are the voices on the other end of the 911 calls. They are the voices behind the phone that keep people calm and provide guidance on what could be someone’s worst day of their life.
“We aren’t just dispatchers, we are the first, first responders behind the scenes of an emergency,” Autauga County telecommunications dispatcher Kaci Stettler said.
“We appreciate everything you guys do; it does go un-thanked a lot. Most people probably don’t realize how many calls you take a year and for a county as small as ours, it’s hard to believe. We appreciate what you do day in and day out,” Autauga County Commission Chairman Jay Thompson said.
Later that evening at the Prattville City Council meeting, Director of Autauga County 911 Becky Neugent surprised Stettler and presented the Telecommunicator of the Year Award to her for her heroic, dedication and unwavering consistency on the frontlines for Autauga County.
The Commission also recognized April 21-27 as National 4-H Volunteer Week. Casey Powell the 4-H development coordinator for Autauga County as well as Prattville Councilman Marcus Jackson, who is a part of the 4-H Youth Advisory Committee, many other members of the Advisory Committee and local 4-H volunteers were present to receive the proclamation.
“I am so incredibly blessed with some of the best volunteers,” Powell said.
Powell explained the local 4-H program houses programs such as in school programing, summer camp, overnight camp, out of school clubs and special interest clubs.
This past year there were 102 volunteers listed in 4-H within Autauga County. Those 102 volunteers logged 479 hours totaling $15,232.20 donated to the local program through volunteerism with over 3,000 participants in 4-H programs within Autauga County.
“We appreciate your efforts in making sure every student in Autauga county has gotten the opportunity, and we appreciate all the volunteers and their leadership and taking the time out of their day,” Thompson said.
Jonathan Sheppard, a member of the AFC Forest Rangers, came before the commission to thank the commission for their support in everything that they do for the forest lands within Autauga County and beyond. Sheppard stated that they just wanted to make their thanks known to the commission.
The commission also suspended the rules and incorporated a resolution that was not on the agenda. It allows for the county engineering department to purchase a $45,000 excavator, which county engineer John Davis confirmed was within budget.
Among the items approved on Tuesday evening’s agenda was the termination of Jesse Rogers, a former Autauga County full time corrections officer. Rogers has been charged with allegedly making a terroristic threat against the Autauga County Metro Jail where he used to work prior to his arrest this week.
Making terroristic threats is a Class C felony and Rogers could be sentenced anywhere from one year to 10 years in prison if found guilty.
