EVERYDAY HEROES 2007
Please join us in celebrating your Everyday Heroes. Tickets are just $25.00 per person and now available for purchase at your local American Red Cross. All proceeds raised from this event will go to support the programs and services of your local South Central Michigan American Red Cross. Contact Karen Randall at (517)782-9486 for information or to purchase tickets. JTV Channel 17, a Platinum Cross Partner, will produce a video featuring each hero’s courageous acts to be viewed at the event.
Adult Good Samaritan
Ted Christoff, Nicolace Wick, & Greg Avery
Neighbors broke windows, busted down a door and pulled three people from their burning house at sunrise November 3, 2006. “We dragged the guys out a window, and we heard the woman crying for help but we couldn’t see her,” Nicolace Wick said. Wick and his friend, Greg Avery, both 23, just finished the third shift at Allied Chucked & Engineering Co. when they saw the fire across the street at 625 Gregory Place. Ted Christoff, another neighbor, also ran to the fire and frantically busted windows, cutting his hand and foot. The men quickly pulled Gordon Landes, Sr. and Gordon Landes, Jr. out a window and then searched for Phyllis Landes. “She was screaming and wouldn’t come to the door, so we went in and got her,” Christoff said. None of the victims was burned seriously but suffered some smoke inhalation. Leoni Fire Captain Sherman Berkeypile stated, “With the extent of the damage, I would have imaged they wouldn’t have made it if not for the neighbors.” He said the house was a complete loss.
Youth Good Samaritan
Spring Arbor University Students -- Branden Hoard, Matthew Mosley, Gregory Stewart, Vanessa Vann, & Jacob VanSickle
A service project turned into a much bigger adventure for five Spring Arbor University students. On their way to deliver turkeys to disadvantaged families in Detroit, five students in Dr. Robert Moore-Jumonville’s CORE 300 class noticed a fire at an apartment complex down the street from the first scheduled turkey delivery. After calling 911, the students observed people jumping from the second story and took action. First on the scene, Brandon Hoard, Matt Mosley, Greg Stewart, Vanessa Vann, and Jacob VanSickle took action and helped rescue people from the burning building as they waited for firefighters to show up and overtake the flames. Cool under pressure, the group of students responded to the emergency and helped save lives in the process. “Greg began climbing up the building ‘spider man’ style and pulled people out of the building,” says Vann. Stewart kicked out a first story window and clung to the wall to steady himself while he used the other hand to help free people from the flames. At one point, Stewart was handed a baby wrapped in a blanket. “I was kind of nervous when they handed me the baby because I only had one free hand, but I just palmed it and handed it down,” says Stewart. Vann eventually cared for the child while they worked to locate the parents. The students helped save an undetermined number of people from the building but their efforts did not stop there. Once firefighters arrived, Vann and Mosely helped pull the hoses from the trucks. “Only three firemen showed up at first and they all needed to be inside to help, so the firemen told us to get the hoses and start pulling them in,” says Vann.
Educator
Jessica Prescott
On 10/9/06 at approximately 1:30 p.m. a student at Hanover-Horton High School fell from her chair and was having what appeared to be a seizure. School personnel attended to the student and 911 was called. While waiting for rescue to arrive, the student began to have trouble breathing. During this time, Miss Jessica Prescott, who was a substitute teacher, and Mr. Ronald Kinch were trying to help the student. The student began to turn blue and grey and it was obvious that she needed help breathing. Miss Prescott and Mr. Kinch are both CPR trained and felt that CPR was in fact necessary. Mr. Kinch checked for a heartbeat and found one. Miss Prescott then decided that rescue breaths were necessary and she began mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. After a few breaths, the student began breathing on her own and rescue arrived and took over care of the student. The student was hospitalized at U of M for an unknown cause; however, there is no doubt in Mr. Kinch’s mind that had Miss Prescott not given the rescue breaths, the outcome would have been much worse. Mr. Kinch is a retired police officer and has witnessed many accounts of bravery. This was an intense scene, and Miss Prescott acted absolutely like a hero.
