Local Firefighters Honored During Annual Banquet

The Milbank Fire Department held its annual banquet where active members and honorary retired members were recognized.
Special guests attending were City of Milbank Mayor Pat Raffety and city councilman Joel Foster.

Members were recognized for their years of service to the department. Fire Chief Kevin Schuelke received his 30-year award. Craig DeBoer was honored for 25 years of service while David Giesen and Chad Wientjes were recognized for 20 years. Others recognized included Jason Fraasch, 15 years, and Steve Spors and Mike Hanson, 10 years.

Brian Smith was honored for reaching retirement status after serving for 18 years. He was a member of the department from 1994 to 2012. Tim Mundwiler was also honored for 31 years of active service with the department. He retired from active service after volunteering from 1986 to 2017.
Certificates were given for those firefighters who completed training classes throughout the past year. Those attending the Pipeline Emergency Response and Damage Prevention class in Watertown were Jason Fraasch, Kevin Schuelke, Curt Berkner, David Giesen, Scott Neidert, Joe Weber and Kyle Schwandt.

The Northeast District Fire School took place in Milbank this year. Locals attending the various classes included the following:
Transitional Attack – Craig DeBoer and Kevin Schuelke
Vent, Enter, Search – Jason Krause, Ronnie Krause, Mike Mach and Steve Spors
Vehicle Extrication and Stabilization – Dave Mogard, Blaine Schell, Ross Jurgens, Chad Wientjes, Jason Wellnitz and Joe Weber
Hybrid Vehicle Safety – Dave Mogard, Joe Weber, Blaine Schell, Ross Jurgens, Matt Foell, Evan Grong, Chad Wientjes and Jason Wellnitz
Numerous volunteers from the department took part in the State Fire School in Sioux Falls in June last summer. Attending classes were:
Drone Operations in Public Safety – Steve Spors, Jason Fraasch
Water Rescue – Steve Spors, Kevin Schuelke
When Seconds Matter – Justin Mathiason
Ladders, Minimum to Mastery – Justin Mathiason, Jason Krause, Kyle Schwandt, Ronnie Krause
Fighting Fire with Foams, Retardants, Gel Type Agents – Jason Krause, Kyle Schwandt, Ronnie Krause
Traffic Incident Management System – Jason Fraasch
Scene Preservation – Jason Fraasch, Bill Rise
Fire Department Office Round Table – Kevin Schuelke
ISO Rating – Kevin Schuelke, Bill Rise
Forensic Pathology of Burns and Mass Fatalities – Bill Rise
Health and Safety Issues in the Fire and EMS Service – Bill Rise
Curt Berkner, who is in his 36th year of active service with the department, was presented with the groups’ traveling trophy.

A moment of silence was given during the annual banquet to honor Arlen Conrad, honorary firefighter who passed away with the last year.