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Sublette Examiner Volume 1, Number 51 - March 21, 2002 brought to you online by Pinedale Online
PVFD honors Alvin Mitchell and Jack Padilla by Rhonda Swain
At their 66th annual firemen’s banquet and ball Saturday evening, members
of the Pinedale Volunteer Fire Department (PVFD) gathered at VFW Post
4801 to bestow honors on their fellow firefighters.
After feasting on prime rib and Cornish game hens cooked to perfection
by Kathy Masters, Fire Chief Wes Johnston took the podium, so to speak,
to toast the department’s honorees.
Bob and Mayleen Boyce, and Bill and Coleen Gransden were recognized
for hauling the fire department’s trash at no charge.
The coveted Rookie of the Year and Fireman of the Year went to Jack
Padilla and Alvin Mitchell, respectively. According to Johnston, "Alvie
really stepped forward at the fires, and he helped to put together meetings
and training sessions ... just went above and beyond the call of duty,"
to get the honor.
Padilla’s rookie honor was voted on by all non-rookie members.
Alvin was busy the past year, as he was the only firefighter to attend
all 12 monthly meetings, which earned him more recognition.
Several years ago, the department created a traveling statue award
to go to a firefighter more or less just for kicks, and Saturday, Captain
Toby Terrell got the statue. It seems Terrell, who is employed by the
Sublette County Sheriff’s Department, managed to show up in the wrong
uniform each time he was called to a fire, "and he’s usually there before
us," Johnston commented in an interview Monday afternoon.
During 2001, PVFD had two rookies in addition to Padilla: Jerry Rice
and Brian Gray. Rice and Padilla are both stationed with the U.S. Air
Force Boulder Detachment 489; Gray works for the Wyoming Department
of Transportation.
Johnston said the department responded to 62 calls in 2001, the same
number as the previous year. He thanked the wives of PVFD members for
"putting up with the firemen" and commended Bob Maxam "for all the work
and administrative duties he takes care of as secretary/ treasurer of
the department ... He really helps me out by reminding me of things
that need to be done and I really appreciate it," Johnston said.
Pinedale Volunteer Fire Department Roster
Wes Johnston – Chief
Rookie of the Year
Firefighter of the Year
Honorary Members
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