The best of the best for 2020 were honored Wednesday, March 17, when Fannin County firefighters, rescue workers and ambulance service personnel were singled out during the Emergency Management Agency’s (EMA) annual awards ceremony.
EMA Director Robert Graham opened the event by telling everyone gathered, “We appreciate each and every one of you.” He spoke of the difficulty of singling out individuals for awards because of the consistent hard work and dedication of all those involved with the organizations.
Graham also noted how “2020 was a challenge for all of us,” with the extra strain brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.
And it was because of that pandemic that the annual EMA Christmas party, when the annual awards are usually presented, had to be canceled. Graham said he hopes the annual event can return this year.
But one award at a time, a large group was honored Thursday at the main fire station in Blue Ridge.
The first award presented was the “Stanley Henson Memorial Volunteer of the Year Award,” an honor presented to a volunteer firefighter for excellent service throughout the year.
Henson was a veteran volunteer who dedicated countless hours to the fire department and rescue squad.
On the morning he died, he had helped the ambulance service and rescue squad at a bad traffic crash on Highway 5. Then, on his way to work in Dawson County, he was killed when a tree crashed into his truck.
The Henson Memorial honor was given to Joseph Scherer.
Ryan McDaris and Mason Cruse were then honored with the “David W. Curtis Memorial Medic Award” for outstanding performance on a particular call.
Curtis dedicated some 35 years to the people of Fannin County, starting as a volunteer with the McCaysville Fire Department. He later joined the county fire department and rescue squad and was also hired for the ambulance service.
Curtis was a shift captain for the ambulance service and also served as rescue chief for a time. "He dedicated his life to the department," Graham said.
Graham said how the award decision had been especially difficult because of the outstanding efforts of so many during the year.
McDaris and Cruse were singled out and credited for saving the lives of two stabbing victims.
Also recognized and presented with Outstanding Rescue Awards for their performance on the same call were Rob Ross, Kevin Panter, Hugh Rogers, Channing Johnstone, and Bradley Beaver.
Graham said the “quality care (this group provided) made a world of difference” in the life saving efforts.
The "Lawrence Waters Rescue Award" was presented to Randy Epperson and Tim Grant. They were credited with an October 15, 2020, rescue on the Toccoa River that saved the lives of a mother and her young son.
The victims were kayaking on the Toccoa when the mother attempted to negotiate between two pylons of the tressel bridge downstream from Mineral Bluff. But the kayak turned sideways, became lodged against a log and tipped over.
Epperson and Grant entered the river in a kayak and rescued the mother and child with the river running, their kayak sinking, and the river current trying to pull the victims under the water.
Receiving Outstanding Rescue Awards for their part in the same life-saving effort were Spencer Kitchens, Becky Callihan, Bryan Herndon and Virginia Jones.
Waters served with the rescue squad and fire department for more years than anyone present could remember, and many of those years as rescue chief.
His son, Larry, said, “He lived and breathed fire department and rescue squad.”
“You never had to wonder where you stood (with Lawrence),” Larry said, which drew agreement from those present who remembered the veteran volunteer.
Fannin County Commission Chairman Jamie Hensley closed the event by telling the emergency workers what they do is “truly a thankless job” until a victim is in a position where they need help.
At the same time, Henson stressed to the award winners, as well as other personnel on hand, “you are appreciated.”