February 2, 2004

WRT fire department honored

       Scott Cassin was honored by the Johnson County Firefighters Association for his extraordinary commitment to the community.  The White River Township Fire Department deputy chief recently received the 2003 Dick Van Valer Service Award, the highest honor presented to a past or present Johnson County firefighter.  Cassin began his service with White River Township Fire Department as a cadet in 1982 while he was still in high school.  He officially joined the department in 1986 and has served in many capacities within the department since that time.  He was promoted to deputy chief in January 2003.

        Several other White River Township firefighters were honored at the department’s annual awards banquet January 17.  This year’s Civilian Commendation went to Bethany Bork, Carli Clements and Brittany Emerson, three Center Grove teen-agers who discovered a White River Township home on fire in June.  The girls called 911, beat on windows and doors to alert anyone who might have been inside and checked the garage for cars.  No one was inside the home, and no injuries were reported.  More than 150 people attended the awards event at Valle Vista Golf and Conference Center in Greenwood.

 

Annual Fire Department Awards

EMS Run Unit Citation:  Eric Brown, Mandy Cassin, Scott Cassin and Kim Clawson; and Jason Bailey, Eric Brown, Scott Cassin, Ryan Cox, Joe Settles and Jeff Wilson.

EMS Run of the Year:  Bruce Alexander, Joe Green and Joel Thacker

EMT of the Year:  Casey Arkins

Paramedic of the Year:  Rhonda Holtsclaw

Outstanding Training Achievement:  Scott Deford

Auxiliary Service Awards:  Kim Clawson (10 years), Renee Skipper (5 years)

Cadet Firefighter of the Year:  Scott Klinger

Firefighter Service Awards:  Jason Arkins (10 years); Jason Bailey, Mike Combs, Wayne Fletcher and Brian McRoberts (five years)

Special Recognition:  Anna Marsh (retired firefighter, 17 years of service), Bill Patterson (retired district board member, eight years of service)

Public Service Awards:  Jason Coffey, Mike Combs, Steve Coover, Jory Cox, Jim Meacham, Steve Rowland and Tanya Rowland

Investigator of the Year:  Jory Cox

Civilian Commendations:  Bethany Bork, Carli Clements and Brittany Emerson

Officer of the Year:  Scott Cassin 

Firefighter of the Year:  Josh Justice

 

(Reprinted with permission from the Daily Journal)

  

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