Logan County Board and Emergency Management Agency recognize citizens with awards for performance, commitment and kindness

 

[November 21, 2018] 

At the Logan County Board Workshop on Thursday, November 15, the Logan County Joint Solid Waste Agency (JSWA) Board, a girls fast pitch team and one of its members were recognized.

Several people were also recognized in annual awards presented by the Logan County Emergency Management Agency (EMA).

Logan County Joint Solid Waste Agency Board recognized

The JSWA is being disbanded. It has operated under a number of committed board members for the past 20 years.

George Fishburn, Mitzi Rohlfs, Ivan Rademaker and Jim Struebing were recognized for their work with the Joint Solid Waste Agency.

Logan County Board Member Scott Schaffenacker said the Joint Solid Waste Agency has been around for 20 years and changed the culture of recycling in Logan County.

Schaffenacker presented the awards for their years of service with the Joint Solid Waste Agency.

Schaffenacker said Rohlfs has served as the Coordinator of the Joint Solid Waste Agency since September 2003 giving invaluable guidance to the board composed of a cross-section of Logan County.

Schaffenacker said Rohlfs was a working administrator who rolled up her sleeves working as hard as anyone. She performed duties frugally with environmental protection at the forefront of her actions. He said the Logan County Board extends its formal gratitude to Mitzi Rohlfs for making our community a healthier and safer place to live.

Schaffenacker said Fishburn was hired in February 2001 as temporary help for the agency. Fishburn drove thousands of accident-free miles through storms, fog, snow and ice. He endured heat indexes in the triple digits and wind chills well below zero to fulfill his duties.

Fishburn also volunteered his mechanical skills to service many agency vehicles saving the agency thousands of dollars.

Schaffenacker said the Logan County Board extends its formal gratitude to George Fishburn for making our community a healthier and safer place to live.

Schaffenacker said Rademaker recognized the need for recycling in Logan County. Rademaker served the Joint Solid Waste Agency over 20 years ago and frequently presided over the meetings in the absence of the chairman.

Rademaker was often an entrant and ribbon winner in the recycled materials division of the Logan County Fair Art Department.

Schaffenacker said the Logan County Board extends its formal gratitude to Ivan Rademaker for making our community a healthier and safer place to live.

Schaffenacker said in the mid-1990s, Struebing emerged as an advocate for recycling and protection of the environment. When the Joint Solid Waste Agency was established, Struebing agreed to serve as its chairman, doing so from 1997-2017.

Struebing’s leadership, support, and tireless service allowed for the Joint Solid Waste Agency to expand its range of programs, contemporizing the agency to become a leader in its field.

Schaffenacker said the Logan County Board extends its formal gratitude to Jim Struebing for making our community a healthier and safer place to live

Struebing thanked all the others for serving so well with the Joint Solid Waste Agency. He said they never had any disagreements during his 20 years of being involved and seeing a lot of board members come and go. And, he thanked the Logan County Board for its support over the years.

Struebing said he thought the agency did a lot of good educating the public about recycling and carrying out the mission, which was to keep recyclables out of the landfill and help future generations.

Lincoln Chill Girls’ Softball Team recognized

Also recognized was the Lincoln Chill Softball Team, which is an elite girls’ softball team with a 14 and under team that qualified for the state tournament.

Schaffenacker said it was appropriate to recognize the Lincoln Chill team on the first snowy night (snow was falling outside the courthouse).

Schaffenacker said just prior to going to state, the team competed in the East Peoria Girls Fast Pitch Association Summer Slam with other outstanding teams.

He said the team lost their first game 15-1, but “these courageous young athletes did not give up” and went on to win five straight games. The final game was an 8-3 victory over the team they had lost to at the beginning of the season.

Schaffenacker said the skill of the players was only exceeded by their “tenacity and can-do spirit.” Many will go on to play in the sport in high school and college.

Schaffenacker said the significance of winning the Summer Slam can only resonate to younger grades encouraging even younger girls to play competitive softball. He said the accomplishment not only applies to softball, but “permeates to taking on other worthy challenges in athletics, academics and life.”

Schaffenacker wished all the participants continued success on and off the field.

Their coach thanked everyone who supported them.

Special Merit Award to Adi Rumler for kindness

Dan Fulscher presented a special merit award to Adi Rumler for an act of kindness to a total stranger. Fulscher said as the team was getting ready to go out and eat to celebrate their victory, they saw an elderly man out with his lawn mower in one hand and his walker in the other.

Fulscher said Rumler asked her family to pull over and she went back and mowed the man’s yard for him.

Rick Chee, Dennis Kindred and Cheryl Hedrick presented with Larry Shroyer Awards

The annual Larry Shroyer Award was awarded to three people who have been dedicated to serving the community for many years.
EMA Director Dan Fulscher and Shroyer’s nephew Darwin Shroyer presented the awards named for Larry Shroyer, who wrote the county’s Emergency Management Plan and was always helping others. Each year, the award is presented to someone dedicated to service and safety in the community.

The first Larry Shroyer Award was presented to Atlanta Firefighters Rick Chee and Dennis Kindred for thinking of others and always being there.

Fulscher said Kindred has served as head of the EDS and assistant fire chief for over 30 years. Chee has served for 41 years on the fire department and has worked with Emergency Services and Disaster Agency (ESDA), EMA, and the 911 Board.

Fulscher said the county is blessed by the services they have done through their tenure.

Fulscher read the plaques given to Chee and Kindred “In recognition of distinguished service and lifetime dedication to the safety of the citizens of Logan County.” The award is the highest distinguished lifetime service award.

Before presenting the second award, Fulscher had EMA staff members Kendall Caruthers, Becky Langley and Cheryl Hedrick join him.

Fulscher said he has many leaders and Cheryl Hedrick has served the county in public service for many years, first in the County Clerk’s Office, then the State’s Attorney’s Office, then as Office Manager at EMA. Hedrick then moved up to Deputy Director of 911.

He said Hedrick now provides grant management and grant accountability and makes sure they are done right.

Fulscher presented the second Larry Shroyer Award to Cheryl Hedrick for her hard work and dedication to safety in Logan County.

Zion Lutheran Principal Benjamin Barth receives Merit Award

Fulscher presented Zion Lutheran School Principal Benjamin Barth with a merit award recognizing Barth for outstanding leadership in facilitating the first hybrid safe school exercise in Logan County.

Fulscher said for the past two years, the Safe Schools Initiative has been big across the nation, and EMA decided to come up with a hybrid training exercise for school administrations and principals. The police departments, 911 dispatchers, fire departments would talk to EMA about all the exercises and drills they must do for the year.

Fulscher said there were several schools at their first Safe Schools’ Summit.

Barth thanked the board for the recognition. Barth said when they went and visited with law enforcement last spring and they brought up the idea, he thought their forward thinking was great.
He added that Fulscher and his cohorts are “ahead of the game” in terms of wanting to be prepared, and be on the same page with the schools and all the agencies involved, and thanked them.

[Angela Reiners]