The Fire WireCherokee County Office of Fire and Emergency Services

Change of Command for Cheroke CountyFire and Emergency Services

Story on page 5

November - December Volume 9 - Issue 6

Cherokee County Office ofFire and Emergency Services

150 Chattin DriveCanton, GA 30115

Phone: [678] 493-4000Fax: [678] 493-4034

www.cherokeecountyfire.org

Office Hours: Monday through Friday8:00 A.M. - 5:00 P.M.

Closed Saturday, Sunday and Holidays

The Fire WirePublished bi-monthly by the

Cherokee County Office of Fireand Emergency Services

Tim PratherFire Chief

Tim CavenderEditor

Eddie RobinsonAssistant Fire Chief

Rick RuhFire Marshal

Kevin BottsSupport Services Manager

Jill Mabley, M.D.,FACEPMedical Director

Page 2The Fire Wire

ABOUT THE COVER: AChange in Command Cer-emony was held in October asformer fire chief, RaymondGunnin, hands the flag of thefire department over to the newfire chief, Tim Prather. Story on page 5

Once again, Safe Kids Cherokee County hosted their annual“Moonlight Madness” event on October 27th at the Kroger Store in theMacedonia Community and the Kroger Store located in Towne Lake.Here are some of the creatures who attended this year’s event.....

A beautiful princess! A herd of giraffs!

Minnie Mouse! A Care Bear!

Moonlight Madness!

Page 3The Fire Wire

The Canton Moose Lodge paid tribute to local fire and emergency service personnel during their annualPublic Safety Awards Banquet that was held on October 17th at the CantonMooseFamilyCenter. After adelicious meal, Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy, L. V. West, introduced Dee Morris as theevening’s guest speaker. Morris, a State Court Judge, spoke to those gathered about public safety’s com-mitment to make CherokeeCounty a great place to live.

After the speech, awards were given to the following honorees with Cherokee County Fire and EmergencyServices:

Firefighter of the Year – Lt. Kevin Lanier

Volunteer Firefighter of the Year – Rebecca Strobl

Special Teams Member of the Year – Tim Carr

Support Services Member of the Year – Sharon Young

Fire Explorer of the Year – Corey Deal

Lt. Kevin Lanier (right) receivesthe Firefighter of the Year award.

Tim Carr (right) receives theSpecial Teams Member of theYear award.

Sharon Young (right) receives theSupport Services Member of theYear award.

Corey Deal (right) receives theSupport Fire Explorer of the Yearaward.

Rebecca Strobl (right) receives theVolunteer Firefighter of the Yearaward.

Moose Lodge Presents Public Safety Awards

Page 4The Fire Wire

The winner of this year’s tournament was the four-some of Eric Boling, a Cherokee County firefighter,Tommy Carnes, a former battalion chief, BrianWildeman, a former training officer and TerryColeman, who recently retired as a Lieutenant.

Wildeman, a former training officer and TerryColeman, who recently retired as a Lieutenant. The2nd place recipients were Lisa Woodruff, ColinRafferty, Lori Davis and Tim Brenner. Former Chero-kee County Fire Chief, Raymond Gunnin, and formerBattalion Chief, Mike Smith, along with CaptainChuck Foster and Sgt. Chad Davis, won the loseraward with the highest score of the day. The teamreceived a free game for four at an area golf course.

Cherokee County Fire and Emergency Serviceswould like to thank everyone who participated in theevent and to all the sponsors who assisted in makingthis tournament such a success.

Cherokee County Fire and Emergency Servicessponsored its third Georgia Firefighters Charity GolfClassic to benefit the National Fallen FirefighterFoundation. The golf tournament was held on Sep-tember 28th at the Callahan Golf Links located onReinhardt College Parkway, near Waleska.

According to Sgt Wesley Densmore, one of theorganizers of the event, this year’s tournamentraised approximately $2,000 to benefit the NationalFallen Firefighters Foundation. The mission of thefoundation is to honor and remember America'sfallen fire heroes and to provide resources to assisttheir survivors in rebuilding their lives.

The winner of this year’s tournament was the four-some of Tommy Carnes, a former battalion chief,Eric Boling, a Cherokee County firefighter, Brian

Georgia Firefighter Golf Classic Held

PHOTO TO LEFT - Cherokee County Fire Chief, TimPrather, participates in the Georgia Firefighter GolfClassic to benefit the National Fall Firefighter Foun-dation.

Page 5The Fire Wire

Dinner Held for Fifteen Retirees

Cherokee County Fire Chief, Raymond Gunnin,gives his final address at the retirement dinner heldat the Northside Cherokee Conference Center.

Over 300 family members, friends and co-workersattended the Cherokee County Fire and EmergencyServices’ Retirement Dinner that was held on Octo-ber 20th at the Northside Cherokee ConferenceCenter located at The Bluffs in Canton to honorfifteen employees who recently retired.

Tim Cavender, Public Information Officer for the FireDepartment, welcomed everyone to the event andlater asked Ken May, Senior Minister with AntiochChristian Church, to give the invocation. Followingthe invocation, the Cherokee County Fire Explorer’sColor Guard, made the presentation of colors. Afterthe evening meal, the keynote speaker, JohnnyWeaver, was introduced.

One of the highlights of the evening came when theretirees were asked to come forward and sharesome of their stories of the fire department with

members of the audience.

Cherokee County Fire Chief, Tim Prather, presented the fifteen retirees with a bugle award. The bugle orspeaking trumpet, is a reference to a megaphone like device that was used in the early days of the fireservice.

