Speedway Police and Fire host Child Safety Day


(posted Apr 23)

It was a time of community connectedness at the Speedway Police and Fire Department April 21 Child's Safety Day at Leonard Park. The program presented an opportunity for children to climb in a fire engine, eat hot dogs, and participate in the child identification program. It also provided a format for residents to meet and to talk with police officers, fire fighters and other town officials.

Town councilman Dean Farmer, who is a qualified Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) member, came to the public safety day because of his concern for emergency preparedness. He would like to recruit more Speedway residents to be CERT trained to assist with emergency preparedness in case a disaster would hit the town. (Information on the Marion county team can be found here.)

He also noted that one of his goals that will not be accomplished before his term expires in December is to install a back up generator system for the water supply. "If we lose the grid, town has only about six hours of water in the towers and that is without a fire. We have 1.5 million gallons in reserve between the two water towers. Fortunately, we have a dual feed system of two substations supplying electricity to the water plant in case one substation fails.

He said federal government mandates that wastewater treatment plants must have backup generators in case of power failure, but a generator is not required for the water supply. Because of the lack of a back up generator, it is more crucial for Speedway residents to have a three-day water supply for each person on hand.

The community day also provided an avenue for Mike Uhrick to glad hand with people since he is running for town council. He is running against the slated incumbent Jeff Hartman.

Uhrick said he decided to run because neighbors were expressing they wanted a change. Although he doesn't have a clear platform, he said he favors the redevelopment efforts that have started. "I would like to bring Speedway back to the way it use to be," he said. Uhrick has had some government experience by serving on the town's cable commission. "I have operated the camera for four years with WSCA, and I would like to become more involved," he said
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Hartman said he decided to seek another term because he still has two young children in school, and he would like to continue to improve the town for their future.
"I pushed hard for the town to have a code enforcement officer and redevelopment," he said.

Hartman explained the key to a successful town is good public safety and school system.

Speedway is one of the rare communities where the town council has some control over the school system because they are able to appoint the school board members.


Fire marshal Bob Fishburn,  assistant police chief Joel Rush and detective Jim Thiele handled the cooking chores.


Officer Lauren Keeler and Detective Mirantha Wilson hand out child ID kits.


Motorcycle officer Rod Ferguson.


Police chief Jeff Dine and Fire chief Curtis Dean.


Little League players enjoyed exploring engine 203.

Photos by Jay Thompson