After 35 years of service to the Chillicothe Fire Department, Fire Chief Darrell Wright is retiring. During an executive session of the Chillicothe City Council meeting on Monday, August 19, the city council accepted notice of Wright's retirement, effective September 15, 2019. Wright was named Fire Chief of the Year in 2018 by the Fire Fighters Association of Missouri. The council has voted to appoint acting interim Fire Chief Eric Reeter as the new Fire Chief and Director of Emergency Services. Reeter joined the Chillicothe Fire Department as a paid-by-call firefighter in 1991, was hired full-time in 1999, and became assistant fire chief in 2009. On September 16, Reeter will begin his new role with the department.
Learn More >>

The sliced bread machine on loan to the Grand River Historical Society and Museum will remain in Chillicothe for at least another three years, Pam Clingerman, curator of the museum said recently. The 1,000 pound bread slicing machine is the second ever used, as the first fell apart after six months of use at Bench's original bakery, which was located in the current Sliced Bread Welcome Center on the corner of First and Elm Streets. The Oliver 777 machine is on display in a temperature and humidity controlled area at the museum located at 1401 Forest Drive. It cannot be used for demonstrations. After Frank Bench used it for the first time, his bread sales went up 2000% in two weeks. Pictured is a 1936 bread slicer.
Learn More >>

The Chillicothe Fire Department (CFD) recently received an updated ISO rating of 4 - the department's best-ever - as released in a report of the Insurance Services Office. The department also received a perfect 100 out of 100 in the category of Operational Considerations. In the ISO rating scale, a lower number is better: 1 is the best possible rating, while a 10 means the fire department did not meet the ISO's minimum requirements. The Public Protection Classification (PPC) survey analyzes the staffing levels, training and location for the firehouse; availability of water supply including the number of fire hydrants and water available for fire suppression. The quality of the community's 911 emergency communications system and community outreach about fire prevention is also included in the score.
Learn More >>

Chillicothe Police Department Police Chief Jon Maples addresses the CIT (Crisis Intervention Team) class during part of the week-long training held in Chillicothe and hosted by the Chillicothe Department of Emergency Services (CDES). The 40-hour training ended with a half-day of live scenario training. CIT training gives officers a significant amount of education and training in de-escalation, intervention in suicidal persons, youth issues, aging matters, mental health interventions, helping with all types of disorders and addictions, and many other areas of need. CIT programs build relations in our communities, reduces crime, and helps to minimize other problems for people and their families. Angie Talken / CT Photo
Learn More >>