Salute to Our Emergency Workers

Salute To Our

2014

Emergency Workers

THE

HERALD

REPUBLICAN

The

Star

THE NEWS SUN

kpcnews.com

2

Salute to Our Emergency Workers

kpcnews.com • ©KPC Media Group Inc.

September 11, 2014

Chief, Bunny help patrol Fremont

BY JENNIFER DECKER jdecker@kpcmedia.com

FREMONT — Children get excited to see Fremont Town Marshal Joe Patterson, not just because he is a police officer or allround nice guy, but because he frequently patrols on his horse, Chief.

Patterson’s two horses, Chief and Bunny, compose Fremont’s mounted unit.

Fremont’s unit is the only one in Steuben County.

Patterson grew up in Fremont and still maintains deep community ties. Beside being in charge of Fremont’s police department, he is also an assistant Fremont High School wrestling coach.

Patterson’s been Fremont’s town marshal since 2009. Prior to that he was with Hamilton’s police department from 1994-2009 and between 1996-2009, he was town marshal.

“I grew up in Fremont, but I had to leave a while to prove myself. They exiled me,” he smiled. “I wanted to be in the fire department or police.”

Then it became apparent where he should serve.

“The good Lord told me what I was going to do. I went on a fire run and under the toll road and I had that feeling what to do,” Patterson said.

Both of Patterson’s horses have honorary police badges and are 15. Bunny is a chestnut-colored quarter horse. Chief is lighter brown and is a spotted saddle, or painted horse.

“They each have their own personality,” he said. “Bunny runs everything and she reads people very well. If you haven’t rode, she’ll take care of you. Chief’s best friend is Bunny. He likes to come up and be more sociable. He’s more curious.”

Patterson’s had some close calls, but felt he was lucky to be on one of his horses each time.

“Bunny is a gift from God. She saved my life when I got stuck in a sinkhole in Hamilton,” he said. “I use Chief now.

We’ve been hit in the school zone by a kid who didn’t stop. The mirror hit Chief’s

butt, but nobody got hurt.”

Patterson works with Fremont allowing the horses to belong to the town’s police department.

“I pay for everything with the horses.

For $1, I lease the horses to the town. I pay all the expenses, but the town picks up the liability,” he said.

Patterson said his horses attract a lot of interest and excitement. He frequently rides them in different Fremont events or uses the horses to teach children.

“Horses draw kids and people in. They don’t care about me,” he joked. “Kids get excited and I talk for the horses. It’s about the horses.”

Patterson said an advantage of patrolling

on horse is he’s 10 feet in the air, which helps his field of vision because he can see over things. A disadvantage, Patterson said, is he can’t outrun a car if there’s a pursuit.

He said much can be learned by watching his horses and their actions.

“Watch their ears,” he said. ‘Their first line of defense is to run away. When they see something, their heads turn like radar.”

Patterson said he’s used his horse to help locate a missing woman in a swamp.

He was also prepared to ride into a cornfield to locate two lost girls, but they were found before he arrived.

“When I’m on duty, it’s fun,” he said. “I enjoy it and it’s something different.”

A salute to those who serve They’re those people who are ready to serve no matter the time of day, no matter the weather, no matter the reason. They are emergency workers, people who answer the call when people are in need, whether it’s to fight crime, put out a fire, dispatch emergency personnel or rescue a cat from a tree.

In this special section we take a look at some of the people in our communities who give of themselves so that our lives might be better, safer, more full.

They are our emergency workers, many of whom are volunteers who receive no pay for the thankless work they do.

We hope you enjoy these stories about local emergency workers whose work is so vital.

This section may also be viewed at kpcnews.com.

ON THE COVER: Four generations of Eck firefighters are shown in this 1990s photo. The Ecks and other multi-generational firefighting families are presented in this section.

NORTHEAST INDIANA’S LARGEST DISCOUNT WAREHOUSE

Mobile-Modular, Residential & R.V. Building Supplies

42,000 Sq. Ft. of Custom Built Cabinets, Carpeting, Linoleum, Hardware, Bedding, Trim, Doors and a Whole Lot More!