At the conclusion of the awards ceremony, former Cherokee County Fire Chief, Raymond Gunnin, cameforward and thanked everyone for their support. The recently appointed new chief, Tim Prather, alsothanked everyone for their commitment to the fire service. He also thanked the Board of Commissioners forrecommending him for this new position.

The finale of the evening was the official “changing of command” ceremony when former chief, Gunnin,presented Fire Chief, Prather, withthe Cherokee County Fire Depart-ment flag.

Those honored during the eveningincluded: Fire Chief, RaymondGunnin, Chief Fire Investigator,Ossie Delay, Battalion Chiefs,Tommy Carnes, Lonnie Coffin,Darryl Puckett and Mike Smith,Captains, Dennis Hall, Bill Hamby,Tim Milburn, Emory Phillips andBrian Wildeman, Lieutenants, TerryColeman and Scott Webb and Ser-geant Jimmy Evans.

Those retiring from Cherokee County Fire and Emergency Serviceswere asked to come forward and share stories about their careerswith the department.

Page 6The Fire Wire

Remembering 9/1110 Years Later.....

Cherokee County Assistant Fire Chief, Tim Prather,and Chief Deputy of the Cherokee County Sheriff’sOffice, Vick West, place a wreath at the PublicSafety Memorial.

Sanchez gave a very emotional account of whathappened on that infamous day when so many liveswere lost.

After Sanchez’s speech, the Cherokee CountyCommunity Chorale sang a couple of patrioticnumbers.

A wreath was laid at the Public Safety Memorial byCherokee County Assistant Fire Chief, Tim Prather,and Chief Deputy of the Cherokee County Sheriff’sOffice, Vick West, followed by a 21 gun salute by theCherokee County Sheriff’s Honor Guard and theplaying of taps by Deputy Brian Neal.

Rev. Randy Weaver came to the podium and read apoem that he wrote entitled, America Don’t Let YourArmour Down.

Closing remarks were made by Canton Mayor, GeneHobgood.

Patriots’ Day ceremonies were held on September12th at the Public Safety Memorial, located next tothe historic Cherokee County Courthouse. Theevent is held each year to remember those whogave the ultimate sacrifice during the September11th terrorist attacks on New York City.

Tim Cavender, Public Information Officer forCherokee County Fire and Emergency Services,emceed the event. The first speaker for the morningwas Cpl. Chris Shaw, with the Cherokee CountySheriff’s Office, who gave the morning’s officialwelcome. Rev. James Kilgore, of the InternationalFamily Foundation, gave the invocation, followed bythe presentation of the flags by the Cherokee CountyJoint Public Safety Honor Guard and the Pledge ofAllegiance led by Lori Pesta. After the pledge, theCherokee County Community Chorale, under thedirection of Don Stafford, sang the national anthem.

Buzz Ahrens, Chairman of the Cherokee CountyBoard of Commissioners, came forward to leadeveryone in a “moment of silence.” CherokeeCounty Sheriff, Roger Garrison, introduced the guestspeaker of the event, Deputy Michael Sanchez.Sanchez served as a confidential aide to the NewYork Police Commissioner during the attacks on theWorld Trade Centers on September 11, 2001.

The Cherokee County Community Chorale filled theair with beautifl patriotic music.

Page 7The Fire Wire

Pride and Ownership Seminar HeldCherokee County Fire and Emergency Serviceshosted a presentation by Rick Lasky, Chief of theLewisville Texas Fire Department who spoke onPride and Ownership on Tuesday, October 25th, atthe Northside Cherokee Conference Center locatedat The Bluffs.

Mr. Lasky, a 30-year veteran of the fire service,began his career as a firefighter in the suburbs onthe southwest side of Chicago and while in Illinoisreceived the 1996 International Society of Fire Ser-vice Instructors “Innovator of the Year” award for hispart in developing the “Saving Our Own” program.He served as the co-lead instructor for the H.O.T.Firefighter Survival program at FDIC for over 10years and is an editorial advisory board member ofFire Engineering Magazine and also serves on the

Speaker, Rick Lasky, talks to firefighters about TheLove of the Job.

FDIC advisory board. Rick contributes monthly to Fire Engineering’s Roundtable column, is the author ofboth the “Pride and Ownership-A Firefighter’s Love of the Job” leadership series featured in Fire Engineer-ing Magazine and the best-selling book published by PennWell Books, as well as the host for the radio show“Pride and Ownership” heard on Fire Engineering Radio.

Firefighters from Cherokee County and metro Atlanta attended this event which was well received by all whoparticipated.

Daylight Savings TimeWill End On

November 6th, 2011

REMEMBER!Change Your Clocks,

Change Your Batteries

Page 8The Fire Wire

from Cherokee County Fireand Emergency Services

Merry ChristmasMerry ChristmasMerry ChristmasMerry ChristmasMerry ChristmasMay You Have a Safe and Joyous Holiday!

Candle Safety TipsCandles may be pretty to look at but they are a cause of home fires — and home fire deaths. Remember, acandle is an open flame, which means that it can easily ignite anything that can burn.Safety tips

Blow out all candles when you leave the room or go to bed. Avoid the use of candles in the bedroom and

other areas where people may fall asleep.

Keep candles at least 12 inches away from anything that can burn.

If you do burn candles, make sure that you...

Use candle holders that are sturdy, and won’t tip over easily.

Put candle holders on a sturdy, uncluttered surface.

Light candles carefully. Keep your hair and any loose clothing away from the flame.

Don’t burn a candle all the way down — put it out before it gets too close to the holder or container.

Never use a candle if oxygen is used in the home.

Have flashlights and battery-powered lighting ready to use during a power outage. Never use candles.