By Nicholas M. Horrock

By Nicholas M. Horrock Rappahannock News Staff Writer When Charlotte Turnmeyer started driving a school bus 20 years ago, she found to her amazement that if one of the youngsters became ill or injured she couldn’t help them. “You’ll be sued, “ her supervisor warned her, “you’re not trained.” With that challenge in mind, Turnmeyer took an emergency medical technician course which began two decades of fire fighting and rescue work and led her this fall to teaching Rappahannock County High School’s first formal course to become an emergency medical technician.

For this mother of two grown children who for years had to balance rescue work and training with taking care of her children, this course was both a challenge and an honor. On a recent visit to her class, two things are noticed: the students love this course and Tummeyer’s years of dealing with people under stress has given her the manner of a firm but gentle Marine Gunnery Sergeant. The youngsters are arrayed more toward the back of the room than the front. “You can sit up here,” she suggests. “I work better in the back,” says one young woman. Laughter Meetings & Notices • On Thursday, March 4, the Rappahannock County Water and Sewer Authority will meet . at 7:30 p.m. at the county courthouse on Gay Street. • On Friday, March 5 Rapidtran transportation services will not operate in observance of a staff In-Service day. • On Tuesday, March 9, the Rappahannock County School Board will have a budget work session at 6:30 p.m., a closed session at 7 p.m., and a public session at 7:30 p.m. in the RCHS band room. • On Wednesday, March 10, the Washington Town Council will meet at 7:30 p.m. at the Town Hall. On the agenda is selection by council of a soil consultant and design engineer for a wastewater system at the Clopton property.