Retired county dispatchers and retired supervisors of what originally was called the Lycoming County Department of Emergency Services, and what has been known now for many years as the county's Department of Public Safety, gathered for lunch Saturday to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the department's inception in February 1976. Pictured here beginning in the back row from left are: Ken Williamson, Mike Ireland, John Yingling (former department head), Richard Knect, Jack Rupert, Neal Winder, Bob Montgomery, Mike Holdren and Barry Hutchins. In the front row from left are: Connie Turner, Fred March, Sandy Holdren, Dan Strouse and Scott Konkle. Turner, Knecht and Ireland were among the first of seven dispatchers hired by the county in 1976. Rupert was the department's first director. PHILIP A. HOLMES/Sun-Gazette