2605932769 Hours: Mon.-Fri. 8-5 • Sat. 8-1

5995 W. 200 S. , Topeka, IN 46571

www.emmawarehouse.com

JENNIFER DECKER

Fremont Town Marshal Joe Patterson shows his two horses he often patrols with, Chief, left, a painted horse, and Bunny, a quarter horse. Both horses are 15.

We wish to thank

our police officers, firefighters, paramedics and utility workers for their service and dedication.

City of Butler

©KPC Media Group Inc. • kpcnews.com

September 11, 2014

Salute to Our Emergency Workers

3

Dispatchers are everyday heroes

BY PATRICK REDMOND predmond@kpcmedia.com

LAGRANGE — It takes a special person to work as a 911 dispatcher, says LaGrange County 911 dispatch center director Arron Knisley. And Knisley ought to know. He says he has 11 of the best working for him.

“There’s a lot to be said about them being everyday heroes,” he said. “The public just doesn’t see the things they do every day — I do.”

One example that put LaGrange County and its 911 dispatchers in the national spotlight happened just six months ago, on a seemingly slow Sunday night when a team of dispatchers — Kelly Landers and Heather Lock — working together were credited with saving the life of a woman taken hostage by an escaped Michigan convict.

Cheryl Vanwormer, Belding, Michigan, was held hostage after her Jeep was carjacked by escaped felon Michael Elliot.

It’s been said Vanwormer is alive today — and Elliot, in part, back behind bars — because of the quick thinking of the LaGrange County 911 dispatchers.

Elliot carjacked Vanwormer after escaping from the Ionia, Michigan, prison located between Lansing and Grand Rapids. He then held her hostage as he drove her car south, trying to avoid Michigan authorities. After driving more than 100 miles, Elliot crossed over into Indiana, near Middlebury and decided to fill the Jeep with gasoline.

When Elliot went inside the station to pay for the gas, Vanwormer reached into her purse where she had a hidden cell

THE TOWN

phone and called police. Though she was in Elkhart County, the phone rang in the LaGrange 911 center, and that’s when Lock and Landers went to work. While Lock talked to the victim, Landers listened in and worked quickly to pinpoint the call.

Once she figured out where Vanwormer was, she called for nearby police.

That’s when Lock had a thought.

Realizing this was the first time Elliot left Vanwormer alone, Lock instructed the woman to go into the store, and if asked, tell Elliot she needed to use the restroom and once inside, lock the door and wait for the police.

“It takes a special person to do this job,” Knisley explained. “Not everybody can do this job. You have to be calm and have patience. One of the hardest things about being a dispatcher is you don’t always get closure. You take the call, you send the people but you don’t always know the outcome, and sometimes, people can’t deal with that well.”

Like other branches of law enforcement, dispatchers train to hone their skills, Knisley said.

“Dispatchers have to make split-second decisions all the time,” he pointed out. “We deal with people who aren’t always at their best. It’s the worst time of your life when your house catches on fire and the fire department is coming, but it’s never going to be fast enough when your belongings are going up in smoke and your family’s in peril.”

But Knisley said the situation Lock and Landers found themselves in isn’t covered in the training manuals.

“Everything happened the way it was

OF WATERLOO proudly salutes our law enforcement officers and volunteer firefighters.

PATRICK REDMOND

Dispatcher Heather Lock works at the LaGrange County dispatch center. Lock helped a woman being held hostage flee her captor during an incident earlier this year.

suppose to, with the exception of one thing you can’t train for, and that was the decision to have her go hide in the bathroom,” he explained. “That was a splitsecond decision — you’re separated from him, you’ve got this opportunity — go, lock yourself in there. There’s no book or training on that. It was a great decision because it worked out. It also was the biggest factor that you won’t find in any book.”

