An article in the Boston Globe newspaper gathers technology news and tries to imagine what the future of 911 might be like–and misses. The reporter correctly forecasts that an in-vehicle system might dial 911 when the airbags are deployed (although that’s actually current technology. But then the reporter muses, “Ten cars plow into the twisted wreck. Panicked witnesses dial 911. They shoot video of the scene with their cell phones.” Even more interesting is the prediction that, “Responders could send a video demo of the Heimlich maneuver to a cell phone if a family member is choking.” Read the entire story here.

Old Orchard Beach (Maine) dispatchers are facing lay-offs when dispatching operations for the town are moved to nearby Scarborough, which has offered only to consider them as new applicants for dispatcher positions. Dispatcher union president Andrea Perrone said their contract gives them seniority in any consolidation plan, including vacation time, shift selection and pay scale. But town manager Jim Thomas explained the comm center switch isn’t a consolidation. Read the full story here.

An article in the Pittsburgh (Penn.) Tribune newspaper recounts the role that Allegheny County 911 dispatcher Randy Tedesco played on Sept. 11th terrorist attacks–he received a call from the sister of a man who had found two officers trapped in the World Trade Center rubble, and who couldn’t reach local emergency workers on his cellular phone. He dialed his sister, who then reached Tedesco. After talking to the woman, Tedesco tried to reach New York City dispatchers, but the lines were jammed. He faxed and sent a message via NLETS. Several hours later he received a call back from NYPD saying they were enroute to the location, and later reported they had rescued the trapped persons. Read more here.

The father of a boy who was struck by lightning in Palmetto (Fla.) credited Lisa Kalmback with helping him save the 16 year-old. “She kept me sane – I was a basket case, really. She’s just a phenomenal lady,” he told a newspaper reporter. Read the full story here

The 911 Cares program has posted information on the tragic death of Moline (Ill.) Sgt. Michael Sottos, husband of former Moline dispatcher Debbie Sottos. He leaves behind five children, and his wife is expecting a sixth child. Check the memorial Web site or the 911 Cares Web page for how to help or send condolences.

The Tulsa World newspaper has a good article on state plans to create a state-wide 800 MHz trunked radio system for public safety agencies using $28 million in federal grant funds. In the story, a Motorola official claims the company has built 29 of 32 state radio systems across the country. Read the entire story and view the graphics here.

The Weather Channel announced its Emergency Manager Program designed to connect emergency managers with resources from The Weather Channel during hurricane season through twice-daily conference calls as storms approach, regular e-mail alerts and special Web-posted information. The pilot program also includes complimentary subscriptions to the Weather Channel’s Notify! Alert service, Desktop Max, and weather.com Gold products, the company says in a press release. Bad news…it’s by invitation-only at this point, but based on experience and feedback it will possibly be expanded in 2007 to include other agencies.

The city of Honolulu (Hi.) is in the midst of a huge project to replace eight of the 24 towers that support the city/county public safety radio system and upgrade other components, at a cost of $22.5 million. A new city analysis of the project says they towers will be replaced over the next 2-3 years. Read the story here.

A comprehensive article in the Palm Beach (Fla.) News-Journal newspaper explained that Flagler County has switched to an 800 MHz trunked radio system, and opted to encrypt its main dispatch channel, a move that has govenrment watchdogs complaining that the sheriff is trying to hide something. Sheriff’s spokesperson Debra Johnson told the reporter, “Professional criminals and drug dealers are currently capable of monitoring our activities.” The article notes that Winter Park PD is the first central state agency to encrypt all its radio communications, and includes a run-down on the local radio systems and 10-Codes. Read the full story here.

Former Pender County (NC) 911 dispatcher Deborah Hobbs has prevailed in her appeal of a 201 year-old state law that prohbited unmarried couples from living together, and which led to her resignation in May 2004. Superior Court Judge Benjamin Alford issued a ruling that said the state’s law violated Hobbs’ constitutional right to liberty. Hobbs will not return to her former job, where Sheriff Carson Smith had given her a ultimatum–resign or be fired for being in violation of the law. The state could appeal the judge’s ruling, but it seems unlikely, since the legislators have been looking for a way to repeal the law for many years, without looking as if they’re condoning gay rights. [Interestingly, the city of Greensboro, NC is considering a plan to allow domestic partner benefits to its gay and lesbian employees. They waited until the Hobbs case was decided before going ahead with the plan.]

White County (Ark.) 911 is paying about $8,000 a month to AT&T for its 911 system, but that doesn’t include long-distance telephone charges when county dispatchers transfer calls to local agencies for actual dispatch. 911 coordinator Tamara Jenkins told a recent Emergency Services Administrative Board meeting that the fees mount up over the month. The situation is complicated by the different telephone companies, and even an Area Code split within the county. The Board said it plans to have an AT&T representative appear and explain how the charges are tallied.

Shift scheduling is a consistent issue with comm centers, and now there’s an on-line, Web-based application that allows you to create and share schedules–and it claims to be a free service! The WhenAmIOn.com Web site has some demonstration screens, and you have to sign up with an account to actually use the scheduling application. Surf here to begin.

The Boston Globe newspaper technology section included a look forward to future 911 technology, based on two trials that the federal NTIA is conducting in conjunction with NENA and two universities. Read the story here.

The Federal Highway Administration has posted its study on how to improve traffic management centers (TMC) by integrating emergency and weather information sources. The study includes input from 38 TMCs across the county, and provides some lessons for public safety comm centers. Read the report on-line here.

A nice on-line story recounts how Marathon County (Wisc.) dispatcher jade Marten helped a mother dislodge a piece of apple from her 18 month-old daughter’s throat. “Tilt the baby’s head so the head is down a little bit, OK? Use the heel of your hand, your other hand, and try to strike her back about five times. Right between the shoulder blades, OK?” Marten told the mother. Read the story and watch the video report here.