The DeKalb County Volunteer Fire Department honored some of its outstanding members last Saturday night during its annual awards banquet, held at the County Complex auditorium. Firefighters, local officials, emergency workers, and their families were in attendance to recognize the outstanding work the department has done over the past year.
Firefighter Robert Sartin of Short Mountain Engine 62 was named the 2022 Middle Tennessee Natural Gas Volunteer Firefighter of the Year. Presented by Assistant County Fire Chief Anthony Boyd, Sartin was selected from firefighters demonstrating excellence in training participation, incident response, and community service.
“The DeKalb County Fire Department attempts to recognize firefighters who reflect a positive attitude of service to the department and our communities, and there’s absolutely no doubt Robert Sartin has earned the honor of being named our 2022 Middle Tennessee Natural Gas Firefighter of the Year,” said Assistant Chief Boyd.
“For 2022, Robert made 100 percent of his monthly training, completed other outside training courses, and is among the most active in his incident responses,” Assistant Chief Boyd said. “He always steps up to serve in any role needed. Whether it’s a work session, fire prevention/safety event, fundraiser, training, or fire call, you will see him there, but you will probably never hear him. Last year, he volunteered to transfer to another station to fill the vacancy of Station Commander.”
The 2022 DeKalb Telephone Cooperative (DTC) Rookie of the Year Award, presented by Captain Brian Williams, was given to Firefighter Anthony Scott of Main Station Engine 59. The Rookie of the Year award is based on hours of training completed by a rookie firefighter who completed his/her basic recruit training during 2022.
“The DeKalb County Fire Department has a rich legacy of being recognized for its excellent training programs and for the 13th consecutive year, it has received statewide recognition for being an elite training department. The department’s leadership feels basic and continuous training are the best tools to give rookies when they enter the fire service. Consequently, training is the sole criteria used for selecting the “Rookie of the Year”, Captain Williams said.
Lieutenant Dusty Johnson was recognized as the Liberty State Bank Officer of the Year. Fire Chief Donny Green said, “This award is exclusively selected from officers of the department who serve at the rank of lieutenant or above, and scored based upon the following considerations: training participation, incident response; and community service.”
“He [Johnson] does a tremendous job planning, coordinating, and conducting our fire prevention and safety activities. He spends many hours each week delivering and installing smoke alarms all across the county. He coordinated and led the Smoke Alarm Blitz we did last May with Red Cross, where we installed over 500 smoke alarms in one day.” Chief Green said.
Safety Officer Lieutenant Kristie Johnson, presented the 2022 DeKalb Funeral Chapel “Git R Done” Award to Equipment Officer Bill Brown of the Liberty Engine 65. Brown was selected for the honor based on 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.
Fire Lieutenant and County Mayor Matt Adcock presented the 2022 First Bank Station of the Year Award to Liberty Engine 65, presented based on station work sessions that go above and beyond the normal expectations for station and equipment maintenance, and community service the station completed as a group. This is the third year in a row Liberty has won the award.
“We certainly want to recognize all stations that have demonstrated pride in making the county-wide department accountable and ready to respond. However, we especially want to recognize a station that has outstanding achievement in meeting the criteria for this award,” said Adcock.
“The Liberty Station conducted numerous work sessions as a group to keep their station, apparatus, and equipment in good operating condition. It’s easy to look at their station and equipment and see they take great pride in their work and commitment to service for their community. The Liberty Station went above and beyond in helping staff the food booth at the 2022 Fair to help raise funds for the Department. Members of this station conduct their own station training each month, in addition to the Department’s monthly county-wide training sessions,” Adcock said.
The 2022 Walmart Length of Service Awards were presented to firefighters who have served the department for a specified length of time. Five year awards were presented to Kim Cantrell, Luke Green, and Jacob Parker. For 15 years of service, awards were given to Donnie Johnson and Shawn Puckett.
Honorary Lifetime Fire Department member Jeff Williams presented the 2022 Town and Lake Realty Honorary Lifetime Membership award to Kristie Johnson. The award is given based on strict merits and service to the department, and as a firefighter, station commander, safety officer, lieutenant, and a total of 13 years on the department, Johnson was active in organizing and planning with department fundraisers, and served on several committees. Since 2009 she provided many emergency medical responder courses at no cost to the department. She provided CPR certification and recertification courses at no cost and was involved in the department’s smoke alarm installation program.
Fire Station Sponsors for the event included the Four Seasons Community, Cookeville Boat Dock, Bill & Jane Gray, Bob Myracle, Estate Plus Home & Lawn Care, B&B Emergency Equipment, Tenneco (Brakes Division), McElroy Land Management, Bobby Sartin Family Memorial, Tenneco, Clyde Thomas Family Memorial, Sligo Marina, Smithville Lions Club, DeKalb Funeral Chapel, Smithville Bakery & Café, El Lago Mexican Restaurant, J&A Fence, and Mountain Harbour Property Owner’s Association.
Table sponsors for the event included Holmes Group, Kilgore’s Restaurant, St. Thomas DeKalb-Ascension, Fiddler’s Campground & Market, Liberty Stop & Buy, Dr. Starla Meigs, Davis Autobody, Dr. George Ivey, and B&B Emergency Equipment.
Other community partners were local Red Cross representatives, WJLE Radio Station, the Smithville Review Newspaper, Tennessee Division of Forestry, Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Center Hill). 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 Matt Adcock and his office staff, The DeKalb County Commission, Mayor Pam Redmon and the Dowelltown Board of Aldermen, and Mayor Audrey Martin and the Liberty Board of Aldermen.
