Governor Honors Two Fallen Firefighters and 44 Others for Life-Saving Acts of Bravery

SPRINGFIELD - Governor Pat Quinn today was joined by State Fire Marshal Larry Matkaitis and firefighters from across the state to honor Illinois' fallen firefighters and those who performed life-saving acts of bravery this year. The recognitions were part of the 21st Annual Illinois Fallen Firefighter Memorial and Firefighter Medal of Honor Awards Ceremony at the Illinois State Capitol. The ceremony paid tribute to two firefighters who died in the line of duty and recognized 44 firefighters or departments for acts of bravery within their communities.

"The bravery demonstrated by the firefighters being recognized here today proves that it takes an extraordinary person to be in this profession," Governor Quinn said. "It's important that we thank and recognize these men and women who put their lives on the line - day in and day out - to protect us. Let us reflect on and honor those who have made the ultimate sacrifice."

Two firefighters who died in, or as a result of, the performance of duty were honored during the ceremonies as their families were presented with the Duty Death Gold Badge. Those recognized include the late Chris Brown, a firefighter with the Hudson Community Fire Protection District and Bloomington Fire Department, along with the late Lawrence "Lance" Stone, a firefighter with the West Union Community Fire Protection District.

"Today we're also reminded of the dangers of this noble profession, as we solemnly honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice and lost their lives in the line of duty," Fire Marshal Matkaitis said. "I am proud to thank each firefighter for their dedication to public safety."

The Medal of Honor Award, the highest award given to firefighters by the state of Illinois, was presented to seven firefighters who were selected for their acts of outstanding bravery or heroism, by which they demonstrated selflessness and personal courage above and beyond the call of duty, under adverse conditions, with the possibility of extreme personal risk. Recipients include :

• Chicago Fire Department: Lieutenant/EMT John Majka, Firefighter Michael Kappel, Captain/EMT Mauricio Rodriguez, Firefighter/EMT James Wagner
• Firefighter/PM Travis Hasselbacher, Copperas Creek Fire Department
• Captain Derek Perry, Galesburg Fire Department
• Battalion Chief Dan Schiradelly, Oswego Fire Department

Twelve firefighters were recognized for acts of heroism or bravery that clearly demonstrated courage and dedication in the face of danger. Medal of Valor Award recipients include :

• Lieutenant Frank DiGiovanni, Bolingbrook Fire Department
• Chicago Fire Department: Firefighter/EMT Joseph Atkins, Firefighter/EMT Cedric Collins, Firefighter/EMT Michael Diete, Lieutenant/EMT Ronald Ellingsen, Captain/EMT Alfred Kiefer, Firefighter/EMT Kevin Martin, Firefighter John McClorey, Firefighter John Veller
• Captain Jeffrey Hott, Decatur Fire Department
• Firefighter/Paramedic Chris Gottschalk, Highland Park Fire Department
• Fire Chief Michael Vaughn, Washington Fire Department

Seventeen firefighters and departments received the Firefighter Excellence Award for an act of service in the line of duty, demonstrating excellence and professionalism in service to the citizens of the state of Illinois. Recipients include :

• Alton Fire Department
• Argenta-Oreana Fire Protection District
• Director Julie Barclay, Cass-Putnam Rescue Services of Cuba, Illinois
• Chicago Fire Department: Firefighter/EMT Sean Butler, Firefighter/EMT Jason Flores, Fire Paramedic Edward Gilbride, Firefighter/Paramedic Anthony Licato, Engineer/EMT John Meade, Firefighter Robert Murphy
• Cisco Fire Protection District
• Firefighter Matt Lewis, Galesburg Fire Department
• Gardner Fire Protection District: Firefighter Kaylee Bain, Lieutenant Joe Yates
• Hinsdale Fire Department: Firefighter/Paramedic Daniel Majewski, Firefighter/Paramedic Donald Newberry
• Lincolnshire-Riverwoods Fire Protection District
• West Frankfort Fire Department

A Certificate of Recognition Award was presented to the following for dedication to the principles and traditions of the fire service:

• Chicago Fire Department: Firefighter/EMT Edtismond Johnson, Firefighter Joseph White III
• Firefighter Brock Dieu, Danville Fire Department
• Hinsdale Fire Department: Lieutenant William Claybrook, Captain David DeWolf, Firefighter-Paramedic Nicholas McDonough, Firefighter/Paramedic James Nichols, Firefighter-Paramedic Steven Tullis

Nominations were reviewed and winners selected by the Illinois Fire Fighting Medal of Honor Committee.

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DECORAH, IA (05/06/2014)(readMedia)-- Chloe Gumpert, a Luther College senior from Eldridge, Iowa, was a member of the Luther Dance Marathon executive board that raised a total of $38,612.01 to send to the University of Iowa Children's Hospital. Dance Marathon is a nationwide movement involving college and high school students at more than 150 schools across the country. Gumpert, the daughter of Tami Gumpert and Tami Gumpert of Eldridge, Iowa, is a 2010 graduate of North Scott High School. She is majoring in biology at Luther.

"My sophomore year at Luther, a service organization I was a part of was contacted by a neighboring IIAC college asking if Luther would like to start Dance Marathon on our campus. Myself and 3 other friends decided to spearhead establishing the organization after learning more about the scope of Dance Marathon and its influence at the University of Iowa Children's Hospital in Iowa City. For the next 2 years, we worked to construct a constitution, establish an executive board, organize fundraising events, and ultimately recruit 31 Morale Captains and over 400 Luther students to pledge to dance at the Big Event. On April 12th, these students along with Decorah community members united from noon to midnight to dance for those who can't, including local Children's Miracle Network families. The $38,612.01 raised is indeed a testament to the generosity and unity of the Luther community and this organization will continue to do good in the years to come, all for the kids," Gumpert said.

