Annual Awards Banquet Held

The Sykesville-Freedom District Fire Department held their annual banquet, Saturday January 21.

Members of the department, paid personnel their families and honored guests all enjoyed a hearty meal courtesy of "Miles of Smiles" Catering of Laurel, MD; and served by our friends of the Freedom District Lions Club.

Several generous donation checks were presented to the department from the Lions, the town of Sykesville, and our own Auxiliary. President Bobby Althoff gladly received the donations and thanked everyone for their support.

Top ten response awards were given out in the following categories:

Fire Suppression: 1. Steve Pickett, 2. Ed Ruch, Jr., 3. Marc Maczis, 4. Robby Ruch, 5. Dave Hoff, 6. Brian Parker, 7. Ryan Dyson, 8. Rob Schombert, 9. Shawn Loomis, 10. Corey Newton.

EMS: 1. Brian Parker, 2. Chris Carmody, 3. Steve Pickett, 4. Tim Matthews, 5. David Hull, 6. Shawn Loomis, 7. Brandi Fox, 8. Libby Luebberman, 9. Kerri Haynes, 10. Marc Maczis.

Administration: 1. Dennis Beard, 2. Gene Whiteman, 3. Bobby Althoff, 4. Bobby Volkert, 5. Kim Volkert, 6. Ralph Henson, 7. Donna Althoff, 8. Glenn Whiteman, 9. Jimmy Freeze, 10. Sue Tarrant.

Auxiliary: 1. Nancy Bowman, 2. Sue Tarrant, 3. Jeff Tarrant, 4. Emily Celly, 5. Connie Strohecker, 6. Nancy Clark, 7. Frances Rosier, 8. Jan Dunn, 9. Debbie Stockdale, 10. Eva Whiteman.

The Sykesville Juniors were also recognized for their hard work and given gifts as tokens of the department's appreciation.

Length of service pins were presented to those serving the department in five year increments.

A special certificate was presented to Chief Ed Ruch, Sr. by Chief Mickey Day of the West Friendship Fire Department for our support of their company the night one of their EMS Lieutenants was critically injured at an accident scene.

Musical entertainment for the evening was provided by D.J. "Stinger."

A special thanks to crews from Gamber, Winfield and West Friendship; who manned our units during the banquet.