Archives
 By  Staff Reports Published 
4:20 pm Tuesday, August 3, 2004

Butler wants answers on possible
LEMA change

By By Steve Gillespie / staff writer
August 3, 2004
Lauderdale County's emergency management director attended the county supervisors meeting Monday armed with one main question: Why hadn't they told him they were dissatisfied with his performance?
Clarence Butler spoke to supervisors amid growing speculation that they planned to replace him as Lauderdale County Emergency Management director with either former Meridian fire chief H.C. "Bunky" Partridge or Eddie Ivy.
Partridge is director of Meridian's Department of Homeland security. Ivy works under Partridge as the training coordinator for the Meridian/Lauderdale County Regional Response Team.
Butler also serves as the county's volunteer fire coordinator and has the title of Homeland Security officer for Lauderdale County.
District 2 Supervisor Jimmie Smith said he was concerned Butler hadn't received all the certification he was expected to earn after taking over LEMA two years ago something Butler said he continues to pursue.
Smith's concerns
Smith said Butler is doing a good job as fire coordinator.
Supervisors are seeking an agreement with the city to develop an Emergency Service District that would be made up of two supervisors and two representatives from the city to oversee LEMA operations and its director.
About 30 volunteer firefighters were at the supervisors meeting to support Butler. They said they didn't want him to be replaced and that they didn't want to work under Ivy or Partridge.
Volunteer firefighters make up about 40 percent of LEMA's nearly 70 volunteers, according to Butler. He said the rest of LEMA's volunteers are county and city residents not associated with fire departments.
Rumor mills
Supervisors blamed "rumor mills" for stirring up emotions unnecessarily.
But in an interview with Partridge after the supervisors meeting, the former city fire chief said he had discussions with city and county officials on the creation of an Emergency Service District.
Partridge said city and county officials approached him with the idea. He said he understood Butler would continue to be the volunteer fire coordinator while a LEMA director would operate under one Homeland Security officer.
Butler said he wasn't consulted by anyone regarding an Emergency Service District: "I was not part of it. They totally eliminated me."
District 1 Supervisor Eddie Harper said: "We're discussing possibilities and nothing is in stone."
District 3 Supervisor Craig Hitt suggested that once the county receives an agreement with the city on paper, and if it is something the county is interested in, a meeting will be called.
District 5 Supervisor Ray Boswell said other supervisors had met behind closed doors on the matter for weeks to decide what they wanted to do. Hitt said Boswell agreed with the move by the board, but Boswell denied it.

Also on Franklin County Times
County school board adopts $52M budget
Main, News, Russellville, ...
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
September 17, 2025
RUSSELLVILLE Franklin County Schools has adopted a $52 million budget for fiscal year 2026, reflecting a $2.5 million increase over last year. The bud...
Judge denies YO status for Phinizee
Main, News, Z - News Main
Bernie Delinski For the FCT 
September 17, 2025
FLORENCE — Youthful offender status was denied Tuesday for a 17-year-old charged with the death of a 13-yearold during what authorities said was a rob...
RCS passes $43.3M budget
Main, News, Russellville
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
September 17, 2025
RUSSELLVILLE -- The city school board has approved a $43.3 million budget for the 2025-26 school year. Chief Financial Officer Lisa Witt said revenues...
Program tackles stress of caregiver burnout
News, Records, Russellville
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
September 17, 2025
RUSSELLVILLE -- Many people deal with caregiver burnout. Kids and Kin childcare partner Marquita Wilson presented a program at the Russellville Public...
Flavil Wayne McCaig
Obituaries
September 17, 2025
Flavil Wayne McCaig Sept. 12, 2025   Flavil Wayne McCaig, 82, of Russellville, passed away Sept. 12 at his residence. He was born March 3, 1943, to Au...
Cultura Garden Club begins its year with roses and plans for fall
Columnists, News, Opinion
HERE AND NOW
September 17, 2025
The Cultura Garden Club held its first meeting of the year. President Cheri McCain presided. She provided information on projects and programs for the...
We can’t afford to lose electric vehicle industry
Columnists, Opinion
September 17, 2025
In Alabama, we understand what it means to build things that matter. We’ve long been home to builders and winners – our steel won wars and built the s...
Firefighters, cadets honor 9/11 with stair climbs
News, Russellville
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
September 17, 2025
RUSSELLVILLE – Firefighters and RHS JROTC cadets participated in a stair climb in recognition of the 24th anniversary of 9-11. Sgt. Grant Tarascou and...

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *