Whitehouse resident joins ESD No. 2 board

With a unanimous vote, Smith County Commissioners approved Jack Allen to serve on the Emergency Services District No. 2 board this week.

Allen will replace President Jim Carlyle. Carlyle recently resigned the position due to health problems.

"Allen is a retired firefighter from Shreveport," Pct. 2 Commission Bill McGinnis said. "He brings many years of experience to the table."

Allen moved to Whitehouse following 32 years of service in the Shreveport Fire Department. He served as a district chief over five fire stations and 30 firefighters.

"I was glad to be appointed to the district position," Allen said. "I look forward to working with this group of people."

Allen said he thought it was good that the group is made up of such a diverse mix of professions. He said it is important to have the firefighter expertise but just as important to have members who have the budgetary and legal experience that these people have.

New officers for ESD No. 2 will be chosen at their next meeting set for March 20.