Elliot left the gas station without Vanwormer, and was caught by police a few days later in LaPorte. He goes on trial soon to face charges for escaping and taking a hostage. Landers and Lock may be called upon to testify in court.

Remembering Our Heroes!

Looking back at that night, Lock said she doubts she’d do anything differently.

“Looking back, in the moment, I don’t think there’s anything I would have done different,” she said. “Between Kelly and I, how we handled it, covering all the bases we needed to. I think between our teamwork and the assistance of Elkhart, it worked out as best as it could.”

“This call would have been handled the same by any one of my people. The two that were working that night get the attention because it was such a big event, but I would like to think that any one of these people would have done it basically the same,” Knisley said. “They are all everyday heroes.”

Since 1924

Fackler

Monument Company

Come See the Fackler Difference!

• Over 600 Monuments To Choose From • All Monuments Completed In Our State-of-the-art Cutting Shop • Largest Indoor Display In The Tri-State Area Serving your family with quality service & selection for 90 years!

411 W. Main St., Montpelier, OH

1-800-272-5588

Family owned & operated by Andrea Roerig

www.facklermonument.com

4

Salute to our Emergency Workers

kpcnews.com • ©KPC Media Group Inc.

September 11, 2014

Firefighting is in their blood Departments have many generations of volunteers

BY JEFF JONES jjones@kpcmedia.com

BUTLER — Being a volunteer firefighter means having to sacrifice time with your family when that pager goes off.

Jimmie Eck of Butler knows from experience as the son of a firefighter and as the father to three possible future firefighters.

It’s part of the family business.

“I can remember going to Fort Wayne with my dad and having to turn around because of a call,” Eck said. “It was something that was understood. When the pager goes off, you go.”

As the father to three boys — Jordan, 12, Josiah, 10, and Joshua, 5 — “I’m sure we’ve upset them a time or two when the pager goes off now,” Eck said.

Some day in the future, one or more of the boys could very well comprise the fifth Eck generation as a volunteer in Butler.

“It’s in their blood,” Eck said. “I’m sure they’ll probably do the same thing I did, and say, ‘Dad, look what I did’ when they turn 18 and bring home the application.”

As Jimmie and father Jim share stories, the three boys enjoy a laugh as they play a game. The boys can tell you their favorite truck or where to find this or that in Butler’s fire station.

As with Eck, there wasn’t any pressure when Jeff Shultz expressed interest in becoming a junior firefighter while in high school.

PHOTO CONTRIBUTED

Butler’s fire department has had several generations as members in its history. Brothers Earl, center, and the late Ron Shultz, right, joined in 1978. Ron’s son-in-law, Myles

For Shultz and Eck, it was simply following in the footsteps of their fathers, grandfathers, brothers-in-law, uncles and cousins.

Today, Shultz is chief and Eck is assistant chief of Butler’s all-volunteer department.

The Shultz firefighting tree has several branches.

Gerardot, left, was a 20-year member. Ron’s son, Jeff, back, serves as Butler’s fire chief.

Brothers Earl and Ron — Jeff’s uncle and father — both joined in 1978. A brother-in-law, Myles Gerardot, retired after 20 years of service. Several cousins have been or are firefighters in Butler, Corunna and Waterloo.

Shultz’s father was an instructor.

“When your father is an instructor, the discussion typically doesn’t shut off when

you leave class,” Jeff said. “Even after he retired, we still had a lot of conversations about the fire service, right up until he passed away.”

Jeff has been a firefighter since 1988.

For an 18-month period, his son Cory was a reserve firefighter before he moved out of the area.

See FIREFIGHTING page 5

Caring people make the difference “Some people search a lifetime for their calling. I found my calling, my extended family and a home away from home at American Senior Communities.”

Transmission • Transfer case • Differentials

–Ryan Levengood, Executive Director, American Senior Communities.

