Researchers have recently visited local clinics to interview and select possible participants.

The program, which will be one of only three programs nationwide, aims to provide clinical and educational support for people with loss or impairment of sense of smell.

A dual firefighter and emergency medical technician working at the High Springs Fire Department earns an average of $29,704 annually. The same position at Alachua County Fire Rescue equates to $33,357 per year. The salary for the same position at a South Florida town of Boca Raton is $47, 448 per year. “The turnover rate is high for us, compared to what we’ve been at in previous years,” said Harold Pheus, deputy chief of Alachua County Fire Rescue. “That’s one thing that has made us concerned about our wages.”