Lake Township firefighter Ben O’Neal center, with Fire Chief Barrett Dorner, left, and Deputy Chief Dave Henninger.
Debbie Rogers | Sentinel-Tribune
Lake Township firefighter Cory Ammerman, center, with Fire Chief Barrett Dorner, left, and Deputy Chief Dave Henninger.
Debbie Rogers | Sentinel-Tribune
Lake Township Battalion Chief Ed Brown, center, with Fire Chief Barrett Dorner and Deputy Chief Dave Henninger.
Debbie Rogers | Sentinel-Tribune
By Debbie Rogers
MILLBURY — A standing-room only crowd gathered to recognize long-time Lake Township firefighters who are retiring.
Battalion Chief Ed Brown and firefighters Cory Ammerman and Ben O’Neal were honored at the July 18 trustees meeting.
Lake Township firefighter Cory Ammerman, center, with Fire Chief Barrett Dorner, left, and Deputy Chief Dave Henninger.
Debbie Rogers | Sentinel-Tribune
The three have a combined 50 years of experience, said Fire Chief Barrett Dorner.
“These firefighters selflessly served our township, facing danger with courage and resilience,” he said.
Lake Township Battalion Chief Ed Brown, center, with Fire Chief Barrett Dorner and Deputy Chief Dave Henninger.
Debbie Rogers | Sentinel-Tribune
Dorner said they should honor their commitment, not dwell on the loss of experience.
“When we see a seasoned group of firefighters like this retire, there tends to be a focus on ‘look at how many years of experience we’re losing,’” Dorner said.
They leave the township in good shape, he said.
“There’s an old saying, the best thing an old firefighter can do, and teach a young firefighter, is how to become an old firefighter,” Dorner said. “We’re losing veterans, but they left their mark.
“They will always be part of the story.”
Also at the meeting, the trustees:
• Voted to spend $8,375 for preventative maintenance on fire and EMS apparatus. Atlantic Emergency Solutions, Manassas, Virginia, will do the work.
• Approved spending $1,632 to Traffic Uniform Supply, Bowling Green, for ballistic vest uniform covers for the police department.
• Approved spending $1,087 for repairs to the fire department’s 2010 Chevrolet Suburban. Bearclaws Tire Auto and Light Truck Service LLC, Northwood, will do the work.
• Voted to spend $1,072 to W.W. Williams, Perrysburg, for maintenance on the John Deere generator.
• Approved $1,050 for the repairs and tuneup of the Z920M mower. Ag-Pro, Gibsonburg, will do the work.
• Hired firefighter/EMT Ashley Terry for $17 an hour, probationary firefighter Chase Steffes at $10.10 per hour, and firefighter II/paramedic Colin Drake at $20.26 per hour.
• Heard June department reports. Police made four arrests and issued 21 citations. Fire and EMS had 148 runs total. Zoning issued six permits and took in $800. There were 11 burials and six cremations at the cemetery.
• Heard that a Tombstone Trunk and Treat event is being planned for Oct. 22 from 2-6 p.m. by the Friends of the Park at Friendship Park. “I realize it’s July but an event like this takes some time to plan,” said organizer Melanie Bowen-Greenwald.
Other Halloween-themed events in the area will be Lake Local Schools trunk or treat on Oct. 27 at Fireside Park and the Walbridge-Fest Spooktacular on Oct. 29.
A spokesperson for Walbridge-Fest said that an official decision on the Spooktacular has not been made.