Fire/Rescue
Jackson Fire Department Firefighters -- Ron Dunfield, William Lackey, Jon Crawford, Craig Reppert, Tom Loveberry, & Chris Ermatinger
On 4/22/06 the Jackson Fire Department was dispatched to a structure fire at 156 Randolph. In route they were advised that a person was possibly trapped inside of the dwelling. When they arrived at the scene, they were advised that Thomas Bennett, who resided at the address with his family, was still inside. The home, a one and one-half story structure, had heavy smoke and fire showing through the rear porch enclosure. Firefighter (FF) Crawford stretched a line originally to the front of the home. FF Lackey pumped and helped to establish a water supply. Unable to make entry via the front, he then proceeded to the rear and made entry. FF Dunfield followed behind FF Crawford. FF Crawford knocked down the bulk of the fire and made entry into the kitchen area. He immediately advised FF Dunfield that he had found a victim and proceeded to pass him back toward FF Dunfield. Firefighters Dunfield & Crawford pulled him out the porch enclosure door while Firefighters Reppert and Ermatinger assisted with further removal of the victim. Mr. Bennett was subsequently transported to Foote ER where he was stabilized and then flown to the burn unit at the University of Michigan Burn Center in Ann Arbor. Mr. Bennett suffered second & third-degree burns.
Medical Response
Employees of Jackson Community Ambulance (JCA) -- Nicole Daugherty, Dave Hendon, Jason Lake, Rick Martin, Dan Neil, Jim Stevens, & Andrea Watson
Jackson Community Ambulance (JCA) arrived on the scene of a train/truck accident in Blackman Township on May 30, 2006. Upon arrival they found a dump truck completely engulfed in flames and the driver a fatality. The Amtrak engine was on fire and the first of about 200 passengers had started to exit the train. After initially assessing the situation, JCA did an excellent job of triage, determining the number and extent of injuries and what additional resources would be needed. May 30 was a very warm day and the train had stopped where there was very little shade, creating a potential of heat related emergencies. JCA responders worked very well with responding agencies to arrange transportation and accommodations for the remaining passengers of the train. Upon arriving at the Foote Emergency Department, the JCA crew continued their work through a temporary triage area in the ambulance bay to see that all patients received care. Overall, their efforts, including a calm and professional demeanor, kept the situation from escalating into a significantly worse disaster. The dedication of these JCA employees is appreciated and commended.
Animal Rescue
Nancy VanWoert
Nancy VanWoert worked tirelessly in 2006 to stem the tide of unwanted cats in Jackson County. Nancy co-founded “Forgotten Felines” almost a dozen years ago to provide comfort and aid to feral, stray and homeless cats. By changing ineffective animal control practices, like trap and remove, she has provided resources to individuals and organizations who have stepped forward to feed and care for feral cat colonies. Nancy struggles to end feline over-population by supporting trap-neuter-return, the humane non-lethal method of population control. She has come up with a unique and creative way to fund a program for requests of assistance for spaying and neutering cats. From her simple idea of selling catnip pillows at $1 a piece, over a dozen cats per month are being spayed, which prevents literally millions of future unwanted animals. This program has grown from being able to help one cat per month to now over a dozen. Nancy has made a difference in the lives of cats throughout Jackson County. And by doing so, she has also made a difference in the lives of many of Jackson’s two legged residents as well.
Business & Industry Humanitarian
Sparton Electronics (Michael Finch)
The employees of Sparton Electronics adopted a local National Guard family for Christmas, 2006. This family’s husband/father was stationed in Iraq and were in need of some items for Christmas due to the hardship of having a spouse overseas. When the soldier returns, he would be unemployed. Sparton employees set up an “angel tree” to provide the family with gifts, food and household donations as well as cash gifts. They also brought in “Santa Claus” to help deliver the gifts to the children and sang Christmas carols for the family. The Miller family includes: Joe & Valerie Miller, their children: Matthew, age 10 and Rosie, age 8.
Honorable Mention
Sandra Marry
In the early morning hours of September 24, 2006, two small boys, Ryshon Steele and Kyler Williams awoke, smelled smoke and realized that their house was on fire. They crawled out of the bedroom window and jumped down to the ground. Realizing that Renee Steele (mother of Kyler and aunt to Ryshon) was still in the house, they ran to the street and waved down a passerby, Sandra Marry, informing her of the fire and that Renee was still in the residence. While dialing 911, Sandra went to the window and kept calling for Renee through very black and heavy smoke. She continued calling, saying “If you can hear me, come to my voice.” Finally a hand reached out to her and she was able to pull Renee safely out through the window to safety. Ryshon, Kyler, and Sandra were all awarded the Delta Fire Department’s life-saving award for heroic actions.
