PORT ALLEGANY — The annual Fireman’s Banquet for Star Hose Fire Co. #1 was held recently at the firehall.
Alex Johnson served as emcee for the evening. After a moment of silence for members lost during the past year, Richard Lewis offered the invocation.
After dinner, the following special guests were introduced: Mayor George Riley; Justin Fillhart, Roulette fire chief; Bill Gallup, Norwich Township fire chief; Brian Phelps, Coudersport fire chief; and Neil Binder, Port Allegany Borough council.
Guest speaker was Seneca Highlands Career and Technical Center Director Jim Young, who spoke about the CTC and the new Homeland Security program.
Fire Chief Kevin Ernst introduced the following officers: deputy fire chief, Mike Johnson; assistant fire chief, Alex Johnson; captain, Andrew Johnson; captain, Nathan Kio; fire police captain, Doug Goodrich; and fire police lieutenant, Denny Williams.
The Star Hose Co. president is Nathan Kio; vice president, David Hobbs; secretary, Nancy Hardes; treasurer, Tom Johnson; and financial secretary, Mike Johnson.
Firemen’s Relief Association president is Jim Rankin; vice president, David Hobbs; secretary, Nathan Kio; and treasurer, James Anderson.
Janann Crawford, president of the Fire Auxiliary, presented Ernst and Kio with a check for $5,000. Other officers for the auxiliary include Richard Lewis, vice-president; Deb Eaton, secretary; and Karen Eicher, treasurer. The auxiliary is always looking for new members, male or female.
Ernst also presented service awards.
Earning first year pins were Travis Coppersmith, Hunter Lathrop, Even Rodriguez, Leonard Hess, Linda Sturdevant, Joe Lannager and Meryk Ault. Five-year service awards went to Robert Hill and Michael Hill-Nelson; 20-year, Nathan Kio; and 50-year, Bruce Manning. Special recognition was given to Robert “Bucko” Roys, who is retiring after 54 years of active service. Honorable mention was given to past chief Larry Brundage, who has been part of the department for 65 years.
Andrew Johnson was named the Sigrid G. “Sig”Anderson Training Award winner with 302 hours of training during the past year.
Ernst presented unit citations to FF Fred Roys, FF Whitey Brundage, FF Dax Hobbs and Prob FF Hunter Lathrop. The unit citation was presented to Rescue 3 for an incident they responded to on May 6 where they saved the lives of two people.
The call was described in the citation: “Rescue 3 was dispatched to a residence for a possible Carbon Monoxide emergency. Firefighters Roys and Brundage made entry with CO levels near DLH and conducted an aggressive search, locating two unconscious patients and removing them to the exterior. Without any doubt their actions save the lives of these patients.”
The citation was signed by Ernst and Kio.
Dinner was served by the Eldred Borough Fire Department.
