The DeKalb County Fire Department held their annual awards ceremony last Saturday evening, choosing a virtual format for the event this year. During the event, the department announced its Firefighter of the Year, as well as several other honors.
The 2021 Ascension/St. Thomas DeKalb Firefighter of the Year award was presented to Andrew Harvey. The award is exclusively selected each year from firefighters who have gone above and beyond in the following areas and have positively promoted the success and image of the fire department.
For 2021, Andrew made 100 percent of his monthly training, completed other outside training courses, and is among the most active in his incident responses. Andrew has dedicated many hours assisting lead instructors with recruit classes.
As for Andrew’s community service, Andrew is very active with the DeKalb Emergency Services Association and volunteers to help provide meals to the needy in our community during Thanksgiving and Christmas. He does not limit his interest to the department, he also has led and supported community efforts to involve himself and station members in projects outside the fire department. Andrew is very passionate and active in fire prevention and safety education in our schools and civic groups.
This year's DeKalb Telephone Cooperative (DTC) Rookie of the Year award was presented to Liberty Fire Station's Alyssa Harvey. This award is exclusively based on hours of training completed by a rookie firefighter who completed his/her basic recruit training during 2021. Harvey completed 187.75 hours of training during the 12-month rookie period.
The 2021Allen’s Allstars “Git R Done” Award was presented to Steve Repasy for his community service, special projects within the fire department other than fire calls, special events such as fundraisers, Halloween, and Christmas Parties, and
actions/accomplishments above and beyond normal to promote the success and image of the fire department.
The 2021 Liberty State Bank Officer of the Year award was presented to Captain Brian Williams. The award is presented to an officer of the department who serves at the rank of lieutenant or above, and scored based upon training participation, incident response, and community service.
Williams serves as the Department’s Training Officer and does a tremendous job planning, coordinating, and conducting our training activities, and has continued to lead our department in being named an Elite Training Fire Department, by the Tennessee Fire Service and Codes Enforcement Training Academy for the 13th consecutive year.
The Liberty Station 65 was named the 2021 First Bank Station of the Year during the ceremony for its work sessions that go above and beyond the normal expectations for station and equipment maintenance, and community service the station completed as a group.
The Liberty Station coordinated and delivered multiple community service projects in their service area. For example, they sponsored families for holiday food and gift donations and donated their personal time and equipment to help residents clean up after ice storm and windstorm damage.
DeKalb County Mayor Tim Stribling was presented with an Honorary Lifetime Membership Award for his service and contributions to the department. He completed the DCFD Citizens' Fire Academy in 2015, lead and supported the construction of the Four Seasons Station in 2019, and supports the construction of the Wolf Creek Station where $75,000 in seed money has been set aside to move forward with construction plans.
Stribling also initiated and supported a Rural Development grant application which resulted in acquisition of three used pumpers (Temperance Hall, Four Seasons, and Belk) in 2019, and supported funding a part-time firefighter position in 2019.
The 2021 Walmart Length of Service Awards were also presented during the event.
5 years of service: Bill Brown of the Liberty Station was honored for five years of service, while Lt. Dustin Johnson, Lt. Kristie Johnson, and Captain Brian Williams were recognized for 10 years of service. Gelasio “Marco” Chacon of the Johnson’s Chapel Station was honored for 15 years of service, while DeKalb Fire Chief Donny Green was recognized for 35 years of service.
The department recognized their Community Station Sponsors during the event with Four Seasons Community, Kilgore’s Restaurant, McElroy Land Management, LLC, DeKalb County Insurance, DeKalb Funeral Chapel, Rockwall Farms, The Barn at Triple Creek Farm, Hillcrest Restaurant, and Mountain Harbour Property Owners Association honored. Community sponsors WJLE Radio Station, Smithville Review Newspaper, Johnson Construction, MAPCO, DeKalb Market, and Gill Automotive were also recognized.
The department also recognized other partners the local Red Cross, WJLE Radio Station, Smithville Review Newspaper, Tennessee Division of Forestry, Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, DeKalb County 911, Smithville/DeKalb County Rescue Squad, DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department, DeKalb County EMS, City of Smithville Fire Department, City of Alexandria Fire Department, Mayor Tim Stribling and his office staff, and the DeKalb County Commission.
Program sponsors were honored as well, Better Together at Brush Creek, Center Hill Nursery, DeKalb Funeral Chapel, Edgar Evins Marina, First Bank, Middle Tennessee Natural Gas Utility District, Riverwatch Golf Club, Sligo Marina, The Swallows Agency
Town and Lake Realty, Turn Key Bail Bonding, and Twisted Oaks.
