Wednesday, June 29, 2011

A University City house is "pretty much a total loss" after a two-alarm fire that appears to have been caused by lightning, the city's fire chief said Monday.

It happened early Sunday in the 8000 block of Lafon Place, Chief Don Miner of the University City Fire Department said. His department received notification of the fire at about 3:30 a.m.

No one was at home at the time of the fire, and the blaze was well underway before anyone knew it was burning, Miner said.

Monday, June 27, 2011

Difference of opinion prompts Mehlville fire chief's departure

Thursday, June 23, 2011

Chief White Out

The Mehlville Fire Protection District Board of Directors voted unanimously in a closed meeting Wednesday to accept the resignation of Mehlville Fire Chief Tim White.

The resignation comes after White was placed on forced administrative leave from June 13 to Wednesday of this week, MFPD Board Chairman Aaron Hilmer said.

“It was an amicable thing. Tim White and the board disagreed about the future direction of the district,” Hilmer said. “After lengthy discussion, we both came to the same conclusion, we both decided to amicably part ways."

Assistant Chief Brian Hendricks will step into the roll of interim chief and Deputy Chief Training Officer Dan Lafata will temporarily take over assistant chief duties. Hilmer said Hendricks has been with the district approximately 12 years.

White, who has been employed by the district since June of 1985, will receive nine months pay and benefits and a $15,000 education stipend if he wants to pursue another education direction, Hilmer said. He added that the severance package would not cost the district additional expenses and was in line with other packages given to early retirement employees.

White made $127,665.33 in total compensation and benefits in 2009, according to the MFPD website, and has been serving as the chief since April of 2009. He was promoted to administrative chief and served alongside former chief Jim Silvernail until Silvernail’s contract expired in April 2010.

“This wasn’t based on anything that happened,” Hilmer said. “It was more where we were going to go with the district. I certainly respect White’s vision. It just wasn’t something the board agreed with.”

Hilmer said the board wasn't going to rush to find a new chief.

“We have such a tremendous administrative staff now, the district should continue to run just fine,” he said. “I don’t foresee it being any kind of rush process.”

Hilmer said White and the board started disagreeing after the April election in which Hilmer was re-elected. Prior to the election, Hilmer said the chief was doing an "epic job of working for residents."

“After elections settled down, we asked, ‘Where are we going to be?’ and it became clear that we were clashing,” Hilmer said. “I think he’s going to have other possibilities to pursue and we wish him well in those endeavors."

"The fire district is better off than it was before he was chief. There have been a lot of positive things that have happened.”

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

From The Brentwood Patch

Brentwood fire chief Bob Niemeyer has announced his retirement after serving the city he grew up in for more than 49 years.

Niemeyer, 70, will retire on Sept. 17. He'll be succeeded by Ted Jury, fire chief of the Ladue Fire Department. The announcements were made during a Brentwood Board of Aldermen meeting on Monday night.

Niemeyer, who has worked as fire chief for the past 29 years, is a lifelong Brentwoodian who has strong ties to the community.

"He always wanted to be a fireman," Mayor Pat Kelly said. "He's a great person—as a fire chief and friend."

In May, Niemeyer informed the city that he planned to retire. The city's Public Safety Committee asked Jury to help with the search to find a replacement, but Jury indicated his interest in the position.

Instead of creating a search committee, the city began negotiating a contract with Jury in early June.

Kelly said Jury—who has worked in Ladue for 29 years—has become very familiar with the Brentwood Fire Department through mutual aid, where Brentwood firefighters assist Ladue on fire calls and vice versa.

"He knows our men. He's highly respected," Kelly said.

Jury's start date hasn't been established yet, but he'll likely begin before Niemeyer's retirement date, Kelly said.

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Brentwood hires fire chief away from Ladue

Brentwood • Brentwood aldermen voted unanimously Monday night to hire Ladue Fire Chief Ted Jury to replace Bob Niemeyer.

Niemeyer plans to retire as fire chief in September after working for the department since 1962. He has been chief since 1982.

The board also voted to approve a contract for a new city administrator-city clerk. A. Bola Akande, who was assistant city manager in Richmond Heights, will replace Chris Seemayer.

In another action, the board voted to enter into a contract with Police Chief Steve Disbennett, who had been working without a contract.

Bola Akande Named Brentwood City Administrator - Maplewood-Brentwood, MO Patch

Thursday, June 16, 2011

Brentwood Chief Announces Retirement

Brentwood Fire Chief Bob Niemeyer announced his retirement from the Brentwood

Fire Department last month.

He has set Sept. 17 as his retirement date. Chief Niemeyer has served the Brentwood

community for more than 49 years. He started his career in 1961, as a Fire and Police

dispatcher. In 1962 he was asked to join the Brentwood Police Department by Mayor

Ray Parker and Acting Chief Al Null. Fifteen months later, on September 16, 1963, Bob transferred to the Brentwood Fire Department, fulfilling his lifelong dream of become a Brentwood fireman. He worked his way up through the ranks and was promoted to Captain in 1968 and to Assistant Chief and Fire Marshal in 1980. On April 19, 1982, Mayor Jim Shelton and the Board of Alderman appointed Bob the position of Chief of the Brentwood Fire Department. He is now serving his 29th year as Fire Chief.

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Wednesday, June 15, 2011

RHPD Golf

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Monday, June 13, 2011

It is with sorrow that the Clayton Fire Department announces the death of Retired Captain James J. “Jim” Hartnett.

Jim served the Clayton Fire Department for 40 years.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30AM Tuesday June 14^th, 2011 at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery. The family has requested the presence of uniformed members in tribute to the service Captain Hartnett has provided.

Uniformed members should gather at the Jefferson Barracks administrative building no later than 10:00AM.

Military and Fire Service honors will be provided.

Memorials in his memory to St. Johns Mercy Hospice.

James J. Hartnett

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Hartnett, James J. Fortified with the Sacraments of Holy Mother Church on Saturday, June 11, 2011. Beloved husband for 60 years of Vera Hartnett (nee Barnett); loving father of Rebecca A. Sullivan; dear grandfather of Christopher James Sullivan; loving brother of Larry (Marilyn). Mr. Hartnett was preceded in death by the following sibilings: Helen Breier, Virginia Connors, Florence Briner, Doris Jasper, Donald, Robert, Frances and Kenneth Hartnett Mr. Hartnett served his country in WW II in the U.S. Army Air Force and served the city of Clayton as a fire fighter for 40 years. Services: A Graveside Service will be held on Tuesday, June 14, 2011 at 10:30 a.m. at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery. Please meet at Administration Building. No visitation. In lieu of flowers, masses preferred or memorials to St. John's Mercy Hospice would be appreciated. A Service of THE LUPTON CHAPEL