After a year-long commitment from more than 500 people, the year culminated in a 12-hour long event where students stayed on their feet through dancing, games and entertainment in celebration of the total amount raised.

After two years of careful planning Luther students Paul Esker, Chloe Gumpert, Jordan Jensen and Libby Logsden convened an executive board and coordinated the event.

The public campus fundraising goal was $15,000, but Gumpert said the executive board wanted to raise one more cent than the 2013 Wartburg College Dance Marathon goal of $32,000.

The two largest sponsorships came from the community businesses of Mabe's Pizza and the Magpie Coffeehouse. Other sponsors included Pizza Hut, Happy Joe's, Pizza Ranch, Mr. Groovy's, Kepharts, Coldwell Banker Hedges Realty, Fridley Theaters, Oneota Co-op, Decorah Veterinary Clinic and Love Your Melon.

"Old Man" by Brianna Paup to be displayed in U.S. Capitol

Washington, D.C. - Congressman Dave Loebsack announced today that a pencil drawing by Brianna Paup, a junior at North Cedar High School in Stanwood, was selected to represent Iowa's Second Congressional District in the 2014 Congressional Art Contest. For the first time, the People's Choice Award winner was selected in an online competition in which nearly 2,500 votes were cast. Paup's winning drawing, "Old Man," was one of a record 167 entries from 13 different high schools in 10 counties. It will be displayed in the U.S. Capitol for one year and Paup will receive a free trip to Washington, D.C. to attend the unveiling as well as a reception held to honor all of this year's winners.

"Each year I am more and more impressed by the creativity, ingenuity, and talent of our local high school students. I send my congratulations to all of the young artists whose record number of submissions made it a very close contest this year. I especially want to congratulate Brianna and look forward to welcoming her and her family to Washington and seeing her artwork hang in the U.S. Capitol," said Loebsack.

The artwork of the first and second runners-up will be displayed in Loebsack's district offices in Davenport and Iowa City. The first runner-up was a photograph by Pimpaporn Teerathammongkol, a senior at Davenport West High School, entitled "Sunset in Iowa." The second runner-up was a painting by Alli Herr, a freshman at Keokuk High School, entitled "Silhouette Tree."

Winner:  Brianna Paup, North Cedar High School

"Old Man"

First Runner-up:  Pimpaporn Teerathammongkol, Davenport West High School

"Sunset in Iowa"

Second Runner-up:  Alli Herr, Keokuk High School

"Silhouette Tree"

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Main Street Iowa Recognizes Outstanding Achievements

Award Winning Projects and Volunteers Honored

Davenport's Hilltop Campus Village received the two awards, one for Volunteer of the Year and another for Outstanding Achievement in New Construction at the 27th annual Main Street Iowa Awards celebration that was held on Friday, May 2 at the Community Choice Credit Union Convention Center in Des Moines. HCV Board President Robert E. Lee, Sylvia Runkle, Ralph Kelly, Christopher Meyer, Ann Hutchinson and Jeff Cook represented the Hilltop Campus Village, along with their director Scott Tunnicliff. Also on hand to was Jackie Nickolaus, Vice-President of development for Sherman-Associates, the firm that developed Harrison Loft, this year's award-winning project. The event was attended by nearly 500 people representing communities across the state. Competitive nominations were submitted for 77 projects and activities within the five categories of design, economic restructuring, organization, promotion and overall program. Nineteen were recognized with awards and two received honorable mention.

The honors were presented by Governor Terry Branstad, Lt. Governor Kim Reynolds and Debi Durham, director of the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA). Also attending was retiring Senator Tom Harkin, a long-time advocate of Main Street Iowa from his senate seat in Washington D.C.

"We knew from the very beginning that Main Street Iowa was not a quick-fix solution, but rather an incremental approach to fostering positive change." stated Governor Branstad. "In my travels across the state, I have seen the program at work in small towns, mid-size cities, urban centers and neighborhood commercial districts. It has had far greater impact than we ever could have imagined in 1985."

"We must all appreciate the fact that healthy historic commercial districts are a key deciding factor for industrial and business recruitment. In order for us to create 200,000 new jobs, we need healthy Main Streets," commented Lt. Governor Reynolds. "Taxpayers are certainly getting their money's worth. Since 1986, for every dollar the state of Iowa has invested in operating the state Main Street program, the private sector in those communities has invested $87.99 into building improvements and acquisitions."

"It was a memorable evening for all of us, and an inspirational one as well." added Hilltop Campus Village director Scott Tunnicliff. "The award we received, for the Harrison Loft and the parking lot serving it, was a great example of partners from the city, Sherman-Associates, the Iowa-American Water Company, the RDA and others. All of them saw clearly what this project could mean to our area, and stepped forward to make it happen. We had a sizable group here, and I wish we could have had more to see what is being done in communities of all sizes around the state to enhance the vitality of their communities."

As a highlight of the evening, a special award was presented to the community of West Union for their innovative thinking, persistence and partnerships to enable success in the implementation of the Green Pilot Streetscape Project as the "Signature Project of the Year." This award honors a project that rises above traditional award categories in impact and significance. West Union's project leveraged resources from many local, state and federal partners including the Community Development Block Grant program.

For more information about Main Street Iowa and how all Iowa communities can access commercial revitalization assistance through the Iowa Downtown Resource Center, visit http://www.iowaeconomicdevelopment.com/IDRC/MainStreetIowa, e-mail mainstreet@iowa.gov or call 515.725.3051.

A list of Main Street Iowa communities and award winners follows. Photographs will be posted at

http://iowaeconomicdevelopment.com/IDRC/MainStreetIowa after May 5.

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