Getting in the way

LISA HOBBS News Editor

A seasoned reporter knows to stay out of the way during an emergency and allow first responders to do their jobs. However, some newspersons want to push the issue to obtain an exclusive photo or information that other outlets do not have.

During a County Safety Committee meeting on Monday, June 6, Warren County EMA Director Jason Hillis stated they had an issue with one media outlet during last month’s plane crash that took the lives of two.

“On your side, how did all that go with coordination,” said Commissioner Steven Helton.

Hillis replied, “It went well. All the federal guys were super helpful. The sheriff’s department stayed out there all night with the wreckage. Everything went as smoothly as possible. The public cooperated; that was a good thing to see. I figured we’d at least get some Facebook people out there going through the cornfield or flying a drone or something, but we didn’t have any of that. That was very respectful. That says a lot of the community as a whole.”

Helton then asked about news media descending on the area.

“For the most part, it was good,” said Hillis. “We had a small back and forth with one that afternoon, but it went well after that.”

It was not revealed which media outlet caused the issue.

In other news coming out of the department, a chainsaw and a map printer have been purchased.

“During June, we added another chainsaw, which gives us the ability between maintenance and EMA to have six chainsaws,” the director stated. “The sheriff’s department is typically the one who requests them, because they have vehicles and they’re all over the place.”

The printer, adds Hillis, is to assist when trying to locate missing persons and maps of the area are needed.