to family and community.
By Stephen Smoot
While showers are considered the rule for April, the rains broke last Saturday evening. Between 150 and 200 made their way through the pleasant reprieve from spring rains to attend the South Fork Volunteer Fire Department’s annual banquet.
These events are not just for the fire department and the first responder community of Pendleton County. Many residents turn out to enjoy fellowship with each other and thank the fire fighters and other first responders for their dedication to service and the community
Between 5:30 and 6 p.m. attendees gathered and enjoyed a fruit and vegetable plate set out as hors d’oeuvre. Just after six o’clock, Jeff Bowers, president of SFVFD, called all to order by saying “I want to welcome everybody to the South Fork Volunteer Fire Department and Auxiliary annual banquet.”
George Armstrong led all in the Pledge of Allegiance, followed by Nate Parker, captain. Parker gave the invocation, praying, “We thank you for our many blessings . . . we thank You for allowing us to get together.”
As is his custom, Bowers selected a young lad to pick which table gets to eat first. The lucky group selected was first to sample a spread of prime rib, ham and pineapple, Chesapeake Bay style shrimp, rolls, salad, green beans, and scalloped potatoes.
After dinner, a huge selection of slices of cake and pie awaited all.
While those in attendance finished their meals, Bowers informed all that the program must commence because “Miss Donna cracks the whip so we can be out of here at a reasonable hour.”
He first called on the crew from Sweet Treats on Main in Moorefield to come and all be recognized. After that, he opened the program with a tongue-in-cheek story about Rick Gillespie, emergency services coordinator, that likely offered more hilarity than veracity, but entertained all.
Coming to the fore next was Steve O’Toole from the Veterans of Foreign Wars. He brought to the podium Richard Ivan, VFW State Commander, to help to present the VFW awards.
Ivan said “a lot of you are strangers to me, but we did the same thing, save others.”
They conferred the first award on Justin Ware from the West Virginia State Police, saying that the Marine “faithfully served the citizens of Pendleton County for 20 years.”
Next, they honored Tina Eye, president of Pendleton County Emergency Rescue, emphasizing her participation in 172 calls in 2024 alone and honoring her “dedication to community” and her “pride and professionalism in emergency services.”
Parker received a certificate of appreciation for his eight years in the United States Navy, as well as his leadership and service to SFVFD. They focused on his “personal courage and ever-efficient guardianship of life and property.”
State Senator Bill Hamilton, a regular guest to the banquet in recent years, took to the podium to speak briefly and confirm that he is running for re-election to that body. “We need to bring people in . . . (who have) got to be willing to compromise and people are not willing to do that now.”
He also expressed “a lot of appreciation for first responders.”
Once Hamilton concluded his remarks, Bowers recognized Carl Hevener, Pendleton County Commission president.
He then conferred a special award to Rebecca Hedrick who “has served faithfully in our community.” For her dedication as a staff worker to the West Virginia State Police and also taking care of her family’s needs, she was called forward with her state trooper colleagues.
Afterward, Jerry Bowers swore in the administrators and officers, saying, “You know the drill, we’ve done this for years.”
Among the officers, Roy Bowers serves as chief, Seth Bowers as assistant chief, Parker as captain, Tim Hook as lieutenant, Mark Swigunski as training officer, and William Copley as safety officer.
Confirmed as administrators for 2025 were Jeff Bowers as president, Parker as vice president, Dennis Knicely as secretary, Mary Ann Nelson as treasurer, and Mike Eye as fire report officer.
Patricia Bodkin will serve as president of the auxiliary, Amy Cyrier as first vice president, Jane Simon as second vice president, Judy Grimm as secretary, and Sheila Davis as treasurer.
Roy Bowers then offered his remarks, discussing the recent grants that have helped to pay for a new tanker and gear. He mentioned that they also donated an older tanker to the McDowell Volunteer Fire Department just over the state line in Virginia.
“That will also be a benefit,” he explained, adding that “they respond to a lot of calls for us.”
He also noted that “I don’t think we had any structure fires last year. We were very fortunate on that.”
Bodkin spoke for the auxiliary, sharing that “the auxiliary has had a remarkable year” and pointed out “significant outcomes” that came from that organization’s hard work. After discussing successful fundraising and community efforts, she said they were “filled with gratitude for the support of members of the community.”
She also offered “special thanks to Donna (Evick) for doing such a good job putting together this event” and then recognized Judy Rader for “40 plus years to the auxiliary. That’s what I call dedication!”
Jeff Bowers then called Bodkin and Evick to the front to receive special gifts of thanks.
Roy Bowers then returned to present awards from the SFVFD.
The first award required Bodkin to come right back to the podium she had just left. Roy Bowers explained that “the fire department cannot operate without the auxiliary.” Bodkin was asked to accept the award on behalf of the entire group.
Next, he presented “an award we haven’t done before” to an indispensable individual who ran 320 ambulance calls. “Sometimes, I’ve heard her run four to five times in a day.” The special award went to Kim Humes of Pendleton County Emergency Rescue.
She rose and said, “I’m half asleep from being out all night.” Of course, she was running calls and saving lives.
Roy Bowers joked that the next recipient could not accept in person because he was currently at the prom. Caydan Boone won junior firefighter of the year.
The most dedicated firefighter award went to Tim Hook, who “has taken 75 percent of my workload off my shoulders.” Roy Bowers added that “he leaves his work, leaves his home, leaves his family to serve.”
Next, Roy Bowers called on “the most outstanding man I’ve ever seen in my life” to receive an award. He shared that Bob Grimm responded to 280 calls last year, then said, “I don’t know if I’m right, but I’m close.”
Copley received the award for outstanding service to the fire department, with Roy Bowers sharing that he is “just about the same as Timmy and the rest of them” in dedication to duty. The final award, fireman of the year, went to Kaleb Feagans. Roy Bowers explained that he does not like conferring that award to the same person because everyone who answers the call to duty is outstanding. He described Feagans as “a boy who really stepped up.”
Finally, the department donated a restored three wheeled motorcycle to 54-year-veteran Doug Pitsenbarger.
During the closing remarks, Jeff Bowers joked that he could talk longer, but Evick said, “We’re done!”
“It’s eight o’clock,” Bowers said, as he dismissed those in attendance. “That’s all the time she gave me!”
