Sept 2004

Friday, September 10, 2004 2:20 AM PDT

Your Keyword News Alert for ["police scanner"]

matched the following stories:

Press-Citizen, Fri, 10 Sep 2004 1:16 AM PDT

Fire destroys historic building

http://www.press-citizen.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20040910/NEWS01/40910014/1079

KALONA Iowa - Tim and Leah Ross and their family lost

their home and their clothes in the downtown fire in

this historic community Thursday, but they consider

themselves lucky to be alive.

===================================================================

Sept 2004

Part 1 of Column - Scanners in the News

1 Sept 2004 - Queensland Australia - The Crime and

Misconduct Commission (CMC) has suggested that radio

traffic from the planned digital police radio system

be streamed into newsrooms. The Queensland editor of

ABC News Fiona Crawford states "It appears that the

CMC has taken notice of our arguments, and agreed that

there needs to be a greater sharing of information

between the police service and media outlets."

Interested parties can submit comments on the CMC

recommendations before the report goes to State

Parliament in two weeks.

Wellington New Zealand - Long time race reporter Ian

Earle has retired. Mr Earle remembers listening to the

sinking of the Wahine in 1968 over a police radio. The

medias response to this most memorable of Wellington

stories contributed to the present day ranking of

journalists with politicians and used car salesmen.

Sept 5, 2004 - Sunday 933PM - Lewiston Maine - 1 man

was stabbed to death in an apartment on Knox Street.

Scannerist Catherine Martin said that troublemakers

have recently moved into town. "They give us a bad

name".

Northumberland Pennsylvania - Don Keeley, in 30 years,

has saved 17 human lives, 3 dogs, 2 kittens, and one

rabbit. Mr Keeley worked for the Northumberland Street

Dept and carried a Fire Department pager. Rescues from

fires, rescues from wrecked cars, rescues from icy

water ; this gentleman has done it all.

La Marque Texas - Three year police officer Michael

Kelemen was inspired to go into police work by his

father. "I used to listen to the police scanner with

my Dad as a kid - we'd chase the wrecks and all of

that. My Mom's not crazy about me being a police

officer, but my Dad loves it."

September 4, 2004 - Wilmington Delaware - A 30 year

old man died in a house fire in the 1300 block of

Cedar Street. Keith Gray, who lives a couple of blocks

away, heard about the fire on his scanner. "I knew if

someone was in there, they weren't going to make it

because the flames were so big."

September 2, 2004 - Lebanon Maine ; Police were at the

scene on Shapleight Road but would not confirm the

nature of the incident. The local newspaper (Foster's

Daily Democrat) reported that "initial scanner traffic

indicated a gunshot victim."

Eureka California - Eureka Times-Standard - A 'slice

of life" article provided an insight into the types of

radio traffic that are normally received on the police

scanners in the newsroom. With messages ranging from a

'man lying in the mud calling for God" to "juveniles

swimmimg with turtles", the author states that

"communicating quickly, effectively, and on the spur

of the moment, is an ability all its own."

September 4, 2004 - Savannah Morning News - Georgia -

A 52 year old man died while fishing with friends in

Chatham County. No foul play was suspected but the

"forensics unit was called to the hospital at 715PM to

complete the police department part of the

investigation according to police radio traffic."

September 7, 2004 - Searcy Arkansas - The Daily

Citizen - "Reporters in The Daily Citizen newsroom

listened on a police scanner as dispatchers sent

firefighters to 'an old barn on fire behind Speed

Queen'." One firefighter figured out that the barn

fire was actually near the Maytag Plant. Questions

were raised about the effectiveness of having 5

dispatch centers in the county versus having one.

September 9, 2004 - Kalona Iowa - A serious fire

destroyed 6 apartments and 1 store. Tim Ross, who uses

a wheelchair, credited a call from his wife's sister

who heard about the fire on a police scanner. "We

didn't hear any fire alarm, if it weren't for that

phone call, we would still be sleeping."

September 11, 2004 - Tim MacDonald and Beverly Pradel

(both volunteers on the Whites Crossing Volunteer Fire

Company in Lackawanna County in Pennsylvania) were wed

on 9/11. A scanner is always crackling in their home.

September 9, 2004 - Marion Ohio - Christine Barr

received a phone call from her Mom who has a scanner.

"She said there was probably going to be a bunch of

cops here." There were. Down the street from Ms Barr's

home, a neighbor took his wife hostage with a knife

when the wife announced that she was seeking a

divorce. The incident closed with the husband self

inflicting a minor stab wound to his belly.

September 10, 2004 - Dayton Ohio - Dayton Daily News -

"According to police and fire radio traffic" Dayton

Police were seeking a man with gold teeth who shot a

worker in a realty office.

Des Lodge Missouri - 52 year firefighter Jim

Gremminger got a golden fire axe when he retired as

Chief 2 years ago. But he still keeps the scanner on

at home so he can help out when the FD is short

handed. Both of his sons are on the FD - one as the

present Chief. A ten year old grandson also rolls on

calls when appropriate.

Will County Illinois - Sheriff Paul Kaupas is one of

the good guys. His wife of 31 years used to listen to

the scanner all the time. Now - "I just figure he is

going to come home, and he can take care of himself."