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DeKalb Fire Department awards more of its own

January 23, 2023
By: Dwayne Page

A threepeat!

For the third consecutive year the Liberty Station of the DeKalb County Volunteer Fire Department has been awarded the FirstBank Station of the Year. This award presented Saturday night during the department’s annual awards banquet at the county complex auditorium was for the year 2022. Meanwhile, Bill Brown of the Liberty Station received the 2022 DeKalb Funeral Chapel “Git R Done” Award.

The headlining sponsor for the banquet was Wilson Bank & Trust and County Fire Chief Donny Green gave special recognition to the bank.

“We are honored to have Wilson Bank & Trust as our Headlining Sponsor for our 2022 DeKalb County Fire Department’s Annual Awards Banquet.

“Wilson Bank & Trust is an independent bank deeply connected to our communities taking a personal approach to business by providing customized banking needs while staying connected to serving our communities,” said Chief Green.

Lieutenant Matt Adcock presented the First Bank Station of the Year Award.

“This award is exclusively selected from all 12 stations of the DeKalb County Fire Department based upon the following criteria:

•Station work sessions that go above and beyond the normal expectations for station and equipment maintenance

•Community service the station completed as a group

“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 Lieutenant Adcock.

“The Liberty Station is the First Bank 2022 Station of the Year, and we congratulate all members of the Liberty Station for your commitment to pride and service to our department and your community,” Lt. Adcock continued.

“Specifically, the Liberty Station conducted numerous work sessions as a group to keep their station, apparatus, and equipment in good operating condition and status. 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,” he said.

“As for community service group projects, the Liberty Station coordinated and delivered multiple community service projects in their service area. For example, they sponsored families for Christmas gift donations and donated their personal time and equipment to perform grounds maintenance at DeKalb West School and the tennis courts in Liberty. They also coordinated a Back-to-School Welcome for the first day of school at DeKalb West School. Several station members participated in the DeKalb Emergency Services Association’s (DESA) Thanksgiving and Christmas Meal Delivery Programs. During the May 2022 Smoke Alarm Blitz, members of the Liberty Station surveyed the community to determine households in need of smoke alarms, and later delivered and installed smoke alarms. The Liberty Station hosted a town Halloween Party and provided fellowship and treats for attendees”.

“It has been said “no one cares how much you know until they know how much you care.” It’s obvious the Liberty Station cares about their community and goes beyond emergency response to show it”.

“We are honored to recognize the Liberty Station of the DeKalb County Fire Department as the First Bank 2022 Station of the Year,” concluded Lieutenant Adcock.

Safety Officer Lieutenant Kristie Johnson, who presented the “Git R Done” Award, said Brown was selected for the honor based on a variety of factors.

“Nominations were evaluated and scored based on the following criteria:
•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 firefighter selected as this year’s GIT R Done Award is widely known for getting things done! He is dedicated and loyal to participating in training functions and incident responses. When we have been challenged in staffing our part-time position, this firefighter has always stepped up and filled the void. In addition to this, he exceeded expectations by doing a phenomenal job assisting in our county-wide Insurance Services Office evaluation last fall. He spent countless hours flow testing hydrants, visiting suction supply points, preparing hose and pump test records, and updating apparatus inventory records.
He always goes above and beyond in helping us make sure the Fair Food Booth is set up, operational, taken down, and cleaned. He even used his own truck and trailer to help transport the food booth. He always displays professionalism and positivity in his appearance and conduct. He holds others accountable, but never before holding himself accountable.

As for community service, you would be hard pressed to find an individual that does more for his community. In addition to his duties as our department’s Equipment Officer last year, he made himself available to numerous community outreach and educational events such as: DeKalb Emergency Services Association (DESA) Thanksgiving and Christmas meal delivery projects, Farm Day, Liberty Station Community Halloween Party, and Career Day. He is a very active leader in the local Boy Scouts Club and quietly and unselfishly gives of his time and means to deliver thoughtful gifts to partner agencies such as EMS, 911 Dispatch, and the Sheriff’s Department.

