Applications sought for GCFD 8 commissioner
CHERYL SCHWEIZER | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 1 year, 6 months AGO
Grant County Fire District 8 is accepting applications for a new fire district commissioner after long time Commissioner Paul Parker announced his retirement recently.
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Senior Reporter Cheryl Schweizer is a journalist with more than 30 years of experience serving small communities in the Pacific Northwest. She began her post-high-school education at Treasure Valley Community College and enerned her journalism degree at Oregon State University. After working for multiple publications, she has settled down at the Columbia Basin Herald and has been a staple of the newsroom for more than a decade. Schweizer’s dedication to her communities and profession has earned her the nickname “The Baroness of Bylines.” She covers a variety of beats including health, business and various municipalities. | February 24, 2025 2:10 AM
MATTAWA — Applications will be accepted through March 7 to fill an open seat on the Grant County Fire District 8 commission.
The new commissioner will replace Paul Parker, who had been on the commission since the fire district was formed in 1967. Parker announced his retirement in January.
“When I got here in 1957, into the trailer court, a guy came over to welcome us and told me, ‘You’re on the fire department and you’ve got to have a shovel and a garden hose in your car at all times,’” Parker said in a prior interview with the Columbia Basin Herald. He'd been working with the department ever since.
Applicants must be at least 18 years of age. They must be full-time residents of GCFD 8 and have a commitment to public safety, according to an announcement on the district webpage.
“Prior experience in public administration, budgeting, emergency services or related fields is helpful but not required,” the announcement said.
Applicants are asked to submit a letter of interest including name and address, a brief statement explaining why they are interested in the position and any relevant skills are qualifications. Applications can be emailed to [email protected], mailed to GCFD 8, 20643 Road 22.5 SW, Mattawa, WA 99349, or dropped off at the main fire station, located at the address above.
The new commissioner will serve the remainder of Parker’s current term.
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