On Thursday, July 25, 2024, First Presbyterian Church, 100 E. Lincolnway, Morrison, IL, held its “4th Annual Morrison Fire Department Benefit,” with a free, drive up meal. Donations for the Fire Department were welcomed. Children were allowed to explore a shiny Fire Engine.
First Presbyterian Church volunteers prepared over 350 meals and tucked them into paper bags, for easy access by drivers: all-beef jumbo hot dog; baked beans; pasta salad; chocolate chip cookie. Serving began at 5:00 p.m.
Dispensing the paper bags are Fire Department staff. Their length of service is indicated. Left-to-right are Tanner Shear (one month as the newest Probationary member); Matt Vandrew (five years); Drew Wilkens (one year); Jeff Eissens (37.5 years); Jamie White (16.5 years.
The Department strives to keep 30 Volunteers at all times. White stated one man recently retired, and another ceased being a volunteer. Shear has been accepted to fill one position, after he completes his one-year probation.
The second vacancy has been temporarily filled by Breeann Sharp. She will become the second female Morrison Fire Department Fighter.
Sharp and Shear became Probationary members in June. Tanner Shear was a Fulton resident and is a Fulton High School Steamer alumnus. However, he moved to Morrison, because Fire Department volunteers must reside within the Morrison Fire District. He “works for Dykema’s in Morrison as a truck driver, hauling grain and construction material” as far as a 200-mile radius.