Council honors life-saving RFD trio

The agenda was short at the May 11th Russellville City Council meeting, but it was one to remember for three members of the Russellville Fire Department who were recognized for helping save the life of a Russellville man. 

It was around 9:30 p.m., the night of February 18, 2026, when an emergency call came in for an unresponsive male who wasn’t breathing.

The Russellville Fire Department arrived first, and with no ambulance on the scene, acting Chief Randy Seal, and firefighters Shawn Hines, Jr., and Aaron Lynch, began lifesaving efforts on Steven Bledsoe.

Bledsoe had suffered a massive heart attack and required immediate lifesaving efforts.

Lynch, an Advanced EMT, would administer three lines of epinephrine, as his fellow EMTs administered multiple shock treatments.

By the time the ambulance arrived on scene, Bledsoe had been revived and was stable enough for hospital transport.

It was a ‘touch and go’ life or death emergency, but the first responders didn’t give up, and neither did Bledsoe.

Those firefighters received framed certificates of merit and Lifesaving Award medals of appreciation at Monday’s meeting, all in the presence of special guests Bledsoe and his family 

An emotional Bledsoe recently celebrated his 53rd birthday, something that was, at best, uncertain the night of February 18th.

“I just want to thank these guys for saving my life,” Bledsoe said at Monday’s meeting. “I’m here today because of each of you.”

RFD Chief Joe Mansell called February 18, 2026, a great day.

“Because of the lifesaving measures done by these men, that brings us to another great day—today,” Mansell said Monday.

Russellville District Two Councilman Darren Woodruff shared his appreciation at the job done by the city’s fire department on a daily basis.

“I would put our fire department up against any fire department in the country,” Woodruff said. “They continue to go above and beyond their duty. If you have an emergency in Russellville, when the fire department shows up you are in good hands.”

In other agenda items at the February 18th meeting, the council:

—accepted an America250AL $2,500 grant for the Jam on Sloss Lake event.

—approved a quote of $133,796.46 from Hammill Recreation, Play & Park Structures, for new playground equipment at City Lake Park (pricing per OMNIA Partners Public Sector Contract).

The contract provides for up to a 60-day timeframe for the new equipment to be installed.

“I want to thank Mayor David Grissom and Donnie Flanagan with the Parks and Recreation Department,” said Woodruff, whose district includes City Lake Park. “Both of them went to work right away when we were notified the playground equipment had been damaged. And they found some really nice playground equipment to replace it with. I believe our young citizens will enjoy this very much for years to come.”

Half of the expense will come from the city’s general fund and half from the Capital Improvement fund, Grissom said.

The next regular meeting of the Russellville City Council will be May 18, 2026, with work session at 6 p.m., and meeting to follow.