January 22, 2023
By: Dwayne Page
A member of the Short Mountain Highway Station has won the DeKalb County Fire Department’s most coveted award.
Robert Sartin is the 2022 Middle Tennessee Natural Gas Volunteer Firefighter of the Year.
Sartin was honored Saturday night during the DeKalb County Volunteer Fire Department’s Annual Awards Program at the county complex auditorium. Wilson Bank & Trust was the headlining sponsor of the program.
(View Video of the Awards Program on the WJLE Facebook Page)
https://www.facebook.com/wjleradiosmithville
Meanwhile, Lieutenant Dusty Johnson was recognized as the Liberty State Bank Officer of the Year and Bill Brown was selected to receive the DeKalb Funeral Chapel “Git R Done” Award. The DeKalb Telephone Cooperative (DTC) Rookie of the Year Award went to Anthony Scott and the Liberty Station repeated as the FirstBank Station of the Year award winner.
Sartin’s award was presented by Assistant County Fire Chief Anthony Boyd.
In making the presentation, Boyd said Sartin was selected from firefighters demonstrating excellence in training participation, incident response, and community service.
“For 2022, Robert made 100% of his monthly training, completed other outside training courses, and is among the most active in his incident responses. 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,” said Assistant Fire Chief Boyd.
“As for community service, he frequently volunteers to help with fire prevention education events. He participated in the May 2022 Smoke Alarm Blitz where our department partnered with Red Cross to install over 500 smoke alarms in one day. He does not limit his interest to the department, he is an active member of the Smithville-DeKalb County Rescue Squad. He always makes himself available to assist with fire prevention and education programs at schools, the Citizens’ Fire Academy, and other civic organizations,” Boyd continued.
“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 Fire Chief Boyd.
(Other stories from the awards program will be posted here later)
The following are Program Sponsors for the DeKalb County Fire Department Annual Awards Program:
- Twisted Oaks
- Center Hill Nursery
- B&B Emergency Equipment
- Middle TN Natural Gas Utility District
- Rockwall Farms
- Journey Financial Planning
- DeKalb County Insurance
- DeKalb Farm Bureau
- Smithville Bakery & Café
- Clyde Thomas Family Memorial
- WJLE Radio Station
- DeKalb Market
- Swallow Insurance Agency
- Sligo Marina
- S&B Designs
- FirstBank
- Turn Key Bail Bonding
- J&A Fence
- Center Hill Marina
- State Farm Insurance
- Mountain Harbour Property Owners Association
- Johnson Construction
- Gill Automotive
- Close & Paschal Realty & Auction
- Thomas DeKalb-Ascension
The following are Community Fire Station Sponsors: 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, Mountain Harbour Property Owner’s Association.
Banquet Table sponsors: Holmes Group, Kilgore’s Restaurant, St. Thomas DeKalb-Ascension, Fiddler’s Campground & Market, Liberty Stop & Buy, Dr. Starla Meigs, Davis Autobody, Dr. George Ivey, B&B Emergency Equipment
The following are other community partners: local Red Cross representatives, WJLE Radio Station, 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.