🌱 Columbus Fire Dep. Needs More EMTs + Free Coffee For A Year

Hello there, Columbus. I'm here in your inbox this morning to get you up to speed on everything you need to know about what's going on around town.

But first, your local weather:

• Thursday: Some sun with a thunderstorm. High: 82 Low: 66.
• Friday: A t-storm around in the p.m.. High: 88 Low: 67.

Here are the top three stories today in Columbus:

1. A private company that was supplying ambulance services to Columbus has ended its service, putting a strain on the Columbus Fire Department (CFD). Now that one of the three private companies has stopped supplying ambulances, there has been an 18 percent increase to call volume for the CFD personnel, according to Fire Chief Salvatore Scarpa. At the Columbus City Council meeting on Jun. 13, CFD asked the council for $1 million out of the $5.2 million budgeted for a contingency to hire seven more firefighter EMTs. (WTVM 9)
2. At the Columbus Council meeting on Jun. 13, many complained about the sometimes 50-percent increase in next year's property tax assessments that were recently sent out by Muscogee County. According to Columbus landlord Charlie Mordic, his tax assessment increased from $16,753.24 to $26,869.69 and he is worried about how it could increase rent significantly. Suzanne Widenhouse, Muscogee County’s Chief Tax Assessor, said houses and businesses are selling for more and driving the value up, and increasing property tax. (WRBL)
3. On Friday, Jun. 16, the first-ever Georgia location of Tim Hortons will host its grand opening! The shop will open at 5:00 a.m. with games and prizes, as well as a free cup of coffee for a whole year for the first 50 people in the drive-through. The popular northern-based coffee shop and bakery is located on Veterans Parkway in Columbus. (WTVM 9)

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Today and tomorrow in Columbus:

Thursday, June 15

• 78th Miss Georgia Scholarship Competition At River Center (7:00 PM)

Friday, June 16

• Finger Paint Fridays At North Columbus Public Library (3:00 PM)
• Juneteenth Western Dinner Dance At Bibb Mill Event Center (8:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• The Columbus City Council recently voted to add more money to Parks and Recreation after discussing their concern for a lack of children’s equipment in the city parks. According to Parks and Recreation Director Holli Browder, more money is needed for equipment and routine maintenance to keep the sports fields safe for kids. (WTVM 9)
• North Columbus Library is now offering various activities to help adults de-stress and unwind. One of these activities is Coffee Coloring, where adults color and drink coffee. (WRBL)
• A four-bedroom home with a nice lawn is for sale on Flint Drive in Columbus for $269,900! Check out the latest homes for sale in the Columbus area at the link. (Columbus Patch)

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Featured events:

• Roundtable Discussion on Era of Treatment in Alzheimer's (June 22)
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Now you're in the loop and ready to head out the door on this Thursday! See you soon for another update.

— Rose Mendez

About me: Rose Mendez is a freelance writer. She is studying English Literature at Hunter College. She loves reading, walking around the city, and coffee!