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Greater Shelby Chamber of Commerce
Montevallo Police Chief Jeremy Littleton, Mayor Hollie Cost, Lt. Tim Alexander and Tyana Alexander.
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Greater Shelby Chamber of Commerce
Officer Paul Williams, Betsey Williams, Kathleen Eiring, Paul Williams Sr., Suzanne Clelland and Chelsea Fire & Rescue Chief Wayne Shirley.
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Greater Shelby Chamber of Commerce
Members of Chelsea's Citizen's Observer Patrol at the Greater Shelby Chamber of Commerce luncheon.
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Greater Shelby Chamber of Commerce
Jennifer Nabors, Tim Nabors, Hunter Nabors and Jenna Nabors.
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Greater Shelby Chamber of Commerce
Claire Davis and Jinnie Lacey at the Greater Shelby Chamber of Commerce luncheon.
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Greater Shelby Chamber of Commerce
Brenda Cole, Chrisie Hawkins, Claire Davis and Trisston Wright Burrows.
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Greater Shelby Chamber of Commerce
Sheriff John Samaniego at the Greater Shelby Chamber of Commerce 2015 Safety Awards.
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Greater Shelby Chamber of Commerce
Lisa McMahon, Deputy Chris Blevins and Sheriff John Samaniego.
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Greater Shelby Chamber of Commerce
Chelsea Mayor Earl Nivens at the Greater Shelby Chamber of Commerce 2015 Safety Awards.
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Greater Shelby Chamber of Commerce
Mayor Earl Nivens, Eddie Huggins and Lisa McMahon.
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Greater Shelby Chamber of Commerce
Chelsea Fire & Rescue Chief Wayne Shirley at the Greater Shelby Chamber of Commerce luncheon.
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Greater Shelby Chamber of Commerce
Lisa McMahon, Officer Paul Williams and Chelsea Fire & Rescue Chief Wayne Shirley.
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Greater Shelby Chamber of Commerce
Chief Eugene "Buddy" Tyler, Donny Acton and Lisa McMahon.
The Greater Shelby Chamber of Commerce presented several community members with 2015 Safety Awards.
Public safety officials throughout Shelby County, including firemen, police officers and volunteers, were recognized at the Sept. 30 luncheon.
“All of us in this room who live in Shelby County know what a tremendous quality of life we are fortunate to have,” said Chamber President Kirk Mancer. “A significant aspect of that quality of life is a safe environment that’s created by the outstanding men and women that serve in the law enforcement and firefighters.”
Deputy Chris Blevins received the Officer of the Year award from the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office.
“It’s a hard thing for the sheriff of this county because we have so many incredible employees,” Sheriff John Samaniego said. “To single out someone is very difficult.”
Samaniego said Blevins has put in tremendous effort in his more than 16 years with the sheriff’s office, receiving 22 commendations.
“His body of work since he has been at the sheriff’s department has been exemplary, so I chose him to honor today,” Samaniego said.
Chelsea Fire & Rescue Chief Wayne Shirley recognized Officer Paul Williams at the luncheon.
“Paul has been here for a while now, and he has served not only as a firefighter and does a great job at that,” Shirley said. “He’s also a very skilled and talented medic.”
Williams has helped bring community communications to the next level through social media and his new safety videos, Shirley said.
“Like most departments, we’ve been spending money for a while, printing brochures every year and getting the message out to people that way,” Shirley said. “Well, Paul wanted to bring us into the modern way of doing things and using some video and technology to help and get the message out. So he brought some great plans and has instituted a good number of them already.”
Eddie Huggins, a Citizens Observer Patrol (COP) volunteer, also represented Chelsea. Mayor Earl Nivens presented Huggins with the award, commending him on his dedication to the community.
“Eddie is a member who has been very active,” Nivens said.
Huggins has logged more than 2,500 volunteer hours and did not miss any COP meetings from 2006-2014. Nivens also thanked the COP for all of their efforts in Chelsea.
“[COP] is 15 and a half years old. It is a volunteer group,” Nivens said. “How many organizations do you have in your cities that are volunteer and has lasted 15 and a half years? That says something about the citizens that have participated in this program.”
Representing the North Shelby Fire District, Chief Eugene “Buddy” Tyler presented Chaplain Donny Acton with Firefighter of the Year. Tyler said Acton helps carry the fire department and officers through the stress of the job and helps them through one-on-one counseling, post traumatic stress briefing, Thanksgiving lunch for on-duty firefighters and other services.
“Donny truly has a servant’s heart,” Tyler said. “If there is something bad going on in the North Shelby area, Donny will more than likely be there assisting and showing the love of God to those in need.”
The other winners were:
- John Aldrich – City of Alabaster Firefighter of the Year
- Charles Brewer – City of Alabaster Police Officer of the Year
- Tim Nabors – City of Calera Firefighter of the Year
- Nicholas Burnett – City of Calera Police Officer of the Year
- Rodney Reed – City of Columbiana Firefighter of the Year
- David Alexander – City of Columbiana Police Officer of the Year
- Caleb Draper – City of Helena Firefighter of the Year
- Josh Lindsey – City of Helena Police Officer of the Year
- Tim Alexander – City of Montevallo Police Officer of the Year
- David Douglass – City of Pelham Firefighter of the Year
- Bob Howard – City of Pelham Police Officer of the Year
