Driggs named firefighter of year

— The annual Northeast Benton County Volunteer FireDepartment firefighter appreciation luncheon was held Sunday in the Community Room, with more than 65 board members, fire fighters and guests on hand for the occasion. Food forthe luncheon was prepared by the Seligam One Stop and served buffet style to the group. Serving as emcee for the day was NEBCO Board President Kara Funk as she first brought fellow board member Cris Jones up to lead open with prayer. Following the luncheon both Funk and Fire Dhief Rob Taylor offered a few remarks on how 2011 hadgone for the organization.

Funk was quick to thank all the first responders in the room, meaning anyone that carries a radio or a pager to answer emergency calls for the department.

She also thanked the spouses of the responders for their sacrifices of time and attention when the pager goes off and their family member heads out the door to answerer a call. Funk noted that as she makes her way around the NEBCO community she hears a lot of good response from those who are served by the department.

Taylor echoed many of Funk’s statements as he gave a more in depth report of the improvement that the department has made during the year. A major step forward was the purchase of a new tanker to be housed in Station 2 on Posey Mountain Road near Lost Bridge Village.

“This is the first new truck we have ever bought,” Taylor said, “and it should give us many years of service to the area.”

Also, a water line to Station 2 was recentlycompleted marking the first time the station has had water to the building since its construction in 1978. Taylor named Andy Driggs as firefighter of the year. Driggs was unable to attend the luncheon, but will receive his plaque at the first fire meeting of the new year.

Funk and Taylor were both quick to state thatthe department has a great group of volunteers on hand to make the mission of the NEBCO Fire/EMS Department possible. Not only are they needed as responders to emergency calls but also has helpers on the half dozen or so fund raisers the department hold each year to supplement the budget for new equipment purchases.

Community, Pages 6 on 12/21/2011