ASCSeniorCare.com

info@randystrannyplus.com 307 W. Swager Dr., Fremont

Tel: 260-495-3208 Fax: 260-495-7801

©KPC Media Group Inc. • kpcnews.com

September 11, 2014

Salute to Our Emergency Workers

5

Commitment means success in Orange Township’s all-volunteer fire department

BY DENNIS NARTKER dnartker@kpcmedia.com

ROME CITY — Floyd D. Heltzel, who passed away on Aug. 11, 2014, was a 45-year member of the Orange Township Fire Department in Rome City.

He was a volunteer firefighter.

The all-volunteer fire department, except for its part-time chief, Jim Ebert, has several members who have more than 20 years of service.

Like most small community volunteer fire departments, Orange Township struggles with financing and conducts fundraising, seeks donations and grants to keep its head above water.

When asked how the department keeps going, Orange Township Fire Department public information officer Jim Abbs said: “The Orange Township/Rome City Fire Department continues as an all-volunteer department because of its tradition and commitment to the community it serves.”

Commitment is a key component of its success. Most of the fire department’s members are either multi-generational

FIREFIGHTING From page 4

Just as he wasn’t pressured, Jeff didn’t twist Cory’s arm when he expressed interest in the fire department.

“He never talked to me about it,” Jeff said. “It was his choice. It has to be (that way) or they won’t enjoy it, and I know he enjoyed it.”

The Eck lineage dates to 1929 when Fred Eck — Jimmie’s great-grandfaJeff Shultz ther — joined the fire department.

The tradition continued when Roy Eck — Jimmie’s grandfather — became a firefighter in 1938. Jimmie’s father, Jim Eck, joined the department in 1964.

Roy and Jim served as volunteers for 20 years before retiring. Recently, Jimmie observed his 20th year as a member of the

or multi-family members who have volunteered for long periods of time.

“Often times the firefighter working next to you is related to you, and then eventually the other firefighters become de facto family members since we spend so much time with each other in stressful situations.”

On emergency runs, someone on the department knows the individual or family personally, which creates a closer bond between the department and the community, according to Abbs.

Ebert has been with the department since 2008. He served with the Kendallville Fire Department for more than 30 years, including as fire chief. He said the family activities the department has for its volunteers and participation in community events like parades helps bring members closer together. Responding to emergencies and looking out for each other creates the camaraderie.

“Our department is supported with tax money, but we supplement this with fundraisers like sponsoring community

department.

Steve and DeWayne “Tootch” Eck, both former firefighters, share that lineage, as their father Jerry was a volunteer from 1975 until 1983.

The family ties don’t end there.

Relatives Alfred and Gerald “Buck” Suntken — father and son — retired with 20 years of service. More relatives, brothers Mitchell and Lloyd Beard Jr., currently serve or were formerly on the department.

There are also relatives who have or currently serve in Ashley, Waterloo and St. Joseph Township in Allen County.

Fathers and sons are common in Butler’s fire department history. A few membership examples include: Robert and Kris Ginder; Homer, son Dan and grandson Darrin Dickerhoof; John and Roger Powers; Jay and Rod Moore; Gary “Red” and Mike VanZile; Roger and Mark Cline; Larry Moore and sons Brant and Brian; Francis “Bounce” Miller, sons Bruce and Gary, and grandsons Brent Miller and Brandon Collins; and Jon Wallace Sr. and Jon Jr. “I was just following in my dad’s footsteps,” Jim Eck explained of his

PHOTO CONTRIBUTED

Revenue from fundraisers and donations helped the Orange Township Fire Department acquire this ice rescue hovercraft.

breakfasts, Fill the Boots and selling family portraits,” he said. The department’s hovercraft used for ice rescue on area lakes during the winter is an example of the department’s fundraising effort. It was donated, and money was raised to equip it.

“The Orange Township Fire Department

has an image of being somewhat rebellious and willing to take on any challenge,” said Abbs.

The department has embraced this image in trying to make the department grow and advance such as adding a water/dive rescue team, which is unique for the area.

joining the fire department in 1964. “I liked doing it. I don’t think anything made me want to do it.

