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Porterdale FD's Spring Fling
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Staff Report
Updated: Apr 16, 2014, 2:00 AM
Published: Apr 16, 2014, 12:04 AM

Spring is known as a time for cleaning and renewal.

The Porterdale Volunteer Fire Department is hoping that holds true, as it prepares for its Second Annual Spring Fling from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., May 3.

The fire department is using all proceeds from the festival to help renovate its three-decade old building. Fire Station 11, on 2 Main Street in Porterdale, was built in the 1980s and hasn’t had improvements made since.

According to Katie Savage, the building needs repairs for leaks, new paint on the inside and out and new carpeting. The building also has plywood on the upper levels where the fire fighters keep their equipment. According to Savage,  once when a fire fighter was up in that space, he fell through the plywood into the kitchen.

The Spring Fling is free of admission charges and will feature games, vendors, arts, crafts, jumpers, raffles, food and prizes.

For more information, contact Savage at 678-994-2323 or pvfdrescue11@yahoo.com
Eric Russell announces candidacy for Porterdale City Council Post 1
Eric Russell
Eric Russell - photo by Special Photo
Special to The News
Updated: Aug 15, 2023, 6:12 PM
Published: Aug 15, 2023, 8:53 PM

PORTERDALE, Ga. – Eric Russell, resident of Porterdale, officially declared his candidacy for the position of Post 1 with the city council of Porterdale.  He and his wife moved to Porterdale and purchased one of the mill houses within Porterdale’s Historic District in 2022. He stated, “We loved the charm and character of not only the houses, but also the history behind what Porterdale had been, along with the possibility of what the village could become.

I retired from law enforcement after 27 years and have always felt called toward public service.  I saw running for city council as a way to continue that service in the community, albeit in a much different role.”  Russell had begun a career in law enforcement in 1988 and had served in numerous areas within the Wichita Falls Police Department in Texas, including being a Crimes Against Persons detective as well as being promoted through the ranks of the department until retiring in 2015 as the Captain over the Patrol Division.

“I had been tasked with the implementation of the in-car computer system for the department prior to retirement and am proud of having successfully helped bring that department into the modern age of policing through the use of a computerized dispatching and report writing system.”  Russell also said, “I feel I have skills within the area of long term logistical planning that can be beneficial for the village of Porterdale in order to help continue to move toward a future that will reflect growth as well as keeping the nuances of the past that were formed by having the mill here in the community.”  

Russell stated that his vision would be to promote progress, preservation and prosperity here within the village while maintaining a sound fiscal position. 

“I have talked to many people and asked a lot of questions especially given the past legacies of the village.  I have attended almost every council meeting, including the annual planning retreat in order to become aware of as much information as possible before deciding to run for a council post.  I believe that civic duty calls for dedication and the donation of personal time in order to make a difference in people’s lives.”