Yates County Emergency volunteers accumulated the most training hours ever in 2007.  That number was reached through the hard work of 282 students, who received 838 certificates, according to  Emergency Management Director Glen Miller.
A guest speaker at the dinner, Andrew “Drew” Dickenson, Bureau Chief of NYSOFPC  in charge of the NYS Fire Academy in Montour Falls told the audience, “It is a privilege to see the magnitude of training in Yates County.” 

He presented the top  persons in hours of training for each category a free scholarship to take a course at the Academy.  David Parkhurst of Dresden had the most combined hours for EMS/Fire training with 300 hours.  Dan Egburtson of Dresden Fire Department accumulated 236 fire training hours.  For EMS training Jim Source, Jr. of Himrod had 161 hours.  Dickenson commended the three and said he hoped they would take advantage of the awards.

Yates County Firefighter of the Year award was given to Jason Bassett of Middlesex Fire Department.  Miller said Bassett was born and raised in a family of firefighters.  In August he responded to a large fire on East Hill with his two young kids in his vehicle.  He found someone on the scene to “babysit” while working the fire.  Bassett is also a 911 dispatcher.

The Yates County Fire Service Bob Hathaway Award for Officer of the Year was given to John Murphy of the Benton Fire Department.  Murphy’s wife Ann, two children and mother Connie, proudly appeared in the back of the room to see him get the award. 

Gary Oppelt of the Middlesex Fire Department received the Roger Ribble Award.  Ribble’s son -in-law, Ray Stewart, presented the award given by the family.

Miller gave the Co-ordinators Award to Bob Greene.  He thanked him for his work with Medic 55 in 2007.  Greene left the position this year, to take a job with Homeland Security.

Before giving out the EMS awards,  Emergency Coordinator Chris Warriner said.” I am glad to be part of a community that volunteers so much time.”  She gave a special award to Mahlon Hurst. 

Warriner said Hurst has been an EMT for 20 years and a great adult leader of the Penn Yan Ambulance Corps Explorer program since 2002.  “He makes himself available to the explorers at anytime,” she said.  Hurst was not present, but told Warriner he was very humbled and thankful. 

David Harrington of Middlesex, was named EMS Provider of the Year.  “Since he was a teenager in high school, he has exhibited care for the patient and the ability to perform,” the citation read.  In high school, while riding a bus, he performed the heimlich maneuver on a choking student.    “He understands the need of the community and writes grants,” Warriner said. Harrington is also a 911 dispatcher.

Miller said he was pleased to have Yates County be one of the most NIMS (National Incident Management System) compliant in the state.  NIMS training was developed through Homeland Security to help different jurisdictions and disciplines work together to better respond to national disasters and emergencies. 

Another major accomplishment, completed in 2007, was having a cascade system installed in every fire department. 

Department hour totals were: Bellona, 870 hours; Benton,  844 hours; Branchport/Keuka Park, 997 hours; Dresden, 1811; Dundee, 2196; Dundee Ambulance, 606; Himrod, 2238; Middlesex, 1183; Penn Yan Ambulance, 1761; Penn Yan, 1177; Potter 21 and Rushville, 434.

Others in the top ten for 2007 individual training awards include:
Fire Training Hour Awards:  John Stryker, Dresden, 210; Ray Willis, Dundee, 198; Patricia Source, Himrod, 170; Brian Oppelt, Middlesex, 168; Don Austin, Dundee, 157;  David Parkhurst, Dresden, 157; Harlan Sensenig, Dundee, 156; Laverne Hoover, Dundee, 150; Barb Crosby, Dundee, 147.

EMS Training Hours: Daniel Howell and James Cardin, Dundee, 159; John Hansen, Penn Yan Ambulance, 158; Brian Murphy, Benton, 146; Alex Kuehne, Penn Yan Ambulance, 145; Amanda Moss, Penn Yan  Ambulance, 144; Kevin and David Parkhurst, Dresden, 143; Samuel Porch, Christine West, Micah Lepp, Lorene Martin and Jane Shenk, Penn Yan Ambulance, all with 143 hours and Barb Crosby, Dundee,143.

Fire/ EMS Hours :  Barb Crosby, Dundee, 290; Don Austin, Dundee, 240; Ray Willis, Dundee, 230 and Jim Source, Himrod, 225.