San Juan County Fire & Rescue Consolidates

The San Juan County Fire and Rescue consolidated its 10 districts into one at the start of February to provide better service to all residents. The county also celebrated the opening of a new training and wellness center at the San Juan County Adult Detention Center. And San Juan Regional Medical Center is now offering a bariatric surgery support group for individuals recovering from or working toward bariatric surgery. You're watching the "Local News Roundup" brought to you by Three Rivers Brewery and The Big Idea Maker Space at San Juan College. I'm Gillian Arwine. As of February 1st, all 10 San Juan County fire districts were consolidated under one fire department identification number to enable the department to better serve its residents. San Juan County's first fire departments were established in the 1950s to serve specific geographic areas across the county. The early 2000s, there was a need for the districts to consolidate to more effectively run the districts. And San Juan County Fire Department was formed. After 20 years of operating under San Juan County Fire Department and then San Juan County Fire and Rescue, it is time to consolidate once again. Other than changes to signage and badging, the general public should see no difference in service. Residents in lesser incorporated areas will see a planned rise in service with the consolidation of districts into four regions of service. San Juan County currently has 28 fire stations and 128 pieces of apparatus to service more than 5,000 square miles. There are 130 volunteer members, 19 uniformed full-time staff, and 10 administrative staff who respond to more than 9,000 calls a year. San Juan Regional Medical Center is now offering a bariatric surgery support group to support anyone who has recently had bariatric surgery or is working toward a surgical date. Meetings are held at the Metabolic and Bariatric Institute the second Tuesday of each month from 5:30 to 6:30 PM. Individuals are invited to discuss a range of topics, share experiences, and provide and receive peer support. The upcoming topics from February include meal prep can be fun, vitamin controversies, and dispelling myths after surgery. We all have beach bodies and summer cookout options. The support group is free, just show up. No registration is required. The group is led by Megan Ritz, a physician assistant, and the assistant director of the Metabolic and Bariatric Institute. Staff members at the San Juan County Adult Detention Center now have a new space to relax, train, rest, and work out with the completion of the Training and Wellness Center. The $2.13 million facility funded by American Rescue Plan Act Funds includes a dedicated training space, gym, locker rooms, laundry facilities, sleeping quarters, and a break room. Replacing a double wide mobile home that has been used as both an office and training space since 2005. The new facility aims to provide the staff with a higher quality of living while at work. The San Juan County Adult Detention Center also recently celebrated its re-Accreditation from the Adult Detention Professional Standards Council. It is one of only 10 centers in New Mexico to have achieved accreditation. Looking for the best snacks for your Super Bowl table? According to gambling.com, the top Super Bowl snack for New Mexico is chili, and the top choice of dip for those finger foods is salsa. Nationwide, watchers tend to go for chicken wings, chips and dip and fries with dips, including ranch, salsa and hummus. Watch the San Francisco 49-ers take on the Kansas City Chiefs this Sunday, February 11th at 4:30 PM. Learn more about these and other stories online at Farmington Local News. Thank you again for watching this edition of the Local News Network. I'm Gillian Arwine.