Although Bill Brown would never be motivated to do any of this for recognition, it’s members like him that make our department and community better! His service in our department and community most certainly promotes a positive image of our department.

Fittingly enough, we are honored to present Firefighter Bill Brown with the 2022 DeKalb Funeral Chapel “GIT R DONE” Award,” said Lieutenant Johnson.




DCHS Freshman Registration Parent Nights This Week

January 22, 2023
By: Dwayne Page

The DCHS Freshman Registration Parent Nights are Monday, January 23 from 5:30PM-7:00PM & Tuesday, January 24 from 5:30PM-7:00PM.

The DCHS Counseling department would like to invite the 8th grade students and parents to Freshman Parent Night, which will be held in the DeKalb County High School cafeteria and auditorium. It is very important that every student and parent or guardian attend.

Monday, January 23, 2023 -The homeroom students of Hendrix, H. Poteete, & J. Poteete will meet-5:30-6:30 in the cafeteria and 6:30-7:00 in the Auditorium. The homeroom students of Bratton, & Blair will meet 5:30-6:30 in the Auditorium and 6:30-7:00 in the cafeteria.

Tuesday, January 24, 2022 – The homeroom students of Leslie, Jacobs, Odom will meet-5:30-6:30 in the cafeteria and 6:30-7:00 in the Auditorium. The homeroom students of Jones, and Harney will meet 5:30-6:30 in the Auditorium and 6:30-7:00 in the cafeteria.

If you cannot attend on your scheduled night, please attend on the other night.

If school is canceled due to weather, the meetings are canceled. You will be notified as soon as possible of rescheduled dates. This will be a time for parents and students to learn about the DCHS education program including the Career & Technical programs. Students and parents will also learn how to choose the courses that their student will take in high school their 9th grade year. If you cannot attend either night, please contact DCHS School Counselor Shelly Painter at shellypainter@dekalbschools.net or 615-597-2247.




Rookie and Veteran Firefighter Singled Out for Special Recognition During DeKalb Fire Department Banquet

January 22, 2023
By: Dwayne Page

DeKalb County Volunteer Firefighter Anthony Scott of the Main Station received the 2022 DeKalb Telephone Cooperative (DTC) Rookie of the Year Award Saturday night during the annual department awards program while Lieutenant Dusty Johnson was recognized as the Liberty State Bank Officer of the Year.

The DTC Rookie Award was presented by Captain Brian Williams.

“This award is exclusively based on hours of training completed by a rookie firefighter who completed his/her basic recruit training during 2022,” said Captain Williams.

“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.

“We certainly want to recognize all members who have demonstrated an outstanding level of commitment to training. Today, we especially want to recognize this recruit for completing hours of training during the 12-month rookie period”.

“DeKalb Telephone Cooperative (DTC) is honored to announce that Anthony Scott, firefighter with the Main Station, is the 2022 DTC Rookie of the Year,” said Captain Williams.

In presenting the Liberty State Bank Officer Award, Chief Donny Green paid tribute to Lieutenant Johnson for his leadership and community service.

“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.

“This year’s recipient Liberty State Bank 2022 Officer of the Year serves as a Lieutenant and is the program leader for our Fire Prevention and Safety Programs. He 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”.

“For 2022, he made 100% of his monthly training drills while also completing other outside training courses. When it comes to incident responses, he is consistently among the most dependable”.

“He is always just making sure things get done without any expectation of recognition, repayment, or celebration. As a member of the DeKalb Emergency Services Association, he played a big role in helping plan, prepare, and deliver meals to the needy last Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve. Outside of the fire department, he serves as a Captain of the Smithville-DeKalb County Rescue Squad; just another testament to his love for serving his community”.

“Leadership is not a title; it’s an action. This officer puts servant leadership in action and makes DeKalb County Fire Department better. We are proud to honor Lt. Dusty Johnson as the Liberty State Bank 2022 Officer of the Year,” said County Fire Chief Green.




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