Fire-Rescue held the annual Christmas Dinner and Awards Banquet at the Colleton County Middle School Saturday evening 09-December at 17:00. County Firefighters and CERT Members from across the county gathered to celebrate Christmas and enjoy some time together. This year set a milestone with two Firefighters reaching 50 years of service with the department. Captain John Graham and Lt. David Sauls both with Station # 7 began their service as volunteers who assisted with starting the Town of Smoaks Fire Department in 1973. Smoaks became part of the Fire-Rescue 19 years ago. Graham had served many decades as the Fire Chief for the Town. Two other Firefighters reached 40 years of service. Fire-Rescue Commission Chairman LaVern Polk and Islandton Firefighter Dale Ulmer have both served the district for forty years. They both helped establish the Islandton Fire Dept in the early 80s and have continued serving since then. Fire Commissioner Clyde Capers was recognized for 35 years of service, also starting his service in Islandton as well as third generation Firefighter Jared Polk, son of Commissioner LaVern Polk, also from Islandton. Islandton became part of Fire-Rescue in 1994. David Sauls was recognized as Volunteer Firefighter of the Year. Besides being active with Station # 7, Sauls also assists with many other duties including the Training Division, radio operations and working in the EOC during times of activation. Career Firefighter of the Year was Alexa Fontana, who is assigned to the 9,19, 20 platoon on "B" Shift. An exceptional employee, she was unanimously selected by the Captains. In addition to her Firefighter-Paramedic duties, Fontana assists with the Training Division and other functions within the department. A new award this year was the W. Gene Whetsell Award for Excellence, created to honor the former Councilman. Mr. Whetsell's dedication to the community and the Fire-Rescue Program was unwavering. He committed his life to serving others in Colleton County. The award goes beyond life saving, but recognizes those who are life changing. The recipients of the first W. Gene Whetsell Award for Excellence were Jonathan Brown and Aaron Jones. Gene's wife Cathie was present for the presentation.
40 years – LaVern Polk, Dale Ulmer
35 years – Clyde Capers
30 years - Jared Polk
25 years - Daniel Barnes, David Barnes, Oliver Barnes, Ray Delonge, Christopher Gooding, Doug Mixson, Sr., Doug Mixson, Jr.
20 years - Joseph Campbell, Charles Maness, Matthew Parler, Michael Banks
15 years – Martha Bryan, Bryan Eadon, Christopher Elrod, Daniel Gregory, Chris Jones, Marshall Murdaugh, Stacey Taylor, Jack Wimberly
10 years – Tyler Allen, Michael Duffy, Steven Pelton, Robert Ratcliff, Michael Sanders, Joe Taylor, Darren Vaughn, William Worrell, (CERT) Akiba Bowers
5 years – (CERT) Kenneth Bahrenburg, (CERT) Dana Cheney, Demetrius Gilyard, Kenneth Glover, (CERT) Jesse Gooding, Gregory Graham, Aaron Hosenfeld, (CERT) Earlise Jamison, (CERT) Margaret Martin, (CERT) Vivan McFadden, (CERT) Beulah “Chippie” McLaughlin, Daniel Mishoe, Jacob Polk, (CERT) Edwin Roberson, Saterrence Robinson, Christopher Sarine, (CERT) Dorothy Shepherd, Courtney Snelgrove, Brent Spearman, Matthew Owens Williams III, James Wilson
Volunteer Firefighter of the Year 2023 – David Sauls
Career Firefighter of the Year 2023 – Alexa Fontana
W. Gene Whetsell Award for Excellence – Jonathan Brown and Aaron Jones
Exemplary Service Awards – Daniel Barb, Stephen Bellew, Brian Bishop, Jonathan Brown, Kenneth Campbell, Brent Dalton, Matthew Daugherty, Michael Duffy, James Gibby, Robert Gregory, Charles Jones, Chris Jones, Rommel Kirchoff, Andrew McCaskill, Barry McRoy, Jennifer Mixson, Scott O’Quinn, Frank Ptacin, Michael Sanders, Brent Spearman and Kevin Varnadoe
For additional pictures click here.
