By STEPHANIE BRUMFIELD / Staff Writer

SHELBY – Up until a few months ago, firefighters with the Shelby Volunteer Fire Department responded to fire calls by navigating paper maps. Now, after receiving a $3,000 grant from the non-profit Cawaco Research, Conservation and Development Council, their GPS systems do the navigating for them.

During a celebration Sept. 23, Sen. Slade Blackwell, County Commissioner Corey Ellis and Cawaco manager of governmental and public relations Drayton Cosby gathered with Shelby volunteer firefighters at the Shelby Volunteer Fire Department on Shelby County 47, where Cosby congratulated fire chief Cain Reed for a completed project.

Reed said nine GPS systems were purchased with the $3,000, which the fire department has been using since February.

“It’s going to help us to find the addresses when we’re paged,” Reed said. “It’s easier to look at the lit up screen than it is to look at a map.”

Blackwell said this was the only project he committed to when he was running for election, and though it has taken three years, he is glad to see it accomplished.

“There’s nothing more important than what you guys do,” Blackwell said. “You save lives.”

Cosby credited Blackwell for providing support in the Alabama legislature for organizations like Cawaco.

“They’ve made it a priority to make sure there are funds available to go back into the community,” Cosby said.