“We didn’t have the training like they do now,” he continued. “We also didn’t have the trucks like they do now.

Everything’s automatic.” Teasing his son, “They’re too lazy to learn how to drive a stick shift.”

“I was 12 when he retired,” Jimmie Eck said. “The first time I went with my dad was in the Scout (fire truck) to a barn fire. They needed more manpower, and we

were it. Jordan’s been on a grass fire call with me.”

While it’s tough on families when the tones go off for a fire around Christmas, it can also make for unique memories.

For Shultz, that came in the form of a partial family get-together at a hotel fire several years ago in Angola. Shultz, his father and brother-in-law were all part of a mutual aid response team. “Not a lot of families experience that,” he said.

Back home, their families spent a cozy Christmas morning opening presents.

Since 1878

“The friendship of those we serve is the foundation of our progress”

Insuring Home & Farm Properties In Town & Rural Locations

Call 925-2668 • Fax 925-2752 Dave Baughman Sec./Agent

525 WEST MICHIGAN AVE., AUBURN, IN 46706 HOURS: MON.-FRI. 8:30-4:30

Brenda Bontrager Agent

VISIT OUR WEBSITE: WWW.DEKALBFARMMUTUAL.COM

6

Salute to Our Emergency Workers

kpcnews.com • ŠKPC Media Group Inc.

September 11, 2014

Sparta Township firefighters await word on $400,000 grant request

BY BOB BUTTGEN bbuttgenr@kpcmedia.com

FILE PHOTO

The Sparta Township Volunteer Fire Department building was constructed in 1963. Firefighters are hopeful the department will soon receive word on a large grant that will be used to remodel and expand the building.

“How important it is for us to recognize and celebrate our heroes and she-roes!�

Maya Angelou From the bottom of our hearts,

THANK YOU for your service and dedication to our country.

DRS. ROUSH AND WILL OPTOMETRISTS

Craig Lichlyter, OD Elizabeth Roush, OD Jill R. Geiger, OD R. Alan Roush, OD Matthew Will, OD Geoffrey Hemmick, OD Kendallville 260-347-3458 Albion • 260-636-7788 Ligonier • 260-894-3912

NOW SERVICING DEFIANCE, OH & ANGOLA, IN

DIESEL PERFORMANCE DEFIANCE STARTS HERE! FROM 20485 CR 424 DAILY DRIVERS TO Defiance, OH 43512 FULL COMPETITION! 419-782-FUEL WE DO IT ALL! ANGOLA HOURS:

Monday - Friday 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Lobby Open Most Saturdays & by Appointment

1201 Wolhert St. Angola, IN 46703 800-654-4715 260-665-5396

2))(5,1*

‡ (IL /LYH &XVWRP 7XQLQJ IRU 'XUDPD[ &XPPLQV $QG *P *DV ‡ .HUPD &XVWRP 7XQLQJ )RU 9Z¡V ‡ ,Q +RXVH &KDVVLV '\QR 6HUYLFH ‡ )XOO 2XW 6WUHHW 5DFH 3XOOLQJ %XLOGV ,QFOXGLQJ 0RWRUV 3XPSV ,QMHFWRUV 7UDQVPLVVLRQV ‡ 5HEXLOGLQJ &RPPRQ 5DLO ,QMHFWRUV ,Q +RXVH

DRIVE IN SERVICE

We are an Authorized Diesel Fuel Injection Shop. We also diagnose and repair fuel systems, general repair on whole vehicle and install performance products!

CROMWELL — The men and occasional women of the Sparta Township Volunteer Fire Department are used to waiting.

Waiting for a call from the public to put out a house or barn fire. Waiting for a dispatch from the county to help save accident victims trapped in their cars. Waiting is a way of life for every fire department in the country, be they professionals or volunteers like the emergency crews who cover Sparta Township from their home based in Cromwell.

But lately, a different kind of waiting has been added to the duties of the volunteers who make up the Sparta Township Volunteer Fire Department.

