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Every day, countless men and women commit their time and risk their lives to serve our Emmaus/Upper Milford community through our local fire departments, ambulance corps and police department. Emmaus Patch will honor these "Community Heros" through this ongoing feature.Name: Jeff Potts Where do you live? "I currently live in Emmaus. I grew up in a small North Jersey town where HBO did a lot of filming for its 'Sopranos' TV series. I worked in Manhattan for 10 years prior to my transfer here." What is your occupation? "I am a general manager for Compass Group North America. I run on-site corporate dining services for corporations. I also have been working for the Borough of Emmaus for the past three years as an auxiliary police officer and up until recently have been a firefighter for Emmaus for the past five years." What is your training? "I went to the …
Name: Patrick O'LearyWhere do you live? Lower Macungie Township Volunteer activities: Emmaus Ambulance, for about two years "I am involved with the Lower Macungie Fire Department. I have been a Volunteer Firefighter with Lower Macungie now for about six going on seven years. I started with the department at the age of 14. I was the last Junior Firefighter that could join at the age of 14 due to a change in the department protocols." Professional employment: Full-time EMT with Cetronia Ambulance "I work in the paratransit part of the company, so I am often doing transports to and from …
Name: Don O'Leary Where do you live? Wescosville, Pa. (Lower Macungie Township) Tell us about your family. "I have been married for 38 years to my beautiful wife, Florence. We have four boys - ages 20 to 33 years. We also have a rescue dog and an Indian Ringneck Parrot - Buddy and Squeeky." What is your occupation? "I am currently looking for full-time work but work part time at Emmaus Ambulance Corps."What is your training? "I am an EMT-Basic. I also have certifications in Basic Vehicle Rescue, Special Vehicle Rescue, Swift Water Rescue, as well as firefighting."Tell us a little about what …
Name: Tim Steiner Where do you live? Emmaus Tell us about your family: "I have three children, one grandson, and host a Korean teenager who has become our own." What do you do for a living? Work full time at Mack Trucks, part time for the Borough of Emmaus What training/education do you have? Emmaus High School graduate Former U.S. Marine Military Police Lehigh County Prison Officer and Supervisor Tell us about your involvement with the Borough of Emmaus. "My wife, Shelly Steiner, is involved in some commissions (Emmaus Special Entertainment Commission, Parks and Recreation) which …
Where do you live? Allentown What is your occupation? Auxiliary Police Officer with Emmaus Police Department. Describe some of your daily responsibilities. "I serve the community as a public safety figure for various functions throughout the borough during the year. During the summer months it's being a presence in the parks system. During the rest of the year it's staffing the numerous events at the schools and parades."Tell us why you enjoy your job as an auxiliary police officer. "Networking and the outdoors. I have the chance to work in an environment I really enjoy and meet new people on…
Name: Craig DeppeWhere do you live? EmmausTell us about your family. "My wife is Erin. We've been married 11 years. My son, Garrett, is eight and my daughter Grace is going to be five."What is your occupation? Paramedic for the Borough of EmmausWhat is your training? "I went to specialized training at George E. Moerkirk Emergency Medicine Institute (GEMEMI) where I got my National Registry Certification as a paramedic. I'm also a CPR and EMT instructor. I've been working in EMS for 20 years." Tell us a little about what you do on a daily basis. "The primary thing is being available for calls …
Name: Richard KlotzWhere do you live? Bethlehem Tell us a little about your family. Married with three children and two grandchildren. Where did you go to school? What degrees have you earned? Business Administration from Northampton Community College Marketing from Penn State University What do you do for a living? What is your official title? Downtown Officer, Emmaus Police DepartmentExplain your responsibilities in your new position with the Emmaus Police Department. "My responsibilities are focused on establishing a police presence in the downtown business section through foot patrol …
Name: Bob Martrich Age: 63 Hometown: Born in Allentown, moved to Emmaus in 1978 Tell us about your family: "My wife Dawn and I have been married 40 years and have three sons. Jeremy lives in Hamburg, Michael lives in Philadelphia, and Andrew lives in North Salem, N.Y. They are all still single so we have no grandchildren. We have replaced the kids with 2 dogs (yellow labs), Abby and Maggie and a parrot named Barnes." Fire company: Emmaus Fire Department Title/Role/Position: Fire Police Officer and Chaplin for the Emmaus Firemen’s Relief Association What training have you received? "Fire …
Name: Brett KratzerAge: 18Hometown: EmmausTell us about your family: "I have a 10-year-old sister who looks up to me, and a mother who supports me in every decision and thing I do."Do you have an occupation outside of the fire department? If so, what do you do?: Kratzer works for Semmel Excavating Company as a laborer. He digs out pipes in ditches and checks grade for equipment operators.Fire company: Citizens' Fire Co. of Upper Milford (Vera Cruz)Title/responsibilities with the fire company: Firefighter "I actually run with station 28, Vera Cruz Fire Department. A normal week all depends on…
Full name: Vickie GruverTell us about your family: Gruver has been married for 29 years. She has two grown boys, one granddaughter (age 6) and one grandson (age 3). Where do you live? Emmaus Job Title/Description: Part-time Emergency Medical Technician, for 23 yrs. Gruver also works as a full-time certified nursing assistant (CNA) and a part-time security guard. Explain what you do on a daily basis: "As an EMT, I am responsible for being the right hand to the medic. They rely on the EMT to know what they will need. "When I am on the clock at Central Station, we are responsible to be sure …
