Thursday, June 18, 2009
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The life-saving efforts of two volunteer firefighters and two law enforcement officers earned the men recognition Wednesday by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC).
The agency's Commissioners also honored an outstanding prosecutor and a career agency employee during the first day of their two-day regular session in Crystal River.
Rob Goley, a law enforcement officer with the FWC, received a Lifesaving Award for his efforts during the Withlacoochee River flooding in April. He works in Lake City for the FWC's North Central Region.
Jason Archambault and Edwin McMullen, volunteers with the Lee County Volunteer Fire Department, received Service Commendations for their assistance during the flood crisis, as did Corp. Alan Whigham of the Madison County Sheriff's Office.
Robert "Bo" Bayer earned the Outstanding Prosecutor Award. He is Assistant State Attorney in the Eighth Judicial Circuit in Union County.
Goley and his crew of McMullin, Whigham and Archambault spotted a man clinging to a tree after the man's boat had capsized in the Withlacoochee River in Hamilton County.
"I couldn't have picked a better crew to work with on this rescue," Goley said after the April 6 rescue. He said McMullin, of Lee Fire Rescue, knew the river "like the back of his hand." Whigham is Madison County Sheriff's Office dive team coordinator, and Archambault is a Tallahassee firefighter and member of Lee Fire Rescue.
Goley had to fight the current to get to the stranded man. He grounded the boat in the top half of a submerged tree on the east side of the river, using the current to hold the vessel in place.
"Everyone did what needed to be done," Goley said. They got the man into the boat. "He didn't say much, other than that the river was 'wicked.' "
The Commissioners recognized Tim Regan for his 35 years of service and retirement from the FWC's Division of Habitat and Species Conservation. The biological administrator in the FWC's South Region worked out of West Palm Beach, coordinating landowner conservation efforts.
The agency's Commissioners also honored an outstanding prosecutor and a career agency employee during the first day of their two-day regular session in Crystal River.
Rob Goley, a law enforcement officer with the FWC, received a Lifesaving Award for his efforts during the Withlacoochee River flooding in April. He works in Lake City for the FWC's North Central Region.
Jason Archambault and Edwin McMullen, volunteers with the Lee County Volunteer Fire Department, received Service Commendations for their assistance during the flood crisis, as did Corp. Alan Whigham of the Madison County Sheriff's Office.
Robert "Bo" Bayer earned the Outstanding Prosecutor Award. He is Assistant State Attorney in the Eighth Judicial Circuit in Union County.
Goley and his crew of McMullin, Whigham and Archambault spotted a man clinging to a tree after the man's boat had capsized in the Withlacoochee River in Hamilton County.
"I couldn't have picked a better crew to work with on this rescue," Goley said after the April 6 rescue. He said McMullin, of Lee Fire Rescue, knew the river "like the back of his hand." Whigham is Madison County Sheriff's Office dive team coordinator, and Archambault is a Tallahassee firefighter and member of Lee Fire Rescue.
Goley had to fight the current to get to the stranded man. He grounded the boat in the top half of a submerged tree on the east side of the river, using the current to hold the vessel in place.
"Everyone did what needed to be done," Goley said. They got the man into the boat. "He didn't say much, other than that the river was 'wicked.' "
The Commissioners recognized Tim Regan for his 35 years of service and retirement from the FWC's Division of Habitat and Species Conservation. The biological administrator in the FWC's South Region worked out of West Palm Beach, coordinating landowner conservation efforts.
Contact:
Wendy Dial (850) 519-4301 or (850) 488-9477
Wendy Dial (850) 519-4301 or (850) 488-9477
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