Rescuers from all over Yates County gathered April 6 to reflect on the work that was accomplished in 2017 as they completed more than 10,000 hours of training to be prepared for emergencies.
The volunteers spend dozens of hours each year training for a wide variety of emergency situations, and one night a year, the Yates County Emergency Management Office hosts a dinner and awards ceremony to recognize the effort that goes into being prepared.
Brian Winslow, Director of the Yates County Office of Emergency Management praised the work of all the Yates County departments during 2017, thanking the more than 150 who attended for their dedication.
Yates County volunteers responded to hundreds of calls for service in 2017, according to Winslow. Rescuers are prepared to respond to fires, motor vehicle crashes, rope rescues, farm accidents, hazardous conditions, water rescues and more at all times of day and night.
Saving lives and property is only possible with the specialized training that each department completes. Winslow and some of the local and state instructors detailed the hours of training completed by departments:
Bellona: 519 hours
Benton: 964 hours
Branchport/Keuka Park: 2,441 hours
Dresden: 521 hours
Dundee: 1,438 hours
Himrod: 2,279 hours
Middlesex: 676 hours
Penn Yan: 741 hours
Penn Yan Ambulance: 2,346 hours
Potter: 374 hours
Rushville: 675 hours
Individuals who were honored at the dinner were:
• Howard Leach, Dresden: Yates County Fire Service H. Robert Hathaway Officer of the Year Award, in appreciation of his dedication and leadership.
• James Adams, Rushville Assistant Chief: Gary Garverick Leadership Award, for leadership with compassion, passion, and dedication.
• Joseph Axtell, Penn Yan Ambulance/Medic 55: Yates County EMS Provider of the Year, for his consistency in EMS excellence and exemplary performance when providing pre-hospital emergency care.
• Gary Christensen, Bellona Fire Dept.: Roger Ribble Memorial Award, for dedication to the Fire Service for embracing its traditions and training its future members.
• Wesley Youngman, Penn Yan Ambulance, Penn Yan Fire Dept.: Yates County EMS Training Hours Award, for the individual with the most training hours (1,000)
• Sheldon Martin, Himrod Fire Dept.: John P. Woods Fire Training Hours Award, for the individual with the most training hours (277).
• Jesse Lambert, Branchport/Keuka Park Fire Dept.: Yates County Combined Fire and EMS training hours award (369)
Other individuals with top fire training hours were: Trent Zeiset, Himrod, and Vernon Martin, Bellona (177); Jerrick Zeiset, Himrod (190); Randell Martin, Himrod (194); Kevin Zimmerman, Himrod (201); Harold Zimmerman, Dundee (209); Bob Warriner, Branchport/Keuka Park (221); Ryan Jensen, Penn Yan (231); and Dee Muck, Himrod (232).
Others with top EMS training hours were: Korrine Shortino, Penn Yan Ambulance (167); LeeAnn Brahman, Penn Yan Ambulance (177); Sarah Huey, Penn Yan Ambulance (181); and Jason Johnson, Penn Yan Ambulance, Medic 55 (363).
Others with top combined training hours were: Cassie Wood, Middlesex (251); Keeghan Kelly, Rushville (280); Jason Riveria, Dresden (304); and Josiah Peachy, Dundee (330).