Full name: Andrew Peter Kelhart Where do you live? Topton Tell us about your family: "My wife is a retired school teacher turned administrative assistant for Air Products & Chemicals. Having been diagnosed with breast cancer several years ago and her cancer spreading shortly thereafter, she retired from APC and is currently disabled. We have no children." Job Title/Description: "I retired from PPL Electric Utilities in 2009 after 39 years with the utility. I currently work part-time for the Emmaus Ambulance Corps as an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT). I also teach First Aid and CPR skills …
Name: Craig Blose, Patrolman/K-9 Officer, Emmaus Police Department Age: 36Family: Blose is married and a father to two "very active, beautiful children."What training have you received? Blose attended the Allentown Police Academy. He has taken seminars in evidence collection and preservation, use of force, defense tactics, firearms, disaster response, narcotics identification and interdiction techniques. Blose has studied the German, Czech and Dutch languages. He is well-versed in search and seizure laws. He is nationally certified as both a police emergency driving instructor and a …
Name: Mark Wieder Age: 21 Hometown: Emmaus Tell us about your family: Mom (Robin), Dad (Dave), Step-mom (Marilou), two sisters (Sara and Andrea), and brother (Matt) Fire company: Emmaus and Vera Cruz Title/Role/Position: Fire police at both departments Describe your job with the fire department: "The main responsibilities I have are protecting the scene and keeping cars and pedestrians away. The main responsibility would be protecting the firemen, police, and EMS so they can do their job properly without any interruption. "When I arrive on scene, if possible I set out cones to close the …
Full name: Donna Nonnemacher Tell us about your family: Married to Michael (Mike) Nonnemacher for 15 years this November. "We have five children together and eight grandchildren. My oldest daughter, Nicole, has been living in England for the past 10 years with her husband Andrew who is from Leeds, England and their three children. They are in the process of moving back home, and I couldn’t be happier! Most of the kids live in Emmaus/Macungie except my daughter Kimberly and husband Mike and two daughters who live in Slatington." Where do you live? Lower Macungie TownshipJob Title/Description: …
Name: Kurtis (Kurt) Knauss Age: 21 Hometown: Emmaus Tell us about your family: Marie and Steven are Kurt's parents, and his older brother is Kyle. Fire company: Emmaus and Upper Milford Western District (Old Zionsville) Title/Role/Position: Lieutenant at Emmaus, Firefighter at Upper Milford Western District Describe your job: "Greatest time of my life ... ain't nothin' better than it!" What training have you received? Firefighter 1, Basic Vehicle Rescue Technician, Haz-mat Ops, and plenty of other classes Do you work elsewhere? If so, what do you do? "I work at Emmaus as a standby/paid on-…
Name: Dylan Schantz Age: 19 Hometown: Emmaus Tell us about your family: Schantz exclaims, "They are pretty cool!" Fire company: Schantz volunteers his time at Citizens' Fire Co. of Upper Milford (Vera Cruz) and Old Zionsvile, also of Upper Milford Township. Title/Role/Position: Firefighter Describe your job: "I'm interior. It's fun, and I love doing the things I do." How do your loved ones feel about you putting your life in danger? "They're OK with it." Tell us a story you'll never forget about your firefighting experience. "One day we had a hail storm in the middle of the day, and right …
Name: Jerry SchantzAge: 48Hometown: Vera CruzTell us about your family: Wife - Tina, daughter - Andrea (21), son - Dylan (19)Fire company: Citizens' Fire Co. of Upper Milford TownshipTitle/Role/Position: Financial Secretary, FirefighterWhat training have you received? Schantz has had "all kinds of training from firefighting, driver, officer training, CPR and First Aid. There are classes all the time, things are always changing."Describe your job: According to Schantz, the financial secretary's job involves collecting all the incoming money and reporting amounts at meetings. He is also …
Name: Kyle Walbert Age: 22 Hometown: Emmaus Tell us about your family: "Both my parents live together in Emmaus, and I have a 19-year-old brother who attends the Pennsylvania State University and is majoring in Professional Golf Course Management (PGM)." Occupation: Walbert manages the distribution center at Lehigh Career & Technical Institute in Schnecksville. Fire company: He has been a firefighter with the Emmaus Fire Department for eight years. Training so far: Firefighter 1, Hazmat operations, DOH Vehicle Rescue Technician, Water Rescue (all 3 phases, including ice rescue), Hotel/Motel…
Full name: Michael D. Nonnemacher Tell us about your family: Married to Donna, five children, eight grandchildren. Where do you live? Born and raised in Emmaus, Nonnemacher graduated from Emmaus High School. In 2006, Nonnemacher built a home in Lower Macungie with accommodations for his mother to live with him and his family. Job Title/Description: Chief Emmaus Ambulance Corps. Explain what you do on a daily basis: Full-time medic shifts, plus administration and management of corps. operations. "My shift starts at 6 a.m. and ends at 6 p.m. First thing I do is a vehicle check to make …
Name: Kris Kellar Age: 47 Hometown: Vera Cruz, but grew up in Emmaus Tell us about your family: "I’m an identical twin - we’re the youngest of five children. I’m married to Jim, and we just celebrated our 25th anniversary in July. I have one daughter, Kourtney, who will be turning 18 this month. Boy does time fly!!" Fire company: Citizens' Fire Co. of Upper Milford (Vera Cruz). Kellar is a firefighter, firepoliceman, treasurer and fundraising chairperson. Describe your job: "I have two part-time jobs – I work at Wally’s Deli on Mondays and Mechanics Plus Towing & Transport doing paperwork two…
