CVFSA fate lies in check

For two hours 154 persons listened intently as 42 speakers took their turn during the Lincoln County Commissioners hearing Wednesday on the dissolution of Cabinet View Fire Service Area.

There were empassioned pleas and statements from both sides, the majority coming from those who seek to save the CVFSA from dismemberment.

“All I want to do is help our neighbors,” said Jeff Matilas, wearing an officer’s white shirt from Cabinet View.

“If we’re ever going to heal from this, we need to stop these false accusations,” an emotional Matilas said.

CVFSA Chief Dan Leavell, who addressed the group twice, echoed Matilas’ comment about serving neighbors, and added “we need to put this Lincoln County disease on hold and stop another source of betrayal.”

David DeShazer, a resident of the CVFSA, said he is among those who circulated the petition for dissolution.

“They simply can’t dispatch, and they have been,” DeShazer said.

“We want everyone to get along, and we don’t want to see it go away. We just want new leadership.”