Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Ross obtains $50,000 for NCRU to purchase communication gear

Soon the Nevada County Rescue Unit's communication problems will be a thing of the past.

Congressman Mike Ross was able to push an appropriation bill through Congress to get the NCRU $50,000 to purchase communication equipment with.

"As I understand it," he said, "there are places in Nevada County where it's difficult for first responders to communicate with one another. This money will enable them to put a communications system together where the NCRU will be able to contact all other agencies from almost anywhere in the county."

Ross said the NCRU and volunteer fire departments in the county are dedicated groups who respond to emergencies. "I'm grateful for their service. Hopefully this will provide them the communication equipment they need to be able to respond to emergencies and do their job better.

"This is my home," he continued, "and I wanted to do something for it. I know what the NCRU and volunteer fire departments do and this is my way of thanking them and showing my support."

Ross said the appropriation bill containing the funding was approved recently, but the NCRU will have to fill out some forms before it will receive the money. "It's a done deal and it will get the money."

The funding came about when Ross was talking with Eddie Daniels, a member of the NCRU, at church and told him if the unit needed anything to let him know. Daniels told Ross of the need for communication equipment, saying it would cost about $50,000. From there, Ross began work on a proposal for the county-wide communication system and obtained the funds.