When it comes to convincing people about the benefits of 911, Mercer County Director of Public Safety James R. Thompson likes to tell a story about a 7-mile road that connects Grove City and Slippery Rock.

The stretch of blacktop, which was home at one time for Thompson's parents, is Grove City-Slippery Rock Road. And it was the picture of confusion when it came to emergency calls years ago.

"Depending on what type of emergency you had prior to 911 and depending on where you were at on that road, there was any one of nine different phone numbers you could call for that emergency," Thompson recalled. "Today, no matter where you're at on that road, you dial 911."

The reason for that, of course, has been the development of the 911 Center in Mercer.

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