Tuesday nights severe weather got the attention of Anderson County Fire and Emergency Management. Just after 8:30 that night, Acting Director Cruz Gillespie received a report of a funnel cloud and possible touchdown in northern Anderson County. He responded and was in communication with the National Weather Service, who told him they saw some updraft in a wall cloud and small rotation. He activated the Greely fire department to respond west of Greeley in case they needed to set the sirens off in town. Chief Skillman was deployed to protect the City of Garnett and EMS Chief Troy assisted. Gillespie went to Scipio but didn’t see a funnel.
After interviewing six candidates for the Emergency Management Directors position, Gillespie announced yesterday that Anderson County had hired Sarah Burkhart to become the new director, effective May 5th. She grew up in Anderson County and has been a dispatcher in the county. We’ll have more on her in future newscasts. As for Gillespie, he was willing to serve as interim director but did not want the post full time. He will return to being the rural fire coordinator. A big thank you for doing such a great job in the interim.