Chief Geoff Bush and his men are waiting to hear from the state of Indiana on the status of their application for a grant that will help pay for a much-needed expansion of the building that houses the department.

Ideally, the local fire department would like to get the entire $400,000 they requested. “Our department was formed in 1961 when the town of Cromwell transferred the fire protection responsibility to Sparta Township,� said Bob Leamon, Cromwell’s longtime clerk-treasurer and a member of the department for more than three decades. “Our present building was built in 1963,� Leamon noted. “In 2016, the department will celebrate 55 years of providing a valuable public-safety service to Sparta Township and the surrounding area.�

That building has seen a whole lot of living, working, eating and camaraderie for more than 50 years. Countless chili suppers and porkburger dinners have been served there to the public by the firefighters and their families.

Every summer, the fire department is one of the focal points of the Cromwell Days festival in July, where special “hillbilly� hot dogs and bratwursts are sold by the department to raise funds for

new equipment or upgrades to existing facilities.

All of those special events and meals are just more ways for the firefighters to kill time while they wait for those more-serious calls for help from the public.

It’s not cheap to run a fire department and the firefighters of Cromwell and Sparta Township, which also includes Kimmell and parts of Ligonier, know all too well the cost of doing business never goes down. The price of firefighting equipment, from boots to firetrucks, is an ever-growing beast that tests the limits of the department’s fundraising abilities.

The Sparta department is in need of additional space for equipment, apparatus and training facilities. “We are applying for a construction grant to provide for the additional space,� Leamon said. “Hopefully, we will receive the grant approval within the next few months.�

The application is through the Indiana Office of Rural & Community Affairs.

It administers the grant process through the state of Indiana but is funded by the federal government. Private monies and tax dollars may be used for matching amounts to help supplement the total funding required.

Other funding methods such as loans or bond issues can also be used. All of those resources will be explored to their fullest by Bush, Leamon and others on the department.

And while Sparta officials are optimistic their grant request will be given the green light in the coming months, they know the department will survive no matter what the outcome.

The residents of Sparta Township, Cromwell and Kimmell have been generous to their fire department over the many years8 its has provided unwavering service. Even if it takes a few more chili suppers or additional hillbilly hot dog sales, the department will move forward while keeping its longstanding promise to the community: To protect and serve, no matter what the conditions.

ŠKPC Media Group Inc. • kpcnews.com

September 11, 2014

Volunteer departments depend on fundraisers, donations

BY SUE CARPENTER scarpenter@kpcmedia.com

Fundraising is perhaps the most challenging task for fire departments fully staffed by volunteers.

LaOtto and Corunna are two of only a few 100 percent volunteer fire departments in the area. “We don’t get per run money, so there are not a whole lot of ways to make money,� said LaOtto Volunteer Fire Department Chief Jason Lutter. “We’ve just grown to accept how the money is obtained.�

The independent department of 25-30 people serves two townships — Butler Township in southwest DeKalb County and Swan Township in eastern Noble County — on an annual contract with each for $20,000 to $25,000 . They are not able to levy any budget so they must work on a set amount of money.

The contract funds pay for building, equipment, gear and utilities. They also depend on donations from the communities they serve.

The department is housed in the former LaOtto Elementary School building, which was donated to it about four years ago. The former fire hall was at the corner of Old S.R. 3 and S.R. 205.

Firetrucks are stored in the old gym area. An engineer designed overhead doors in the former gym area to retrofit the space, according to Lutter. The department has six trucks, including a command vehicle. The newest in the fleet is a rescue truck due for delivery at the end of the year.

Lutter said the new 30,000 square-foot site has worked out well, with plenty of extra space available to rent for offices and storage.

Lutter said the department logs 200-250 calls annually, including firstresponse calls. Response time is less than 7 minutes, depending on available manpower and location. Daytime volunteers are very important to his department. “We have a good day crew. Many local companies in town employ firefighters who are allowed to leave work to go on fire runs. We have one of the better daytime crews,� Lutter said.

