The Claiborne County Rescue Squad started a dive team on June 7, 2005. The team consists of six squad members. Five of the six squad members are undergoing dive training and will complete the training the first week of July. Instructor Ron Caldwell, a certified dive instructor with Professional Dive Instructor Corporation, International, is instructing the team. One squad member already completed dive training. The rescue dive team is equipped with four complete sets of dive gear. As additional donations are received for the dive team, the squad will purchase two additional dive suits and additional needed items such as dive weights, dive flags, dive buoys, tool kit with spare parts, ladder for the dive boat, underwater search lights, etc., Captain David Short said that the dive team has been needed for a long time; however, the squad has been limited by funding. He said unlike the fire departments, grants to fund rescue squads who are not fire rescue is not available. The Squad operates on donations from the community and a yearly contribution from the county government. The Rescue Squad is a county-wide emergency service organization. The squad currently operates out of their building located in New Tazewell; however, current negotiations are underway for a second building in the Speedwell community and also third building in the Tazewell community. These additional stations would permit the squad to put boats at each location to permit quicker response during emergencies. Anybody wishing to make donations to the Claiborne County Rescue Squad Dive Team should mail donations to the Claiborne County Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 912, Tazewell, TN 37879. Donations should be identified for Dive Team Equipment. Help us to help you! The Claiborne County Rescue Squad is a volunteer non-paid agency!!!
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