LIMA — Thirteen community members or groups were honored as 2022 Safe Community Heroes Wednesday for their dedication to maintaining a safe community.
According to a press release, more people were honored than in previous years due to a larger number of nominees than in years past.
The following individuals or groups were honored for their service:
Emergency Medical Services
• B Shift, for their response to a large crash involving a semi-truck on the afternoon of Sept. 4.
Fire Safety
• Perry Township Fire Chief Justin Roberts, for his teaching and commitment to fire safety at Perry schools.
Traffic Safety
• Trooper Kenton Gibson, for his OVI enforcement.
• Sergeant Scott Ludeke, for his impaired driving enforcement.
Engineering
• Lima Director of Public Works Kirk Niemayer, for pedestrian and traffic signal improvements at the Main Street and High Street intersection, and a mid-block crosswalk at the 300 block of North Main Street.
Youth Safety
• Violence Prevention Program at Crime Victim Services, for its education on relationship violence prevention.
• Soldiers of Honor, for its boxing program that mentors at-risk youth.
Children’s Safety
• Firefighter and Paramedic Emily Bowsher, for her role in Lima Fire’s child passenger safety program.
• The Autism Life Center, for its Autism Safety Kit provided free to families in which at least one member has autism.
• Patrol Officer Eric Mericle, for his D.A.R.E. education to Lima’s youth.
Outstanding Citizen
• Allen Oakwood Correction Institution Deputy Warden Corey Foster, for his efforts to reduce crime and recidivism in Ohio.
• Disabled Veterans Outreach Program Specialist Rob Cornett, for the career services he provides to veterans.
• Lima Municipal Treatment Court Judge Tammie Hursh, for her role in rehabilitation services provided to people on bond.
