MV VFD honors award winners
The 150th Missouri Valley Volunteer Fire Department’s 150th Firemen’s Ball was held on Feb. 22 at the Rand Center in Missouri Valley.
RETIREE / NEW CHIEF RECOGNITION
A plaque was presented to Forest Dooley and his family for his 37 years of dedication to the Missouri Valley Fire Department.
The new Fire Chief, Angel Smiley, was formally introduced, as she becomes the first female chief in Harrison County.
COMMUNITY HERO
Steve Westphalen received the Community Hero Award. During a Blizzard in January (2024), he brought out his own personal vehicle, sustained damage and did not bill the Fire Dept to fix his vehicle as he was assisting the Ambulance as it was buried in a snow drift trying to get to two calls and ending up saving a life that night.
AWARD WINNERS
EMTs of the Year: Wyatt Love, Abby Allen.
Firefighter of the Year: Ted Tharp.
Rookie of the Year: Sean Cooksey.
Years of Service: Ted Tharp (5 years); Nikki Dooley (5 years); Kalyn Kolls (5 years).
RINGING THE BELL, Four-Fives
When a firefighter dies in the line of duty or when some important official or personage dies, headquarters would transmit five bell strikes repeated in four series', with a slight pause between each series, followed by the announcement.
This was done as long ago as 1865 in the New York City Fire Department to inform the rank and file of the death of Abraham Lincoln.
