If you travel in western Chilton County, you have probably had difficulty getting reception on your cell phone or two-way radio.

The same was true for fire departments in Chilton County — namely Maplesville, South Chilton and Plantersville.

This week we learned of a new radio repeater going up in the area. It is located on an old AT&T microwave tower west of Maplesville and is now the primary radio source for the aforementioned departments.

Having improved the radio reception in western Chilton County, the new repeater will bridge communication gaps between E-911 dispatchers and fire departments during important calls.

We’re sure the residents of Maplesville and surrounding areas were glad to hear of this upgrade.