The Gerald-Rosebud Fire Protection District held their annual awards banquet Saturday, Jan. 11 at the Gerald Lions Hall. The dual-community department rotates the banquet between Gerald and Rosebud venues. 

After enjoying a meal prepared and served by volunteer friends of the department, the crowd settled in to learn who had earned the awards for service in 2021. 

Chief Warren Weiss emceed the event, while former Fire Chief Bruce Hoock helped hand out the awards. 

Rudy Via was named the Firefighter of the Year. He was also named one of the top responders, along with his son, Nick Via, and Jack Clark. 

The Junior Firefighter of the year was Zac Wolfe. 

Hunter Gibson won the Junior Firefighter top responder award.

A first-year firefighter who displays ambition and a go-getter attitude is what is looked for when awarding the Fireball of the Year. This time it went to Eddie Schoenfeld.  Trevor Griffith was named the Junior Fireball of the Year. 

Fire prevention and public relations awards were given to Anthony Milanowski and Hayden Schoenfeld.

Chief Warren Weiss was given the Chief Officer award. 

Years of service awards, in five-year increments were also given. 

Nick Via, Hayden Schoenfeld, Shelby Clark and Josh Wagner were recognized for five years of service. 

Dave DeFrenne and Burke McCorkendale have each put in 20 years of service with the department. 

Jordan Lottmann and Jack Clark were honored for 25 years of service. 

The department is overseen by the Gerald-Rosebud Fire Protection District who disperses the tax funds. 

The department is made up entirely of volunteers, most of whom hold down full-time jobs or are full-time students. 

In 2021, the department answered an all time high number of 350 calls for service.