News

Texas City Honors Chief Who Defended Emergency Responders

James Draper

08/24/2015

Aug. 22--With numerous local lifesavers to honor, medal-makers have had brisk business from Kilgore Fire Department this year.

Eight more awards are on the agenda during Kilgore City Council members' regular meeting Tuesday night.

In January, Kilgore Fire Chief Johnny Bellows recognized Fire Marshal Brandon Bigos with the Medal of Valor, stemming from an incident in August 2014 when Bigos fired on and incapacitated a suspect who was threatening emergency responders with a rifle on the scene of a suspicious fire.

Following this spring's drenching rain KFD Capt. Jason Cottrell, firefighter Corinne Moore and firefighter Jovane Rossum received the Fire Service Commendation Bar and the Life Saving Bar from their chief after rescuing a woman and her two grandchildren from floodwaters in Overton May 11.

Tuesday's meeting begins at 5:30 p.m. at Kilgore City Hall, and Bellows is set to honor two sets of lifesavers following an incident in January and one that took place last week.

Once she'd done her Good Samaritan duty, Yolanda Chappell didn't stick around long -- she had to get to work, after all -- when she helped save Verner Laird's life on Jan. 24. The man had suffered a heart attack and had collapsed when Thomas saw him on the ground at the self-serve car wash at 1006 Houston Street.

Administering CPR, Chappell called 911 and handed the phone to another passerby. She moved out of the way (and quietly headed to work) when emergency responders arrived on the scene, and three men will share the Lifesaving Award at City Hall Tuesday: KFD Acting Capt. Kacy Moore, Acting Driver Marcus Haney and firefighter Johnathon Beasley.

The night's four other honorees saved a child's life last week.

Kilgore City Pool lifeguards Austin Clark, Nolan Grush, Ryan Reinert and Caleb Wood were on duty during a swim party the evening of Aug. 12 when a 12-year-old boy swallowed a lungful of water.

The lifeguard quartet's combined efforts resuscitated the child and brought emergency responders to the scene -- the boy was conscious and response when he was transported for additional care. He recovered and was released from a local hospital soon after.