Working within two counties has its difficulties, he added. “Radio traffic is a pain,� he said of the various programs in each county.

They are also closely linked to Whitley

Salute to Our Emergency Workers

7

75, 67$7( 0(025,$/6 ,1& SINCE 1982

Monuments • Markers Mausoleums

“Our Quality Speaks For Us�

Vases • Cemetery Lettering

( 7+ 67 $8%851 925-2805 72// )5(( 800-821-0718

SUE CARPENTER

The LaOtto Fire Department holds only one big fundraiser a year. A pork burger meal was served Sept. 6.

and Allen counties. The department has responded to calls far outside its district — south of U.S. 24 in Aboite Township and as far north as Lake George in Steuben County.

Lutter said the department is down to one major fundraiser a year — a pork burger dinner planned this month. “We are not pulling in people like we used to,� Lutter said of the cutback of fundraisers.

Instead, they are mostly dependent on local donations to keep the lights on and fuel in the trucks.

They also sell Christmas trees during the holidays but sales are getting fewer as many are buying “fake trees,� he added.

Two years ago, the department began filling swimming pools for people in the spring and summer within a 10-mile radius or within its territory. “That generates a couple thousand dollars a year,� he said.

As chief, Lutter gets an annual $1,000 stipend to pay for expenses to attend extra meetings, used mostly for fuel.

Lutter said donations are always appreciated and can be sent to POB 45 LaOtto, IN 46763.

This year’s pork burger fundraiser was Saturday, Sept. 6 at the fire hall on S.R. 205 just west of Old S.R. 3 in LaOtto.

Friday Fish Fries Corunna’s Volunteer Fire Department

is also 100 percent volunteer with 16 firefighters.

It serves a 34 square-mile area including all of Richland Township and portions of Fairfield Township, and the town of Corunna.

The department operates from a fire barn built eight years ago on S.R. 6 just east of Corunna. The structure was built through state funding from the Corunna bridge project, said department treasurer Mike Tullis.

The firefighters did a lot of the work on the building, he said, plus they received a generous donation from Garrett philanthropist Judy Morrill.

Like LaOtto, Corunna has six trucks, including a command vehicle.

The newest vehicle in thr fleet is a water tender, with 90 percent funded through a government grant, the rest by department fundraisers.

The department’s utilities and fuel are paid by the Town of Corunna, he said.

The department logged in 160-175 calls last year, Tullis said. It is not paid per run for responding to calls. Fire Chief Dennis Treesh receives an annual stipend, as well as each firefighter for $200 to be used for clothing allowance.

Tullis said 75 percent of the firefighters donate the money back to the department.

Starting in October, the department See DONATIONS page 8

24HOUR EMERGENCY SITUATIONS • 18007900118

Individual, Group & Family Counseling Drug & Alcohol Counseling Child & Adolescent Counseling Inpatient Mental Health Facilities Steuben Clinic

Angola • 260-665-9494

DeKalb Clinic

Auburn • 260-925-2453

Noble Clinic

Kendallville • 260-347-4400

LaGrange Clinic

LaGrange • 260-463-7144

Inpatient Services • Auburn • 260-927-0726

necmh.org

Thanks!

- From all of us at

Kendallville • 260-347-1158

www.hoslerrealty.com

8

Salute to Our Emergency Workers

DONATIONS

kpcnews.com • ©KPC Media Group Inc.

September 11, 2014

Recognize safety hazards around the house

From page 7

will hold fish fry fundraiser dinners on the second and fourth Fridays of the month.

Tullis said it is the only major fundraiser for the department, with all funds going to the general fund to be used for new equipment purchases.

Many volunteers help with the fish fries, with auxiliary and other nonprofit agencies including area church volunteers coming in to set up tables, get the beans cooking and get the kitchen ready for the meals, Tullis said.

Firefighters come in and clean the bays earlier in the afternoon with five firefighters working the dinner shift. About 400 pounds of fish is prepared and breaded for each fish fry, he added.

