We welcome Matthew Colpitts back to the show to talk about emergencies (again)! Matthew and his team are hard at work prepping for the summer season, which includes smoke and wildfires, drought conditions, and oh yeah, this little thing called the World Cup... With games scheduled to start in June through July in our region, we're expecting signficant traffic impact, yes even all the way down here in Auburn.

Matthew Colpitts brings more than 20 years of experience in emergency services, emergency management, safety, security, and leadership. His work has included emergency planning, incident response, preparedness training, community safety, and crisis recovery.

Matthew earned his doctorate from Fielding Graduate University, where his research focused on emergency management in educational institutions. He is also a Certified Protection Professional through ASIS and holds TEEX's Infrastructure Protection Certificate, FEMA's HSEEP certificate, FEMA's Professional Development Series certificate, and several advanced incident command and emergency management certifications.

In addition to his professional work, Matthew has been active in local and community organizations, including service, civic, and arts-focused groups. Outside of work, he enjoys traveling, learning new things, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and Dungeons & Dragons. He is also a proud first-generation college graduate from rural Maine and, at home, is part of an adorable family that includes a cat named Mrs. Scraggles.

Hello and welcome to That's So Auburn! I'm Nancy Backus, Mayor of the City of Auburn, and today's episode is a very special one.

I'm joined by a City of Auburn staff member who has dedicated nearly four decades of her life to serving Auburn's older adults and helping shape one of the most welcoming and meaningful places in our community: the Auburn Senior Activity Center.

Radine Lozier began her career with the City of Auburn in June of 1986, right after graduating from Central Washington University with a degree in Gerontology. What started as her first "grown-up" job became a life's calling. Over the past 40 years, Radine has helped create programs, community, connection, and care for generations of Auburn seniors and their families.

But if you ask Radine, she'll be the first to tell you that while she spent her career serving older adults, they were the ones who taught her how to live. Through life's biggest moments -- joy, grief, celebration, change -- the people of the Senior Center have been part of her story, just as she has been part of theirs.

Now, as Radine prepares to retire from the City of Auburn and, in her own words, transition into her new role as a Senior Center participant, we wanted to take time to celebrate her remarkable career, the lives she's touched, and the legacy she leaves behind.

Mayor Nancy Backus is joined this episode by Valley Regional Fire Authority Chief Brad Thompson! Why is he on the show today? Because we want to talk about fire safety, fire preparedness, and fill you in on some of the recent happenings at the fire authority, which services Auburn in addition to Algona and Pacific.

Chief Thompson began his firefighting career in 1999, at the then-Auburn Fire Department. Since that time, he's worked his way through the ranks, gaining experience in nearly every facet of the fire service – from public education to technical rescue to planning and logistics. He was appointed Fire Chief in 2021, and brings with him not only a deep understanding of our local communities, but also a strong focus on collaboration, communication, and innovation.

He's here today to share some insights, offer some practical tips to keep you and your family safe, and give us a behind-the-scenes look at the incredible work being done by the VRFA.