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About The nugget. (Sisters, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (March 7, 2018)
Wednesday, March 7, 2018 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon 29 Sisters firefighters/EMTs honored By Jim Cornelius Editor in Chief Fire Chief Roger Johnson handed out a bevy of awards at last week’s Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire District awards banquet, held at FivePine Lodge & Conference Center on Friday evening, March 2. The awards offer a win- dow into the degree of dedi- cation that exists within the local District — from student firefighters to volunteers to career firefighters and EMTs. They also reveal a tight-knit crew that truly meets the defi- nition of a word that was used often through the evening: “family.” One of the most extraordi- nary moments of the evening came with the Life-Saving Award. In this case, the life saved was one of their own: Captain Thornton Brown, who was injured in a climb- ing accident in California last year (see “Fire captain on other end of rescue,” The Nugget, April 26, 2017 — link available with online version of this story). Fire medic Matt Millar and Captain Jeff Liming applied their professional knowledge and cool under pressure to ensure a posi- tive outcome when Brown lost control of his rappel on a descent into a canyon, smash- ing his heels when he came to an abrupt and painful stop. Brown recounted the adventure at the banquet, showing a video of his rescue by helicopter out of the bot- tom of the canyon. After a long rehab, Brown returned to full duty. “I’d like to thank publicly Jeff and Matt for all they did,” Brown told the assem- blage. “I couldn’t have better brothers within the fire ser- vice — or anywhere.” Dave Moyer was recog- nized for an extraordinary 45 years of service as a volun- teer. Moyer, who lives across the street from the fire hall, was often the first man on an engine back in the pioneer- ing days of the Sisters fire serve, and he’s stuck with it through to the creation of the professionally staffed, well- equipped service it is today. Jeff Liming was named Volunteer of the Year, and he invoked the sensibility that was so often expressed in the room: “Thank you for letting me be part of your family.” Rachelle Bieler received both the Rookie of the Year Award and Resident Volunteer of the Year honors, reflecting her passion for the fire service, her dedication to training and education and her extraordinary level of participation in the District’s multitude of community ser- vice projects and events. Christi Davis was honored for firefighter fitness, and Larry Stuker was honored as Fire Corps Volunteer of the Year for his efforts in distrib- uting automatic external defi- brillators through the District. Though his tone in pre- senting the award was humor- ous, what Chief Johnson noted is a fact: “Sisters is one of the safest places to have a NuggetNews.com SOFTBALL: Winter weather has inhibited practices Continued from page 24 “We see improvement every day,” said Smith. The first of the Outlaws scheduled 23 games is a non- league game versus La Pine on March 15. Other pre-league opponents include Crook County (4A state runner-up in 2017), Klamath Union, Jefferson and Gladstone. The Outlaws will also host a tour- nament during spring break. Sky-Em League action opens April 3 against Elmira. This will be the Outlaws’ final year as a member of the Sky-Em along with Elmira, Sutherlin, Sweet Home, Cottage Grove and Junction City. Due to OSAA realign- ment starting in fall 2018, in spring 2019 they will compete in the Oregon West League: Newport, Philomath, Sisters, Stayton, Sweet Home and Woodburn. is your online source for BREAKING NEWS heart attack today in America — thanks to Larry!” The Fire Corps as a whole received the Chief’s Award for Excellence for their out- reach work in the community, which includes smoke-alarm installation, blood pressure clinics and more. Noting that 75 to 80 per- cent of the District’s calls are for medical assistance, PHOTO BY JIM CORNELIUS Chief Johnson presented the Captain Thornton Brown thanked Jeff Liming and Matt Millar (not EMT of the Year Award to pictured) for helping him get through a climbing accident last year. Rita Hodge for her excep- tional dedication to provid- Meredith was recognized for recognize that they are part of ing life-saving service under his leadership and continu- a team — indeed, a family. pressure. ing efforts and example that Keynote speaker State Fire Travis Bootes deployed make everyone around him Marshal Jim Walker noted twice to California as part better, as Career Firefighter that one of the distinguish- of Oregon strike teams sent of the Year. ing qualities of the personnel to aid in the battle against While the individuals sin- of the Sisters-Camp Sherman catastrophic wildfires in that gled out for honors clearly Fire District is their humility. state. His dedication earned earned the recognition — “They do incredible him honors as Volunteer which comes from their things,” he said. “And they Firefighter of the Year. Cody peers — they are all quick to do it on a daily basis.” I’m Here For You… CUSTOM CROSSROADS HOME Gorgeous 4-bdrm,3.5-ba with separate garage & shop. Great family home adjacent to forest land. $689,999 Call Winfield Durham, Broker, at Sellers: Free consult & market analysis gets you the highest price for your home. Buyers: I’ve lived in Sisters 15 years. Let me help you put down roots in the town I know & love. 541-420-9801 Licensed Broker in the State of Oregon 625 N. Arrowleaf Trail, Sisters Sheila Reifschneider, Broker, 541-408-6355 Licensed Broker in Oregon | sheila@reedbros.com Coldwell Banker Reed Bros. Realty 291 W. Cascade Ave. | 541-549-6000 g n i s i t r e v d A t e g g u N e h in T Works! “Sisters Feed & Supply has been “S using the Sisters Saver coupon in u Th e Nugget for several years. 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