Smithville officials promote Upper Cumberland emergency-preparedness expo following remembrance ceremony

As the ceremony closed, Smithville Fire Chief Charlie Parker invited the public to attend an Upper Cumberland Emergency Preparedness Expo scheduled the next day at Swivel Airport, describing demonstrations, equipment exhibits and training scaled to regional preparedness needs. "We're having a, upper Cumberland emergency preparedness expo," Parker said, and he outlined that the event runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., will include a live burn demonstration at 10:30 and about 50 vendors.

Parker said the expo — the seventh regional event and the first hosted in Smithville — will feature medical helicopters, police and fire apparatus, a Blue Angels commander speaking at noon, and free public admission. He encouraged community members to attend and to see the region's emergency response capabilities on display.