Moberly, Missouri, firefighters and first responders gathered in Moberly to honor the firefighters that serve all of Randolph County. The 4th Annual Firefighters Awards banquet was held at the Municipal Auditorium in Downtown Moberly on Saturday, February 9, with nearly 200 guest in attendance.
Each year for the past four years the five fire protection districts and the City of Moberly honor the men and women that serve Randolph County. Special guest speakers included the State of Missouri Fire Marshall Tim Bean who delivered the keynote address and Chief Ken Hoover of the Little Dixie Fire Protection District.
Also, on hand were State Representatives Tim Remole and Cheri Toalson Reish to present special Missouri House of Representatives Resolutions to Mr. Stephen Kreek and Lt. Mike Smith of the City of Moberly Fire Department. Mr. Kreek was honored by the Eastern Randolph County Fire Protection District with their Board of Director’s award and the Resolution recognizing his over three decades of service to the community. Lt. Smith was honored for his 30 years of service to the City of Moberly’s Fire Department with his retirement pending in March.
Other honorees for the special evening were from the City of Moberly, Firefighters Dusty McGee and Steven Riggs for effecting rescue of a stranding motorist trapped by rising flood waters last spring. Also honored form the City of Moberly was Captain Robert Hardy for 30 years of service.
The Higbee Area Fire Protection District presented their Board of Director’s Award to Ms. Stacey Ingersoll, the Chief’s Award to Firefighter Toby Orton, the Firefighter of the Year Award to Captain Mitchell Morenz and the Community Service Award to Firefighter Michael Pottebaum. A special Appreciation Award was presented to Chief Joe Roberts.
The Westran Fire Protection District presented the Board of Director’s Award to Mr. Mike Hill, the Chief’s Award to Firefighter Gary Riley and the Firefighter of the Year award to Firefighter Brian Bell.
The Eastern Randolph County Fire Protection District presented the Community Service Award to the City of Moberly, the Chief’s Award to Mr. Rodney Boots and the Firefighter of the Year Award to Captain Michael Fugate.
Together the agencies responded to over 1,500 emergency calls during 2018. Most often the calls involved a collaboration of mutual-aid, with one agency supplying manpower and equipment to the other during an emergency.
FFAM
