Shumway Firefighters Hold Awards Banquet

The Shumway Fire Protection District recognized its own Saturday, naming Engineer Lloyd Tarrant the department's 2014 Firefighter of the Year.

(LLOYD TARRANT)

Tarrant was surprised when he realized he won the award, which was presented at the Department's Awards Banquet.

Tarrant joined the Shumway Fire Protection District in 1991 as a firefighter and has served on department committees and was recently elected President of the Shumway Firefighters Association.

"Lloyd has always been someone we can depend on; whether it's 3:00 in the afternoon or 3:00 in the morning he is always there and ready to go to work," said Fire Chief Joe Kemme.

The 63-year-old Tarrant is retired from Lewis Brothers Bakery and also a US Navy veteran. He lives in Shumway with wife Karen and is a father of daughters Andrea and Kimberly.

The Department also presented firefighters with years of service awards, commendation awards, as well as two unit citations for their efforts throughout 2014.

Recognition was as follows:

--service pins were presented to Firefighters Craig Moore and Tom Doedtman for 25 years' service to the department, and Firefighters Nicky Stein and Justin Michels for five years' service.

--commendation awards were presented to 17 firefighters for exceptional skill and conduct during the search for Willow Long on September 8, 2013; Chief Joe Kemme, Battalion Chiefs Johnathon Paholke and Justin Quandt, and Firefighters Brennen Croy, Dave Doedtman, Jessica Meyer, Justin Michels, Josh Stone, Justin Timmons, Lloyd Tarrant, Matt Brown, Matt Childerson, Matt Holomy, Nick Baker, Nicky Stein, Steven Gray and Wes Sowell.

The commendation awards for the search for Willow Long were held until the investigation into the incident was completed by law enforcement.

--merit awards to Firefighters Wes Sowell and Brandon Kolb for outstanding accomplishment that resulted in substantial cost savings and improved infrastructure for the department.

The Shumway Fire Department bases its awards off of recommendations from the public. If you feel that one of the members of the Shumway Department has gone above and beyond, phone them at 217-868-5202.