Kidney transplant for Jonesboro Fire Captain a success

The kidney transplant from one Jonesboro Fire Captain to another was a success, Fire Chief Marty Hamrick said. The transplant was performed at UT Methodist in Memphis. Last September, Jonesboro Fire Department Capt. Morgan Walling received news from his doctor that he needed a kidney transplant. It was found out that Capt. Brittany Milligan was a perfect match. Several friends and family offered to be “tested” as a match for Morgan’s transplant. Rather than testing in batches, they are processed one at a time and ruled out. Luck would have it that Brittany was the second person tested. Their blood type matched. Then their antigens matched. Then their health scores matched. Brittany and Morgan’s kidneys ended up being, more or less, a perfect fit! After the transplant, Milligan was able to go home Thursday, May 9, Hamrick said.
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Jonesboro Fire Department graduates first Citizens Fire Academy class

The inaugural Citizens Fire Academy graduated its first class Monday night, May 6, at the Fire Training Academy off Stadium Boulevard. Eleven people completed the nine-week course, Jonesboro Fire Chief Marty Hamrick said. “We’re trying to get citizens informed about what we do,” he said. “They’re learning a lot of things they didn’t realize what we do.” The course included a history of JFD, requirements of firefighters, protective equipment, fire and life safety, vehicle extrication, physical fitness and other criteria. The sessions were held at various fire stations in Jonesboro and included nine instructors from the department, Hamrick said. “It’s been a pretty positive response with the instructors and the people taking the class,” he said.
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