Backup Power Keeps 911, Jail Operating

Tue., Sept. 16, 1997

From Staff And Wire Reports

Emergency backup systems kept Canyon County’s 911 dispatch and jail operations going Monday after electrical systems at the courthouse failed.

Officials believe a loose connection at the courthouse’s main circuit board overheated about 9 a.m. Sunday, starting a chain reaction that melted down the system.

“Something along the line failed and caused the whole thing to burn. It fried everything in there,” said Al Showalter, chief administrative deputy for the Canyon County Sheriff’s Department.

Electricians and county maintenance crews worked into the night trying to restore power for at least some county services. Showalter said repairing the 20-year-old equipment would be costly.

Despite the trouble, Canyon County’s 911 communications, the jail and juvenile detention facilities remained operational by switching to emergency batteries and generators. Otherwise, only the sheriff’s office and emergency court services were operating Monday.

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Backup Power Keeps 911, Jail Operating

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