Byrd estate funds new rescue squad building, truck and equipment

Elgin Bogan, left, and Danny Harris with the Mississippi County Rescue Squad look Monday, June 3, 2024, at the new truck and jaws of life funded by the James L. Byrd III estate.

Gina Curtis/Standard Democrat

CHARLESTON, Mo. — A new Mississippi County Rescue Squad building was recently constructed using funds from the James L. Byrd III estate, which also helped purchase a new truck that transports all of the squad’s rescue equipment.

The donation from the Byrd estate also helped purchase the squad’s new piece of equipment — the jaws of life, which is a tool that is used for emergency rescue to free people trapped in vehicles after accidents.

All of Mississippi County Rescue Squad members are volunteers, not employees — a fact many people are unaware of, said Danny Harris, director of the Mississippi County Rescue Squad.

“Most people don’t know that we are 100% volunteer and 100% donation funded,” Harris said. “So, there’s no tax dollars that come into us.”

Harris said squad has approximately 20 member-volunteers.They will respond anywhere in Mississippi County, as well as parts of Scott and New Madrid counties.

“We got motor-vehicle accidents, grain-bin rescues,” Harris said. “We get people out of houses; we go to water rescues. We’ve been out in the river — just about anything that needs help, we go to it.”

According to Harris, the Mississippi County Rescue Squad volunteers are extremely grateful for the new truck. 

Gina Curtis/Standard Democrat Pictured Monday, June 3, 2024, in front of the new Mississippi County Rescue Squad truck funded by the James L. Byrd III estate are, from left: Elgin Bogan, Danny Harris, Hudson Byrd, Rodney Jones and Brian Bickford.

“Our old truck was a 2006 model — and, that, we got through a grant,” Harris said. “But it’s only a two-wheel drive; it was just what we could afford at that time.

He continued: “The new truck is four wheel drive now and it will be such a great asset during bad weather. A lot of county roads we go down and we’ve had our old truck stuck numerous times. This new truck will help us get to the people quicker and safer.”

Harris expressed gratitude for the new building and the Byrd foundation. According to Harris, the new building, which is located at 900 S. Fifth St. in Charleston, is the same length but 6 feet wider than the former building which is right next to it. 

“We are just so grateful, we couldn’t have done this without them,” Harris said. “And this new building is just a dream come true, honestly.”