City of Independence September 2016 NewsletterFINALFINAL09.01.2016

City of Independence
811 W. Laurel
Independence, KS 67301
EMPLOYMENT
OPPORTUNITIES
MICT/FFI(Paramedic): $753.76
per 56-hour work week; benefits.
Firefighter I/EMT: $618.80 per
56-hour work week; benefits.
Patrolman I: Full-time. $15.10/
hour; benefits.
Water Plant Operator I:
Full-time. $15.40/hour; benefits.
Water Plant Operator Trainee:
Full-time. $13.73/hour; benefits.
Applications are accepted at:
Kansas Works, 317 N. Penn
620-332-5904
www.southeastkansasworks.com
www.kansasworks.com
These old dogs are retiring, while there
is still time to teach a few new tricks
fter much careful thought and more than a little agony,
A Independence Fire Chief Rusty Baker decided what gift he wanted
to give himself for his 60th birthday later this year - freedom!
A 25-year veteran of the department, Rusty has spent the last eight
years in the chief’s role. He recently announced plans to retire effective
November 1, although he intends to stay in close touch with the people
and the community he’s come to love.
“I get so attached to people, especially the people I work with,” Rusty
said. “I love my staff. This was a really hard decision.”
Originally a brick mason by trade, Rusty recalled his life 25 years ago
when he was having trouble finding work locally and had to travel for
jobs. A friend who knew he wasn’t happy encouraged him - several
times - to apply for a firefighter’s job.
“I finally decided to apply in the last hour of the last day they were
taking applications,” he said. “It ended up being the best thing job-wise
that I ever did.”
After retirement, Rusty plans to put more focus into his personal
business, providing professional training services for hunting dogs on his
rural Independence property dubbed Remington Ranch Lodge and
Training Facility. The facility is fondly named after another star in the
Indy fire department, Rusty’s beloved 9-year-old Labrador, Remington,
who joined the crew in 2009 and has been delighting the community
ever since with his smart fire dog tricks.
“We always say we can train Remington to do anything with 30
minutes and a Slim Jim,” Rusty joked.
Stop, drop and roll, ringing the fire truck bell and pulling out the hose
on the ladder truck are just a few of Remington’s best-known tricks.
Assisting with fire
prevention education
and community fundraisers,
like auctioning
off a ride to school on
the fire truck, are the
kinds of activities
Rusty and Remington
want to stay involved
with.
“I didn’t know
anything about
community service
when I came to work
here,” Rusty said.
“The fact that we’re
out doing good for the
community, that’s the
biggest reward for us
all. I don’t want it to
just end.”
No doubt, we’ll still see Rusty and Remington at our local parades and
community events for a long time to come. And certainly no one can
fault Rusty on his retirement decision. After all, he may be turning only
60, but in dog years, he’s pushing 420!
Congratulations, Rusty (and Remington)!