911 celebrates 50 years; Saline County 911 is nearly 25

SALINE COUNTY -- It's a milestone that likely passed without much fanfare, but due to its nature, people often don't think about dialing 911 unless life takes an unexpected turn.

On Feb. 16, 1968, Alabama Speaker of the House Rankin Fike, made the first 911 call from the Haleyville City Hall in Haleyville Ala.

Since then, 911 technology has evolved and continues to evolve to consumer expectations. Each advancement has improved the ability to receive better and more reliable information that is relayed to the first responders so they can do their job of saving lives and property.

The advancements have been significant. Originally, 911 calls were presented with three-digit calling or speed dial. Location information and "call-back number," known in the industry as ALI and ANI allowed for more information to be obtained. With the advancement of cellular phones in the late 1990s and early 2000s, location information based on a geospatial location using longitude and latitude became possible. Voice Over Internet, or VOIP, has led to additional location information being needed from Internet-based calls.

Next Generation 911 calls allow text message to be sent to 911 systems, and opens the doors for video and picture information to be sent to a 911 system.

More than 500 million 911 calls are made each year in the United States.

Saline County 911 went online in 1993 and has been a part of nearly 25 years of 911 history. The county's 911 system was one the first adopters of Enhanced 911 in Illinois. Saline County receives 911 calls at times from 10 counties in three states and was the first county in Illinois to handle 911 calls for more than one county when it began serving Gallatin County.

Saline County 911 activated its Next Generation 911 system in 2015 and was part of the national pilot project for Next Generation 911. Saline County is the only county in southern Illinois that also provides text to 911 services and was the second location in Illinois to provide text to 911. The first was Arlington Heights.

Currently, Saline County's 911 system has 12 women and men who serve the system. Steve Hollerson, a 21-year-veteran of the 911 system, said one of the most important parts of the job of a dispatcher is staying calm and helping a caller stay calm in a bad situation.

"You need to be able to keep them calm so you can collect as much information as you can," Hollerson said.

He said service to the community makes the job worth doing.

"The ability to help people when they're in need is the most rewarding part," Hollerson said.

Lt. Tracy Felty, Saline County's E911 director, said he wants to highlight 50 years of 911 by reminding people how important the service remains to their safety.

"As we celebrate 50 years of 911 service in the United States, it is important to remember that the men and women who answer those emergency calls 24 hours a day, 7 days a week are the nation's 'first' first responders and with out them, the emergency services of EMS, fire and police would not be able to respond as quickly to those that need help," Felty said.

Staff writer Travis DeNeal contributed to this report.