Roger Sharpe
What makes a person a hero? Is it a one time occurrence, or is it giving loads of time, experiencing lots of risk, selflessness, showing over-the-top stamina, giving kind words, showing compassion, or a combination of all of these? These are the words which I use to describe Roger Sharpe, Catholic Charities’ Retired and Senior Volunteer Program volunteer driver. Roger is my hero! Jo Stratton, a client, has received rides to Veteran’s Hospital, Ann Arbor, and other medical appointments from Roger through the RSVP for the past three years. Over the past year, he has transported Jo to and from the University of Michigan Hospital and its satellite offices; sometimes every day of the week for Cancer treatment. He thinks nothing about staying with Jo during treatments which sometimes take 8-10 hours. He drops her off at the door while he parks the car then keeps her company during treatments. During the last year, Roger traveled 34,715 miles and devoted 985 hours of service driving for RSVP.
Veronika Lowery
A fire on December 23, 2006 caused extensive damage to a home displacing a family for the holidays. Lisa Lowery, praised her daughter, Veronika, and their dog for saving the family. Veronika, 9, said her dog, Jo Jo, began barking and growling, waking her up. She alerted everyone in the house and helped get them out safely. “If it wasn’t for Jo Jo, we wouldn’t be alive,” Lowery said. “I was brave,” Veronika said. “I was a hero.”
Branden Smith
Branden Smith has always been very courteous and helpful since moving into the Bonnymede neighborhood. But last July, he helped his own family in a way that many grown adults couldn’t do. When involved in a boating accident, Branden was the only remaining family member left in the boat. All other were thrown into the water. The Jackson Citizen Patriot reported that Branden noticed his younger sister unconscious in the water; he apparently jumped in, pulled her into the boat and performed CPR on her. This undoubtedly saved her life and bought her some time until she could be flown to U of M Hospital. Braden’s quick thinking and actions saved his sister’s life and he was a true hero.
Steve McDowell
A plume of smoke filled downtown Hillsdale on March 24, 2006, when a truck, leaving a leaky trail of gasoline, caught fire and began rolling downhill toward the county courthouse and post office. Further disaster was averted when Lt. Steve McDowell, a firefighter, shoved a wheel block under the moving back tires just as the vehicle jumped the median sidewalk between Howell and Broad streets. “The truck had been leaking gasoline all the way down Howell from as far away as the Hillsdale Community Health Center”, said Officer Thomas Gaskell. He was about to pull over another car he suspected of the leak when he saw the truck catch fire. The truck left a trail of gasoline and fire about 100 feet long, heading toward a fire truck parked 150 feet away.
2006 EVERYDAY HEROES CELEBRATION
The 2006 Everyday Heroes event was held March 30, 2006 at the Cascades Manor House in Jackson and included dinner and recognition of last year's Everyday Heroes award recipients. Over 200 individuals attended the event that honors everyday heroes who have done extraordinary acts of heroism in the Jackson and Hillsdale communities. The highlight of the evening was a video compilation of the award recipients produced by JTV, Inc. Pictures of the evening's award recipients are featured below.
The following individuals received Everyday Hero awards at the March 30 celebration:
Adult Good Samaritan: Billie Meade
Youth Good Samaritan: Olivia Ruthanne Baxter
Cassandra Allen
Medical Response: Wayne Gooding
Educator: Samella Kendrick
Workplace Samaritan: Diana Parks & Donell Grice
Business & Industry Humanitarian: Eaton Corporation
Department 50 - Internal Response Team (First Shift)
Honorary Everyday Hero: Doris Stafford
Honorable Mention: Shirley Brown
Stan Gibbs
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Adult Good Samaritan
Billie Meade & Family |
Youth Good Samaritan
Olivia Ruthanne Baxter & Family |
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Youth Good Samaritan
Cassandra Allen |
Medical Response
Wayne Gooding with Sarah Ermatinger (Everyday Heroes Committee Chair) |
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Educator
Samella Kendrick |
Workplace Samaritan
Diana Kay Parks & Donell Grice |
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Business & Industry Humanitarian
Eaton Corporation-East Avenue Plant -- Department 50 Team |
Honorary Everyday Hero (awarded posthumously)
Doris Stafford (photo features Doris' children accepting the award) |
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Honorable Mention Award
Shirley Brown |
| Cassandra Allen & Samella Kendrick |
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The American Red Cross would like to thank the following individuals, companies and organizations for their contributions that helped make this event a success:
JTV
Comcast Spotlight
Sheriff Daniel Heyns, Honorary Chairman
Jackson County Sheriff's Department Honor Guard
Charlie MacInnis, Master of CeremoniesMedawar Jewelers
Holda's Appliance & TV
Cascades Manor House
