The Calhoun Commission has appointed a new 911 Director. Nineteen-year-old Joe
Tanner of Arnoldsburg is likely the youngest person in West Virginia to hold such a
post.
Tanner is replacing Barry Pitts, who recently resigned the position because of
personal commitments.
Tanner has been "living and breathing" emergency services since he was a kid,
and "dabbling with electronics and mechanical things has been my hobby ever
since I can remember," he said. "It has been a great experience working with the
men and women who give their time to emergency services."
At nineteen, Tanner has been a seven year member of the Arnoldsburg Volunteer
Fire Department, starting as a Junior Firefighter. He is currently the Assistant Chief
of the department, which serves part of southern Calhoun. Tanner may well be the
youngest person to hold that position in a volunteer fire department in the
state.
"I'm pretty much a country boy who really likes Calhoun County. I will give 100% to
the 911 job, trying to get the resources we need to improve the service," he
said.
The 911 Director's position is essentially volunteer, with a small stipend for
expenses.
"I have been working on coordinating the county's communication system for the
past several months, including tower maintenance."
Tanner, who has also worked as a part-time 911 dispatcher, was recently
appointed E-911 Addressing Coordinator for the county. "I've been attending
meetings, learning how the state wants addressing to move ahead," he said.
Besides being a certified dispatcher, he is also an Emergency Medical Technician,
and has taken HealthNet training.
During the past year Tanner has helped put together an alternative 911 center at
the Arnoldsburg fire station. "We just got a new generator at Arnoldsburg, in case
the main center goes down."
The young man is the son of Randy and Diana Tanner of Arnoldsburg.
The Calhoun Commission directed a letter to former Director Barry Pitts,
expressing appreciation for his service to the county.
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