Pictured are from left: Assistant Fire Chief Mike Wise, Firefighter Paul Brewer, and Fire Chief Dave Schipper.
(Le Mars) — The Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department held its annual banquet and awards program on Saturday evening at the Willow Creek Golf Club. Several awards and honors were given to various members of the Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department. Chief Dave Schipper and Assistant Chief Mike Wise presented the “Firefighter of the Year” to Firefighter #11, Paul Brewer. Brewer joined the Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department as a reserve member in 2015, and then moved up to become a regular status member in August of 2015. During the presentation of the honor, Fire Chief Dave Schipper informed the banquet gathering that Brewer has assisted with the upkeep and maintenance of the fire apparatus over the last years. He is one of the fire fighters who have stepped up to fill overnight shifts at the station. Brewer is a certified Firefighter I and Firefighter II, Emergency Medical Responder, Hazardous Materials Technician, Confined Space Rescue Technician and a Rope Rescue Technician. Brewer responded to over 80 percent of fire calls both in the city and rural areas. Brewer attended 42 of the 43 offered training sessions in 2016. Paul Brewer has been a valuable addition to the Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department.
Dreckman Honored With Lifetime Membership Award
Brett Dreckman has been a member of the Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department for over 30 years which is one of the requirements to earn the Lifetime Membership Award. Dreckman began his career with the Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department in 1986 and completed his 30 years of service last year. Only five others hold the prestigious honor as being named a Lifetime Member. They include: Ken Becker, Ken Langel, Wayne Schipper, Keith Hettwer, and Mark Hentges. To become a Lifetime Member, an individual must have made a significant impact on the quality of life in Le Mars. The member must have made significant contributions to the Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department. The member must be approved to this status by the Mayor of Le Mars and the Fire Chief. Dreckman has achieved the rank of Captain with the Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department.
Pictured are from left to right: Assistant Fire Chief Mike Wise, Captain Brett Dreckman, and Mayor Dick Kirchoff.
Retired Captain Doug Harms Awarded Honorary Lifetime Member Award
Doug Harms started with the Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department in 1986 and completed 27 1/2 years until he was forced to retire due to health reasons. However, since his retirement, Harms has recovered from heart issues and is currently cancer free. Harms has continued to assist the Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department in many ways and also is still teaching classes to other community fire departments about the dangers they face in the ever changing hazardous environments that they respond to. Doug Harms continues to assist the Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department any way he can, and he continues to do anything the department ask of him, even though he cannot officially be a member anymore. Since he retired he has put in the time that if still a member, he would have reached his 30 years. Mayor Dick Kirchoff and Fire Chief Dave Schipper awarded Harms with the first Honorary Lifetime Member.
Firefighter Steve Schwartz Presented With Chief’s Citation Bar Award
The city of Le Mars approved the issuing of medals of honor and citation and achievement bars, created and designed especially for firefighters, for the Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department. These awards are for recognition of their services to the community and the department, and for their brave, caring and sentimental actions in the pursuit of saving lives and property. According to Fire Chief Dave Schipper, this year’s Citation Bar Award is being presented to a firefighter who went above and beyond this year for the chief and the department. Schipper says that Steve Schwartz stepped forward on several extra projects and agreed to take on the responsibility of being an Officer and a Leader for the organization. This is above and beyond attendance at training drills, and emergency calls. Schipper says Schwartz has a “can do” and “we’ll get it done” attitude, and has become a very valuable officer filling a needed gap in the command structure. Steve Schwartz recently was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant.
Pictured from left to right are: Assistant Fire Chief Mike Wise, Lt. Steve Schwartz, and Fire Chief Dave Schipper.
Jordon Cave Given Retirement Honor
Due to a career move, Jordon Cave moved away from Le Mars, and consequently had to retire from the Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department. During Saturday evening’s banquet, Cave was honored for his 10 years of service to the Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department. Cave is a Nationally Certified Firefighter I and Firefighter II, Paramedic, Hazardous Materials Technician, Rope Technician, Driver/Pumper Operator, and Confined Space Rescue Technician. He was one of the firefighters to volunteer for the overnight shift at the station. Cave was awarded the “Firefighter of the Year” award in 2014. Cave served the Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department in several capacities including: firefighter, treasurer, and was a prior member of the banquet committee and finance committee.
Jordon Cave (left) stands while listening to Chief Dave Schipper thank him for his 10 years service to the Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department. Assistant Chief Mike Wise (right) is about to present the retirement plague to Cave.
Red’s Printing and Gus Pech Honored For Their Contributions To the Fire Department.
Randy Olson and Chris Collins of Gus Pech Manufacturing were honored Saturday evening for their contributions to the Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department. Gus Pech helped create a metal platform for the new Grass Fire Pickup Truck in which allows firefighters to stand while extinguishing grass and field fires. John and Pam Hutchins of Red’s Printing were also honored during the fire department’s banquet. Red’s Printing was responsible for the lettering and graphics that are featured on each of the Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department trucks.