"A monument in the community"

The Chulahoma community celebrated the completion of Medic Station #4, a fire, police, and ambulance substation located alongside the Chulahoma Community Center on Highway 4 West, Friday, Oct. 6.

There were prayers of thanksgiving, remembrances of the history of the vision for the substation, and recognition of those living and who have died who dreamed of having a `Monument” in the community.

Pastor Lonnie Whitfield with Chulahoma Baptist Church kicked off the ribbon-cutting ceremony with prayers of thanksgiving and remembrances of those who kept the dream alive since 2008 when Kent Falkner, president of the non-profit volunteer fire department, set the ball rolling, filing a 501c(3) with the secretary of state.

It would be 15 years before the dream became a reality.

“This is only a start, a breath of fresh air,” Whitfield prayed. “We just look to You that the fire station will be a success. Breathe on this community afresh.”

Whitfield said the substation is a long-awaited answer to the prayer of many, including those who have passed and gone.

“The late Rev. O.D. Clark said, `It’s time for Chulahoma to get a mayor,’” Whitfield said.

The meaning of Clark’s words dawned on his mind in the wee hours of the night.

“It’s time for the Chulahoma community to get what other communities have, is how I took t,”Whitfield said.

Lisa Rollins, secretary of the Chulahoma Volunteer Fire Department, in welcoming remarks, thanked the Marshall County Board of Supervisors for its support.

District 4 supervisor George Zinn III, who pushed to get the substation at Chulahoma, said, “These things didn’t just happen. This came with a lot of prayer, of coming of minds and with great support.”

He credited the late Marvin Powers with the vision and also Rev. McArthur King, who also made it possible to acquire the property from Powell.

“Marvin was looking forward,” Zinn said. “This would really make his heart glad.”

Others Zinn recognized were Leland Reed, fire service coordinator, former chancery clerk Chuck Thomas for leading the construction and road manager/building and grounds director Mario Jeffries for seeing the project to completion.

Zinn harkened back to the December 23, 2015, EF4 tornado which struck the Chulahoma area leaving a path of destruction and confusion.

“We prayed this complex is a start to restoring confidence and serve the community,” Zinn said.

Sheriff Kenny Dickerson said the substation is something Chulahoma has needed for many years.

George Zinn is one of many who kept pushing “to get where we are today,” he said.

He applauded fire chief Leslie King, and Kent Falkner, and the community who “worked hard to make this possible,” he said.

The sheriff’s department will have a mini-substation for law enforcement inside the station.

He said generations will benefit from the substation.

“Please know we are going to do everything to make this community better going forward,” Dickerson said.

Rick Barnett, operations director for Lifeguard Ambulance Service in Marshall County, said Lifeguard has five paramedic ambulances in the county, “something that has never been done here.”

He has been a resident of the county 21 years.

“Our children and our grandchildren will be safer down the road,” he said. “Let’s do it. Let’s make this thing go.”

Kent Falkner, president of the Chulahoma Volunteer Fire Department said the work began in February 2008 “when Zinn was a rookie supervisor,” to get the station. His brother Peyton was part of the group, and the late Laverne Jones was the secretary.

Falkner said he filed with the Secretary of State for a charter when they had no funds to do anything. Then there was a recession and no funding became available for over a decade.

It was learned that the application with the Secretary of State was still valid and a tax ID number was obtained for the non-profit.

“So, Chulahoma, give yourself a hand. We just want the opportunity to support. This is all new to us, but everything has to start somewhere,” Falkner said.

“You all did a wonderful thing,” said volunteer fire chief Leslie King. “We have been waiting a long time. We have to take the torch. This is more than a fire station. This is a monument in the community.”

Reed, who graduated high school with King, said volunteer firefighters are to be honored.

“A volunteer takes heart,” he said. “It’s not easy.”