CLEARFIELD-Saturday night, members of the Clearfield Volunteer Fire Department gathered for their annual banquet. The department handed out awards to its members, and celebrated with friends and family as it looked back over the previous year.
A special recognition was given to Jeff Buck and Brandon Barnett for helping out with the department as much as they have for their young ages.
“They are courageous to help out. To stand up to all the peer pressure to do nothing,” said former Fire Chief Mike Mayersky.
Mayersky was given his former chief pin at the banquette.
Bob Hanna was awarded fire fighter of the year. Deb Gray was awarded fire person of the year. Kim Finnigan was awarded rookie of the year.
The top three drivers of the year, ranked first to third, were: Greg Hallstrom Jr., Justin Worley, and Steve Flanagan. They were ranked by number of fires they drove to.
The top three responders of the year, ranked first to third, were: Greg Hallstrom Jr., Justin Worley and Todd Evans. They were ranked by percentage of calls responded to.
Members of the Clearfield Volunteer Fire Department were honored for how many years they have been a member. The department switched to a twenty-year and fifty-year system since the merger. Anyone missed in the switch from a twenty-five-year to twenty-year recognition system will be taken care of next year.
Members recognized for twenty-years:
- Matt Buck
- Barry Dimmick
- William Gutheridge
- Todd Kling
- Edward Kumm
- Gerald Luzier
- Richard Mattern
- Brian McMullen
- Michael Mullins
- Timothy Potts
Members recognized for fifty-years:
- Elmo Braid
- Doyle Jury
- William Sporner
- Alex Zeburn
- William Brion
- William Kendall
- William Yatta
- Clara Haney
- Roger Marshall
- Kenneth Zack
The department also recognized members who passed on in the previous year. After the reading of “A Fire Fighter’s 23rd Psalm”, each deceased member’s name was read. A bell was rung for each name. The list of deceased members:
- David E. Franson
- Joseph S. March
- Edward E. Campbell
- Albert R. Hinkle Jr.
- Walter E. Jay
- Raymond E. Sipe
- Edwin R. Lanich
- James Irvin Poole
- J. Riley Fulmer
- George E. Jordan
- John K. Riley
- Woodrow L. Flood
- Frederick B. McCorkle
- John W. Zipf
- Chaplain – Rodger Gorton
State Rep. Camille “Bud” George was there. He gave a speech thanking the members of the fire department for what they do.
“I say this with all of my heart, you don’t get the thanks you deserve, but you don’t do it for the thanks,” said George.
Fair Queen Melanie Swartz told the packed room that everyone is a fire fighter. That after becoming a member of the Queen’s Court she learned that there are another type of fire fighter that helps people not with water, but with hope.
