Florence Depot/Bryan Gibson

If the Sweetwater/East Florence area is ever to live up to its name of Arts & Entertainment District, such eyesores as the old train depot will have to be renovated. This building is only three to four minutes from downtown Florence, and the reader who sent us the photo suggested it would be perfect for a casual eatery dubbed "The Whistlestop."

Thanks to Mary Carton for the photo and the idea. Mary is in the forefront to preserve historic buildings in her hometown of Tuscumbia.

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We've received a few questions about Bryan Gibson, owner of the new Shoals Ambulance Company. Mr. Gibson has been involved with several emergency service companies over the years, and those who have communicated with us have specifically asked about his connection to Rural/Metro Ambulance.

Obviously, we don't have a day to day biography of Mr. Gibson, but we can say that we have found no connection with Mr. Gibson and an Alabama lawsuit alleging Medicaid fraud. The suit was initiated in 2009, at which time Mr. Gibson was employed in Arizona by the Southwest division of the company. Here's a short bio:

Mr. Gibson has more than 20 years of experience in the ambulance and fire protection industry, having begun his career as a paramedic for the Memphis Fire Department. Mr. Gibson joined Rural/Metro in 1997 following the acquisition of his company, Priority EMS, as Division General Manager of the mid-South market. Mr. Gibson was promoted in 1998 to Director of Business Development for the Company's South Emergency Services segment. He served from 2001 to 2005 as Division General Manager for EMS operations in West Tennessee, Alabama and Northwest Florida, as well as the Company's national specialty fire protection division. In 2005, he was promoted to Group President of the South segment, and in 2008, he was given additional responsibility as President of the Southwest segment. In April 2010, Mr. Gibson's responsibilities were expanded to include oversight on an interim basis of all operating segments nationwide.

If anyone has any information concerning alleged wrongdoing by Mr. Gibson, please send us the info or link and we will be happy to publish it.



Shoalanda