The DeKalb County Fire Department held their annual awards banquet last Saturday evening, recognizing some of its outstanding members and fire stations. The banquet was held at the DeKalb County Complex auditorium, with Wilson Bank & Trust as the headlining sponsor. Alex Woodward, a firefighter of the Cookeville Highway Station, served as emcee for the event.
The department’s top award was presented to Alyssa Harvey of the Liberty Station 65. She is the first ever female DeKalb County Firefighter to win the Wilson Bank & Trust Firefighter of the Year award. Harvey’s award was presented by Fire Chief Donny Green along with Chad Colwell of Wilson Bank & Trust.
Woodward said Harvey was selected from firefighters demonstrating excellence in training participation, incident response, and community service. “Alyssa serves the department in many different roles. She is very active in call volume and always ready to help and assist on the fire scene. Harvey maintains the firefighter attitude and spirit in working around obstacles and getting the job done both safely and efficiently in a timely manner. She is a team player and works well with others as a vital asset to the fire department.”
Lieutenant Andrew Harvey was named the Liberty State Bank Officer of the Year, while Alex Woodward of the Cookeville Highway Station was honored with the DeKalb Funeral Chapel “Git R Done” Award.
The DeKalb Telephone Cooperative (DTC) Rookie of the Year Award went to Terry Phillips of the Four-Seasons Station, while the Liberty Station 65 won the FirstBank Station of the Year award. The Smithville Marine Station Commander of the Year award went to Frank Rodegeb of the Temperance Hall Station.
Nine members earned Length of Service awards, with the 5 and 10-year awards sponsored by Walmart, while Middle Tennessee Natural Gas sponsored the 15, 20 and 25-year service awards.
Those receiving five-year pins were Jordan Lader (Johnson Chapel Station), Billy Parker (Johnson Chapel Station), and Blake Reffue (Equipment Officer), while those receiving 10-year pins were Lieutenant Matt Adcock, Jody Lattimore (Short Mountain Highway Station), and Steven Lawrence (Blue Springs Station).
Nelson Davis (Cookeville Highway Station) received a 15-year pin, Jeremy Neal (Short Mountain Highway Station) was recognized for 20-years, and Michael D. Lawrence (Keltonburg Station) received a 25-year award.
Safe Industries sponsored 100-Percent training awards which were presented to the following 27 DeKalb County Firefighters: Justin Bass, Anthony Boyd, Blake Cantrell, Riley Fuson, Donny Green, Luke Green, Alvin Gunkel, Alyssa Harvey, Andrew Harvey, Kyle Hovey, Donnie Johnson, Ken Kobie, Will Odom, Matt Olson, Lauren Ostrander, Andy Pack, Cheyenne Phalin, Steven Phalin, Terry Phillips, Frank Rodegeb, Robert Sartin, Eric Snow, Airiana Stone, Calvin Tramel, Haston Waggoner, Brian Williams, and Alex Woodward.
B&B Emergency Equipment sponsored 75-Percent training awards which were or will be presented to the following 16 DeKalb County Firefighters (some were absent from the banquet Saturday night to receive their award): Clayton Anstis, Triston Brandon, Bill Brown, Luis Caceres, Keith Elkins, Christina Hovey, Dustin Johnson, Heather Lader, Jordan Lader, Harley Lawrence, Austin Ostrander, Billy Parker, Kari Patrick, Shawn Puckett, Blake Reffue, and Steve Repasy.
A Town & Lake Realty Honorary Lifetime Membership award was presented to DCFD Captain Blake Cantrell, while the department also announced the promotion of firefighter Alex Woodward to the officer position rank of Lieutenant.