Tullis said the 11 fish fries per year add up to 40 percent of the department’s income. The townships chip in another 40 percent and the remainder comes from other fundraisers.

Tullis said a mailer is sent out to the community asking for donations and the department recently conducted a gun safety class.

The first fish fry of the season is planned Oct. 10 at the fire barn, he added.

METRO CREATIVE CONNECTION Home may be where the heart is, but it also can be an unsafe place if safety hazards are not recognized and addressed.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission says that each year 33.1 million people are injured by consumer products and other dangers in the home. Here is a collection of home hazards that can compromise safety in and around the house.

• Flooding: Super storms have been wreaking havoc on many areas of the country. Flooding is a common side effect of strong rains and high tides, and the aftermath of a flood can turn a home from a haven into a hazard. Microorganisms in flood waters may contaminate drinking water, and wet walls and floors can present a breeding ground for insects, pests and microorganisms like mold and mildew. The National Safety Council says microorganisms can penetrate into soaked, porous materials and later be released into the air and inhaled. Flooding also may lead to weakened or rotted floorboards.

• Magnets: Very small magnets are popular in jewelry, toys, building sets and more. The number of products with strong magnets has increased, which may pose significant safety threats to children. The

CPSC says that magnets have contributed to one death and 86 injuries since 2005.

Eight million magnetic toys have been recalled. Magnets that are swallowed may not pass easily through the digestive system.

Oftentimes, they can get trapped in place when attracted to one another or a piece of metal and pinch or twist the intestines, potentially causing blockage or infection.

• Furniture tip-over: Large furniture and electronics that are not balanced well or anchored to a wall can be pulled over by children and even adults. Small children can be seriously injured by tip-over accidents.

Tip-overs cause an estimated 22 deaths per year.

• Pools and spas: While drowning in pools and spas is a leading cause of death, there are other dangers lurking. Faulty underwater lighting, appliances that fall into the water and aging wiring can result in electrocution. The CPSC notes that suction from a pool or spa drain is also potentially hazardous. The majority of suction accidents involved children, but suction can hold an adult underwater. There have even been cases of people being disemboweled from pool drains. Installing a safety vacuum release system that turns off the pool pump when a drain is blocked can “What am I going to tell my Dad”?

prevent entrapment.

• Fire: Home fire injuries are highest among seniors and children under the age of five. In addition, home fires are a leading cause of emergency room visits. Smoke alarms on every level of the house can alert to danger, but ensuring candles are extinguished and electrical wiring is up to date and making sure space heaters and other appliances are not left unattended can help prevent fires.

• Garage doors: The CPSC says an average of 20,000 people each year are treated in the hospital for injuries caused by garage doors. From fingers and toes getting trapped to heavy doors falling on children and adults, garage doors can cause serious injury.

• Falls: Falls are a leading cause of injury to people of all ages. Falls down stairs, from windows and off of ladders are just some of the reasons people visit emergency rooms each and every day. Ensuring there are no tripping hazards around the house and also having sturdy handles and guardrails present for use by the elderly can help prevent some falls.

There are many dangers lurking around the house and awareness of such hazards can help prevent serious injury.

“Take it to S&T Auto Body!”

S&T Auto Body • All Insurance Claims Welcome • Precision Frame Straightening • Computerized Color Matching • Factory-Certified Parts 125 McKinley St., Angola, IN

260-665-6013

Hours: Mon.- Friday 8 am- 5 pm Owner: Jeff Schaeffer

As your local independent agent, we’re your neighbor someone you can trust and someone who’s here for you 24/7

Call or visit us

Jacob Insurance Service, LLC “Serving you since 1945” 1220 S. Wayne St., Suite 2, Angola• 260-665-3194 www.jacobins.biz • jis@jacobins.biz

You’re the Best!

Handshoe’s FLEA MARKET AND SALVAGE

0835 W. Northport, Rome City (4 miles west of Sylvan Springs) 260-854-4324 • Open 8 AM - 6 PM • Monday - Saturday