MADISON – The Wisconsin State Assembly will recognize members of the Sheboygan County Technical Rescue Team (SCTRT) and Sheboygan Fire Department (SFD) as “Hometown Heroes” at the upcoming Assembly session on January 21st.
Sheboygan emergency response members, who were nominated by their State Representatives, Tyler Vorpagel (R-Plymouth) and Terry Katsma (R-Oostburg), saved the lives of three individuals who were trapped in a grain silo on August 6th, 2019. While the first two individuals in danger were standard rescues, the third rescue required problem solving and thinking outside the box. With innovative and quick thinking, SCTRT and SFD members were able to save the lives of all three individuals trapped in the silo.
“Thanks to the training, experience, and dedication of the Sheboygan emergency responders, three people were able to walk away from an accident that very well could have been deadly,” said Assembly Majority Leader Jim Steineke (R-Kaukauna), who selected them for the award. “Their bravery and ability to think and act quickly is making their community a safer and better place.”
The SCTRT is made up of volunteer firefighters and first responders, meeting once every month to train on different rescue scenarios, including Grain Bin Rescue. Though calls are sporadic, the team stays trained and readily available any time a call comes in. Their training prepared them for the four-hour rescue needed on August 6th.
“These men and women spend many thankless hours training to be ready for anything and preparing to put their own lives on the line when their neighbors are in need,” said Rep. Katsma. “It is my great privilege to recognize them with the Hometown Hero Award – the State Assembly’s highest honor – for their courage and selfless dedication to their duty.”
“I am glad that the Wisconsin State Assembly chose to recognize the SCTRT for their dedication to training and their response to situations across the county that require their expertise to save lives,” said Rep. Vorpagel. “Their Hometown Hero Award today recognizes a recent incident they responded to that resulted in three individuals who were trapped in a malting silo in Sheboygan being saved.”
The Wisconsin State Assembly sees giving back to the community as one of the most valuable characteristics one can have. The Assembly Hometown Heroes program seeks to identify and recognize individuals from around the state who give of themselves to make a difference in our communities and in the lives of those around them. Hometown Hero Award winners are invited and introduced as a special guest at an Assembly floor session and given the opportunity to speak.
