Paula Peterson
An overflowing crowd of family, friends and community members filled the City Council chambers Monday as South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue held their 5th annual awards ceremony.
The staff was honored for their service doing a job that protects the lives, homes and environment of the South Lake Tahoe community and its visitors.
“Your recognition is well deserved, and well earned,” said Mayor Wendy David.
SLTFR Fire Chief Jeff Meston led the ceremony which honored the following:
Firefighter/Medic of the Year: Dustin Winter
Dispatcher of the Year: Jillian Gard
STAT Volunteer of the Year: Tina Cullen
Fire Chief Meritorious Awards: Holt Cawelti, Steve Monday, Leslie Asbury, Pat Hambel and Kevin VanKirk
Also honored during the evening was retiring Chaplain Jerry Foster. He has served the community in that position for 20 years for both SLTFR, SLTPD and El Dorado County Sheriffs. He will stay on in the position for the other two agencies for a little longer. Foster is the pastor at Calgary Chapel in South Lake Tahoe.
Justin Keys was officially promoted to Captain since he was away fighting fires in Ventura County when the pinning ceremony was held. The 2004 South Tahoe High graduate, who was last year’s Firefighter of the Year, was pinned Monday by his wife, Jessica.
Leona Allen of the Fire Academy was on hand to see several of their graduates being honored during the evening, Keys was in the academy’s first class, then the first of their graduates to be hired in the Tahoe basin. He is also a teacher to the new recruits.
The South Lake Tahoe Firefighters Association President Scott Blasser spoke, not only about the success of the department, but of how they felt about their Chief.
“Chief Meston has been a blessing to our department,” said Blasser. “Its a pleasure to be part that.”
“The Chief now works at the state level for all fire fighters,” added Blasser, commenting on Meston being the president-elect for the California Fire Chief’s Association.
One guest at the ceremony had to be kept outdoors: the new fire boat for South Lake Tahoe. It is named the Ms. Lisa after its benefactor Lisa Maloff. There will be an official christening in the Spring.