CITY COUNCIL: Heroes Honored

RESIDENTS RECEIVE AWARD FROM FIRE DEPARTMENT

By John Gore

Posted: November 25, 2009 at 5:47 a.m.

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ROGERS — Two residents were honored for heroism by the Rogers Fire Department Tuesday night during the city council meeting.

Chris Thomas and Shannon Kultgen received the Chief Frank “Jake” Jacobs Citizen’s Award for pulling an unresponsive woman from a burning care on Oct. 13.

Kultgen was not present at the presentation.

Fire Chief Tom Jenkins presented the award to Thomas, praising Thomas and Kultgen for their heroism.

This is the first time the Jacobs award has been presented, according to Travis Hollis, fire marshal. The award is in honor of the fi rst paid fire chief of the Roger Fire Department. Jacobs served in the department for more than 40 years.

Thomas and Kultgen, employees of General Heating and Air, 402 W. Hudson Road, were in the parking lot getting ready to start their day when they heard an explosion. Turning in the direction of the sound they saw a car on fire against a utility pole with a person trapped in the vehicle.

Using fire extinguishes they pushed the fire back, broke the driver’s side window with a brick and pull the unresponsive woman from the vehicle before the fi re department arrive.

Mary Erwin, the woman trapped in the burning vehicle, was on hand to thank Thomas and give him a hug as the audience rose for an ovation.

Erwin said she only remembers bits and piece of the accident. She said she was terrified when she realized trapped in a burning vehicle.

“I was fortunate that they were the right people at the right place,” Erwin said.

In other business before the council, aldermen approved an amended ordinance restricting the use of cell phones and other communications devices in school zones, when the lights are fl ashing and school zone speed limits are applicable.

The ordinance was tabled Nov. 10, when aldermen expressed concern that the wording of the ordinance, in regards to cars parked in a school zone waiting to pickup or drop off students, was ambiguous. The council sent the ordinance back to Ben Lipscomb, city attorney for clarifi cation.

Lipscomb added a sentence to the ordinance stating, “This provision shall not apply to parked vehicles.”

The ordinance also exempts school bus drivers because drivers are often contacted by cell phone with new instructions.

Violation of the ordinance is punishable by a fine not to exceed $100 and/or not more than 10 days of community service. The ordinance will take effect in 30 days.

Aldermen rejected the master trail route ordinance on its final reading. The plan was tabled at the Nov. 10 meeting.

Alderman Greg Hines explained the council defeated the ordinance because the city is still discussing the one of the trail routes with property owners concerned the trail comes too close to their homes.

Troy Edmund, 3708 Lehman Court, spokesman for the property owners, said he was pleased the council rejected the current plan.

“The city planning oft ce is working with us to fi nd an alternative route that will not come as close to our property,” Edmund said. “I think we are going to be able to work out a solution that pleases everybody.”

Steve Glass, planning director, meet with several property owner after the council meeting to review alternative routes.

Aldermen awarded an $85,795 contract to Tomlinson Asphalt, Inc. of Fayetteville to approximately one-half mile of sidewalk on the east side of Arkansas from Maple Grove to near Poplar.

One final item, not listed on the agenda, surfaced at the end of the meeting. Aldermen voted to cancel the Dec. 22 meeting unless there is an emergency, leaving Dec. 8 as the only council meeting in December.

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