Paulson new Havre assistant fire chief

Mel Paulson, an 18-year veteran firefighter, has been named assistant Havre fire chief

Mayor Tim Solomon nominated Paulson to the post, and the appointment was ratified unanimously by City Council Monday night

Solomon said Paulson "meets and exceeds all qualifications necessary to perform the job,” Solomon said.

“Mel’s high level of expertise, healthy self-confidence and excellent leadership skills combine to make him an excellent choice,” Solomon wrote to council.

Paulson succeeds Tim Hedges, who was elevated to fire chief after the retirement of longtime chief Dave Sheppard.

Two other firefighters were named to the force upon Solomon’s recommendation. They are:

• Mark Benjamin, who has been a senior firefighter/paramedic for seven years with the Boise, Idaho, Fire Department, is returning to his hometown. He is a Havre High School graduate and said he wanted to return to Havre to be close to family and friends.

• Colter Dimas, a former Army ranger, has has bachelor’s degrees in diesel and automotive technology.

In other news at Monday’s council meeting:

• Havre resident Bill Lanier once again asked Mayor Tim Solomon if there was a any progress in naming a new police chief.

Lanier got the same response.

“Not much is new,” Mayor Tim Solomon responded.

“If you don’t ask questions, you don’t get answers,” responded Lanier.

Gabe Matosich has been interim chief for 18 months and, in public, there has been no movement toward making an appointment.