Trio of Missouri Firefighters, Including Mayor, Reinstated After Special Meeting

Arrow Rock, MO -- Last Thursday evening's special assembly of the Arrow Rock Town Board and local residents had all the ingredients needed for a conflagration -- the fuel of inflammatory statements, the oxygen of an extremely public environment and the spark of a letter informing three of the small town's firefighters of their suspensions until further notice.

But cooler heads, provided most notably by Bill Lovin, a member of the Town Board, prevailed in the end and Fire Chief Michael Duncan asked the board for permission to rescind the suspensions -- which included Tom Beamer, a volunteer firefighter as well as the mayor for the village of 70, Robert Hunter, first assistant fire chief; and Hunter's son, Jason.

The special meeting was called by the mayor, who recused himself from presiding, to discuss a letter written by Duncan to the members of the Town Board, in the words of the fire chief, "to inform you that a very serious and legal situation has occurred concerning Tom Beamer, mayor of the village of Arrow Rock against myself