Shelby Volunteer Fire Company installs officers, presents awards
Photos by Tom Rivers
SHELBY – The Shelby Volunteer Fire Company installs its officers and executive board during a banquet on Saturday at the rec hall. Gary Watts leads the group in taking the oath of office.
The executive board includes Howard Watts, president; Gary Lamar, vice president; Kirk Myhill, treasurer; Michael Saladeen, assistant treasurer; Kali Sturtevant, secretary; Dale Watts, sergeant at arms; Karl Haist Jr., chaplain; Phil Keppler, assistant chaplain; and Andrea Benz, steward.
Trustees include Ron Smith for 3-year term, Bill Luckman for 2-year term, and Nick DiCureia for a one-year term.
The firematic officers include Dave Moden, fire chief; Zachary Petry, deputy chief; Crystal Luckman, assistant chief; Hunter Sturtevant, firematic captain; Rob Schaal, firematic lieutenant; Jenna Simmons, EMS captain; and Donnell Bennett, EMS lieutenant.
The Ladies Auxiliary executive board also was sworn in. The board includes Elaine Watts, president; Patricia Fuller, vice president; Robyn Watts, secretary; Lori Myhill, secretary; Marian Fry, chaplain; Sherry Wheatley, trustee for one-year term; and Mary Herbert, trustee for two-year term.
(Left) Kirk Myhill, left, received the president’s award from Howard Watts. (Right) Fire Chief Dave Moden, left, presented the Chief’s Award to firefighter Bill Luckman.
Moden said Luckman is in the top 10 of responders and helps in lots of ways around the firehall and with training.
“He is here for everything,” Moden said about Luckman. “He is a shining example of a volunteer firefighter.”
Watts said Myhill, the fire company treasurer, served on the committee for the rec hall remodeling. He works on many other projects, and has been successful securing grants for the fire company.
The fire company responded to 243 calls in 2024, and 53 percent were EMS related. Fire Chief Moden said there were 46 fire-related calls.
The top 10 responders by calls include:
- Howard Watts, 164
- Jason Watts, 90
- Bill Luckman, 89
- Zach Fike, 77
- Alex Benz, 76
- Andy Burtwell, 75
- Tom Falls, 75
- Gary Watts, 75
- Gary Lamar, 71
- John Rotoli, 71
Shelby Volunteer Fire Company officials presented a “Friend of the Fire Company” award Andy Marciniak for his work in remodeling the rec hall with new paint, dry wall, insulation and windows. From left include Andy Marciniak and the remodeling committee of Gary Lamar, Kirk Myhill and Howard Watts.
(Left) Elaine Watts, president of the Auxiliary, presents her Auxiliary award to Logan Quackenbush for all of his help at events and with cleanup, especially with doing the dishes. (Right) Justin Niederhofer, director of emergency management for Orleans County, served as emcee. He leads the group in the pledge of allegiance.
