Red Cross To Honor Local Heroes

The North Central Kansas Chapter of the American Red Cross is set to honor nine local heroes.

According to the organization, the Salina Heroes selection committee, made up of community leaders, has selected 9 north-central Kansans to be recognized for their exemplary actions.

“This year’s heroes are people who are truly making north-central Kansas a better place to live, work and play,” said Cathy Zecha, American Red Cross North Central Kansas Chapter. “Their actions range from saving lives, to going above and beyond for the sake of their community. To honor them with these awards is the least we could do.”

Created to recognize ordinary people who have performed extraordinary acts, the Salina Heroes Breakfast formed a selection committee comprised of community leaders that validated the importance of each nomination.

The 2013 Salina Heroes are:

* Good Samaritan Hero: Caleb Amundson – When a paralyzed man and his truck rolled backwards and off a dock into the lake, Caleb was quick to respond and pull the man from the sinking truck.

* Disaster Relief Heroes: Marvin & Donna Johnson – The Johnson’s began volunteering with the American Red Cross in 1997. Both have become integral in the readiness of the North Central Kansas Emergency Response Vehicle (ERV).

* Volunteer Hero: Barbara Jansen – Barbara Jansen has been chosen as the volunteer hero for her hard work and dedication to ensuring as many cats from the Salina Animal Shelter are spayed or neutered and have received their rabies vaccinations as possible.

*Firefighter Hero: Captain Keith Lindemann – Captain Lindemann has spent nearly eight years as the Officer-In-Charge of Rescue #1, based at Fire Station #1. The job of Rescue #1 is to respond to auto accidents, incidents where people are trapped/entangled in cars and machinery, buried in trenches, caught in confined spaces, and house fires and building fires.

* Give Life Hero: Roy Purcell – Roy started donating blood in July 1949 and has donated more than 20 gallons of blood. He has donated more than 160 times.

* Pestinger Heating & Air Youth Good Samaritan Heroes: Salina South Football Team – When Coronado Elementary received enough contributions to purchase a handicapped-accessible playground, the Salina High School football team stepped up to help with installation. During a special playground-raising event, the football players were in charge of mixing a constant supply of concrete.

* Military Heroes” Ace Thompson & Monte McWilliams – When Ace and Monte heard calls for help after leaving a restaurant, they quickly ran to help. Four people had been cut or stabbed by a man. Ace and Monte were able to intervene and save all four, including one man with serious injuries from being stabbed multiple times.

* Community Hero: Clay Thompson – Clay Thompson played an integral role in the Fall Fix-Up Salina event, contacting churches and media to recruit volunteers, obtaining financial support, monitoring projects and running. As a result of his leadership and hard work, approximately 123 volunteers who donated nearly 1000 hours of their time.

All of the heroes will be honored at the Salina Heroes Breakfast, a benefit for the American Red Cross, on Wednesday, Dec. 4th.