Bridgestone donates first air station

The town of Morrison is the first to benefit from what is planned to be a number of automotive tire air inflation stations to be installed around the area, thanks to the generosity of Bridgestone Firestone.

The idea for the air stations originated when a local resident had a difficult time finding a station to air up a low tire during a trip to town and mentioned this to Bridgestone Firestone plant manager Ron Brooks after a meeting where the importance of keeping tires at proper inflation was mentioned.

Brooks in turn was successful in obtaining a Bridgestone Firestone corporate-funded grant. The grant was originally slated to fund the purchase of five stations, but the project has since grown to include as many as 10 stations, including the one at Morrison.

Morrison Mayor Bobby Prater and town employee Lee Baker, along with Bridgestone Firestone?s Carol Simcox and Ronnie Talbert, gathered for the official unveiling of the recently installed air station, which is located at the new Morrison fire station on Highway 55.

The stations fit right in with Bridgestone Firestone?s corporate philosophy of community involvement, as well as facilitating proper tire inflation, which is something the company encourages all drivers to do. It not only increases the life of tires and saves on fuel, but can also have an effect on safety, since it improves vehicle handling and avoids unnecessary breakdowns.

?One of our themes is ?check your tires,?? Simcox said. ?And it?s very important for safety?s sake to do this on a monthly basis.?

Prater said Morrison appreciates Bridgestone Firestone?s generosity and efforts in making it more convenient for area residents to properly maintain their tires.

?We?re pleased to receive this tire inflation station,? Prater said. ?We?ve seen several people out here using it already, so we know it?s a benefit to the community. We really want to thank Bridgestone Firestone. They are a good neighbor to us and we really appreciate it.?

McMinnville officials are currently discussing suitable sites, and once this is decided, the city will begin installing its stations.