Monday, October 12, 2009

Presentations were made at the local chapter of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) at the annual awards program Monday. Lt. Tim Steien, Haleyville Police Detective was named Law Officer of the Year. Erik Gilbreath, Double Springs Fire Department was named Fireman of the Year. Craig Thomas, a Haleyville fireman and employee of U.S. Steel Safety Division, Birmingham, was selected

as Paramedic of the Year. Tommy and Beth Lewis, Doug Brakefield, Billy Pratt and Bennis Mann were all recognized for their work remodeling the interior of the VFW hall at Delmar. Special guest was District 1 Commander Calvin Underwood, Decatur. VFW member Max Holt thanked the VFW members for assisting his wife during a storm while he was serving in Iraq recently. Max returned two weeks ago from his second tour of Iraq as a member of the Alabama National Guard on active duty. He hopes to be back in his regular job as an Alabama State Trooper by January. Cases of bottled water were donated to area fire departments by the VFW. Accepting the water of behalf of their respective fire departments in the group photo were Patrick West and Erik Gilbreath, Double Springs, William Dickinson and Cyndi Dickinson, Delmar and Craig Thomas and Phillip Weaver, Haleyville.