First responders honored during 9-1-1 Festival

HALEYVILLE - The Haleyville 9-1-1 Festival, which spanned Friday, June 6, and Saturday, June 7, featured live entertainment, vendors, children’s activities, a car show, tractor show and other events, but the main focus took center stage Friday night at a special awards ceremony honoring local first responders.

The following are the first responders honored at Friday night’s awards ceremony:

Firefighters of the Year: Jacob Stidham, Bear Creek Fire Department; Scott Abbott, Double Springs Fire Department; Jessie Salter, Haleyville Fire Department; Ray Cole, Lynn Fire Department.

Deputy of the Year: Carson Legg, Winston County Sheriff’s Office;

Police Officers of the Year: Chris Franks, Bear Creek Police Department; Alex Hood, Double Springs Police Department; Daniel Revilla, Haleyville Police Department; Brian Kirkpatrick, Lynn Police Department;

Dispatchers of the Year: Gay Wright, Haleyville Police Department; Melissa Bollinger, Winston County?E-911; Laura Kelly, Winston County Sheriff’s Office;

RPS/EMT Advanced of the Year: Leanne Hughes;

Corrections Officer of the Year: LaJonna Berry, Winston County Sheriff’s Office;

Rescue Squad Member of the Year: Jimmy Sutherland, Haleyville Rescue Squad;

Volunteer Firefighters of the Year: Tim Franks, Ashridge; Bryan Lanford, Delmar and Randall Russell, Pebble.

Katie Tidwell, a member of the 9-1-1 Festival Committee, noted the festival was originally started to honor first responders, and that tradition continues each year at an awards ceremony during the festival.

“We hope to continue to grow that,” Tidwell stated.

“We want to always give them these awards and really recognize the dedication and their sacrifices.  We want to make them feel appreciated,” Tidwell added.

Shannon Lollar, who emceed the festival from the stage Friday night, looked around the crowd of spectators to see first responders positioned throughout the festival ready to assist others.

The Haleyville Fire Department’s ladder truck was brought to the scene with an American flag proudly hanging from the top of the ladder, giving the audience a place to pledge allegiance during the singing of the national anthem by the Sweet Tea Trio, one of the groups that performed.

“Haleyville would  be one of the safest places in the state I would think, with our police department, excellent fire department, every fire department we’ve got,” Lollar added.

Dr. Holly Sutherland, who announced each award presented to first responders, stressed, “The safety of our community is top priority.  So many of these first responders are volunteers. They make sacrifices of not being with their families a lot of times to make sure they are taking care of our community. It’s essential to the health and welfare of our whole community to have good first responders.”

In fact, during the festival, first responders came to the aid of some individuals who suffered from heat or medical related issues. First responders also monitored the weather situation to make sure Haleyville had a safe and successful festival, city officials said.

The weather was indeed good for both the Friday night awards and live entertainment.
Sutherland welcomed the public to the festival and introduced Haleyville Mayor Ken Sunseri and city council members Boo Brooks, Brian Berry, Blue Russell, Drew Thrasher and Dr. Ray Boshell.

Before the awards, council members tossed 9-1-1 Festival T-shirts into the audience.
Sutherland then centered on the meaning of the festival and the ceremony.

“Whether they are firefighters racing toward danger, police officers keeping our neighborhood secure, paramedics saving lives in moments of crisis or dispatchers guiding and helping with calm and clarity, first responders are the backbone of our community and our emergency response system,” Sutherland told the audience.

“They are the first to arrive and often the last to leave. Let us never take their sacrifices for granted.  To all first responders, thank you. Your bravery does not go unnoticed and your service does not go unappreciated.”

Sutherland then asked the audience to give a round of applause to all first responders.

“They are some of the most important people we deal with on a day-to-day basis,” added Festival Committee Member Kris Burleson. “Unfortunately, when we see them on a daily basis, it’s not a good situation or a good circumstance.”

Sunseri stressed all first responders deserved recognition for the jobs they do.
“They are there when you need them.  A lot of times, people don’t give them the recognition they deserve,” Sunseri stated.

“The police, the fire, the paramedics, dispatchers, the ambulance service, the hospital personnel, they just do a great job and do the best they can for our city,” the mayor added.

Mayor speaks with pride on home of 9-1-1

Sunseri also stated with pride that these awards were presented in the city where the nation’s first 9-1-1 call was placed over 50 years ago.

“That makes us unique. That’s our brand,” Sunseri said. “We’re the Home of 9-1-1.”

Winston County Commission Chairman David Cummings, who has served as a dispatcher and on the fire department for years, stressed, “It’s good to be able to recognize the people who volunteer their time away from their families.

“First responders are big in the community,” Cummings added. “They help us in every way possible--fire, ambulance, police, rescue squad. You’ve got all kinds of first responders, and it takes all of them to make it work.”

9-1-1
Festival Committee

Members of the 9-1-1 Festival Committee, who were also introduced at the awards ceremony, included Jade Bice, Mandy Little, Sutherland, Burleson, Tidwell, Brandon Norris, Natalie Boykin and Evan Tidwell.
“Thank you for all of your hard work to bring the festival to your community again,” Holly Sutherland said.