ASHTABULA — More than 100 people gathered Saturday morning to celebrate valor amidst tragedy and selflessness in difficult circumstances.
The Seventh Annual Community Heroes Breakfast honored 11 different people and the Ohio Highway Patrol for their efforts in making Ashtabula County a better place.
The family of Bonnie Hanson, a volunteer who died in December of 2009, received a posthumous Director’s Award
for her volunteer work and her decision to be an organ donor that helped many other people after her death.
Cassandra Lowery, a 19 year old Pierpont resident, received the Outstanding Youth Award for her work in creating blankets for disaster victims.
Bev and Dave Dallesandro received the Community Impact Award for organizing weekly Sunday afternoon meals for more than 120 people during the past year.
Other Community Heroes included seven area residents who stepped out of their daily lives to help others.
Blair Cool was honored for her efforts in performing the heimlech maneuver on a choking man at the Jefferson Healthcare Center. “I told the girls if they stood him up. I would do the heimlech,” she said of the event that took several attempts to successfully accomplish.
Rebecca Nicholson went above and beyond the call of duty checking on a homebound patient and convincing the woman of the need to go to a hospital. She works for University Hospitals Geneva Medical Center and a private home care company.
Jayne Colin was honored for her many efforts as a master of ceremonies for area charity events.
Tiffany Payne, a student at Pymatuning Valley High School, was honored for her efforts in organizing blood drives at the school.
Steve Polk received accolades for his help in giving shelter to fire victims.
Captain Gary Nahrstedt and Shaun Buehner, both of the Saybrook Township Fire Department, were honored for their efforts in a dog rescue on ice.
The Ashtabula County Chapter of the American Red Cross Director Renee Palaygi said Tim McCarthy, a consultant for non-profit groups, was the main speaker at the event.
“He talked about what it means to be a hero,” she said.
Local News
Related Photos
Discussion
THERE’S HEROES AMONG US
American Red Cross honors 11 for their volunteer efforts
- Local News
-
-
Conneaut’s development headquarters takes shape
A small building two blocks from Lake Erie could become Conneaut’s economic development headquarters before the start of summer.
-
Sheriff’s detectives net two active meth labs
Acting on a tip, Ashtabula County Sheriff’s detectives and deputies uncovered an active methamphetamine lab Friday afternoon, according to Lt. Van Robison.
-
Former Ashtabula resident killed in car crash Tuesday
Ashley N. Penwell, 22, formerly of East Fourth St., Ashtabula, was pronounced dead at the scene of a Tuesday car crash on Charleston Pike Road in Chillicothe.
-
Ashtabula County is near top in 2011 bear sightings
Ashtabula County finished second in the number of black bear sightings reported in Ohio last year, according to a report from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources’ Division of Wildlife.
-
Break-in results in felony charges
A Conneaut man faces two felony charges stemming from a break-in at a vacant Cleveland Court house earlier this week, according to Conneaut Municipal Court records.
-
Conneaut Middle School’s Goodwill drive big success
Students and staff at Conneaut Middle School responded in a big way to a plea for donations issued late last month by Goodwill Industries of Ashtabula.
-
ACMC teams up with Goodwill on Valentine’s Day
This Valentine’s Day, area residents are encouraged to show their love by cleaning out their closets and heading over to Ashtabula County Medical Center.
-
Presses stopped: Updated with video
It was June 23, 1969.
-
Murder suspect kills self at mother’s grave
Madison Township police officers found the body of a murder suspect in the Alexander Harper Cemetery on Thursday afternoon, ending a day-long, multi-county manhunt.
-
Commissioners pay to get the business
Commissioners on Tuesday approved a $15,000 contract with Growth Partnership for Ashtabula County to provide business service representation on behalf of the county’s One-Stop job training center.
- More Local News Headlines
-
