Your news this week: Benoit hosts town hall meetings - Page 2 Chipman Fire Gala photos - Page 8 Snow rollers phenomenon - Page 11
Read us online at www.lamontleader.com twitter.com/lamontleader
17 Tuesday, February 28, 2012 Vol. 7,Vol. No.7,2,No. Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Chipman Fire celebrates success
Back row l-r Capt. Don McBride, Lt. Moe Lafontaine, Kevin Zelensky, Tania Davis, Fire Chief Steven Rasmussen, Deputy Chief Michael Seipert, Kyla Sheppard, Dave Epp, Shaun Rasmussen. Center row l-r Richard Scinta, Lt. Theo Wallace, Tamara Seipert. Kneeling l-r Bill Engman, Capt. Cory Snyder, Mike Bacon. BY MICHELLE PINON Editor
It was a sell out crowd at the Chipman Hall last Saturday night as 150 people joined fire department members in celebration of their successes. Fire Chief Steve Rasmussen welcomed everyone to the first annual fireman's ball. Addressing the audience, Rasmussen said the purpose of the event was three fold: to show respect and give thanks, raise awareness and promote volunteerism, and to raise money for a thermal imaging camera. Rasmussen thanked each and every one of the department's 17 members for their selflessness, dedication, and professionalism. He thanked them for giving up family time, vacations, work, and sleep to help people in the community. "We do this all to help our friends and neighbors in the community." He also had all of the firefighters family members stand up to receive public recognition for the sacrifices they make and support they offer loved ones. "I cannot do this without all of you." Last year alone, the Chipman Fire Department responded to 64 emergency calls, added Rasmussen. One call firefighter Theo Wallace won't forget is rescuing a horse that had fallen through the ice on a dug out last winter. "The horse was slinged onto a
picker truck," and able to get warmed up before any medical crisis arose. "It's nice when things work out well." Wallace admits to being a bit of a "thrill seeker", and has enjoyed getting to know more people in the community, during his time in bunker gear and uniform. "You see so much on this side," said Wallace, who has also witnessed death on the three years he's been with Chipman Fire. Offering his gratitude to the firefighters on behalf of the village was councillor Rob Lindeman, who has seen firefighters coming and going up to four times a day to answer the call of duty. "They leave work, and come back dirty and grubby...I'd like to say thank you to the firefighters." Also offering his personal thanks and gratitude to the firefighters was Randy Siemens, emergency services co-ordinator for Lamont County. Siemens, who has been a professional firefighter for more than 40 years, said he was "very proud" to work alongside the firefighters in Lamont County. He pointed out some of the recent changes, such as new communication system, increased joint training exercises, uniforms, etc. Siemens also seized the opportunity to talk about a proposed live burn training centre county council has formally approved. "We will be building a facili-
ty this year." Estimates for the live burn training centre, to be located near Chipman, have not been formally announced since the county is still finalizing its 2012 budget, and has not yet tendered out the project, added Siemen's. Also so offering their heartfelt appreciation to the firefighters and people in the area were training officer Jim Meldrum and captain Bruce Turnbull of the Slave Lake Regional Fire Service, who were the featured guest speakers for the event. They gave a first hand account of the massive fire last May that swept nearly a quarter of the community away. With photos and footage of the life altering event, they told the dramatic story to audience members. "We will share a little bit of the story on May 15th. We were both on the front lines that night." Front and center following the presentation were recipients of the department's service awards. Other recipients of special awards included: Don McBride who received a certificate and medal for his 12 years of service to the department, Theo Wallace, who received Fire Officer of the Year Award, and Shaun Rasmussen, who received Fireman of the Year Award.