Glassy Mountain Fire Dept. honors members at annual awards banquet

Mark Smith received the Volunteer of the Year award, presented by Chief Staples. (Image provided.)

LANDRUM, S.C. — Members of the Glassy Mountain Fire Service area were honored at the department's annual awards banquet, held on Dec. 5 at the Cliffs Valley clubhouse.

At the event, longevity awards were presented to commissioners Dwight Hammack, Jim White, and Carl Roed, honored for their service to the department as elected officials. All three men were recently re-elected and will continue to serve through 2023. Also recognized with longevity awards were Capt. Greg Lamb and EMT Laurie-Anne Staples for five years of service.

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The honors continued with the pinning of several new firefighters: FF Kyle Talbott, FF Randy Crain, and FF Tyler Pittman. Several members were also pinned due to recent promotions: Chaplain Mark Shaver, Engineer/Paramedic Jonathan Gilbert, and Engineer/Paramedic Ed Timblin.

“Of the Year” awards were presented to the following individuals, chosen by majority vote of the members of the department to recognize outstanding service for the year:

• Connor Christie, Cadet of the Year;

• Mark Smith, Volunteer of the Year;

• Mark Shaver, Rookie of the Year;

• Jonathan Gilbert, Career Firefighter of the Year; and

• Capt. Russell Rafferty, Officer of the Year.

FF/Paramedic Don Blanchard received the “Chief’s Award.” This year’s Team Award was given to Capt. Greg Lamb, Capt. Michael Countryman, ENG Don Jeffers, ENG Jonathan Gilbert, FF Mark Smith, Gerald Gaige, Chief Staples, and EMT Laurie-Anne Staples for their outstanding performance on a fire call in the Oak Grove Area of the district.

During the ceremony, Fire Commissioner Chairman Dwight Hammack gave a speech on the value of the community and the value of the department’s service to the community. Newly appointed Chaplain Mark Shaver also gave an introductory speech to his fellow firefighters and challenged them to consider their own care “after the call.”

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