Local Firemen honored at ceremony

Image: The Last Huddle — Fire Chief Don Chamber gathers the Italy Fire Academy graduates around for some last minute instructions before the National Test on Thursday.

The Last Huddle — Fire Chief Don Chamber gathers the Italy Fire Academy graduates around for some last minute instructions before the National Test on Thursday. (Anne Sutherland)

Image: Class 2 is proud — (L-R back row) Wesley Layne Curry, William Eric Bradley, Jacob Scott Hopkins, Bobby J. McBride (Front row) Andy Franks, Mark Jackson, James Eric “Pepaw” Sprabary and Tommy Sutherland

Class 2 is proud — (L-R back row) Wesley Layne Curry, William Eric Bradley, Jacob Scott Hopkins, Bobby J. McBride
(Front row) Andy Franks, Mark Jackson, James Eric “Pepaw” Sprabary and Tommy Sutherland (Anne Sutherland)

Image: Class 1 Grads — Jackie Cate, Randy Boyd and Michael Chambers are graduates of the first class of Italy Fire Academy. Each student was required to go to night class, one night a week and the course took 22 months to complete.

Class 1 Grads — Jackie Cate, Randy Boyd and Michael Chambers are graduates of the first class of Italy Fire Academy. Each student was required to go to night class, one night a week and the course took 22 months to complete. (Anne Sutherland)

Image: Chief Don Chambers — Chief Chambers is very proud of Class 2 graduates. “They all are committed to this program and have done very well.”

Chief Don Chambers — Chief Chambers is very proud of Class 2 graduates. “They all are committed to this program and have done very well.” (Anne Sutherland)

Image: Jackie and an “old dawg” — Tommy Sutherland receives a big handshake from Captain Jackie Cate for achieving Valedictorian in his class. Sutherland thanked everyone for allowing the opportunity to learn and explained how his classmates mean so much. “I have learned from everyone in my class, from each fireman. You all have taught me this year. I guess you CAN teach an old dog new tricks,” Tommy adds with a smile.

Jackie and an “old dawg” — Tommy Sutherland receives a big handshake from Captain Jackie Cate for achieving Valedictorian in his class. Sutherland thanked everyone for allowing the opportunity to learn and explained how his classmates mean so much. “I have learned from everyone in my class, from each fireman. You all have taught me this year. I guess you CAN teach an old dog new tricks,” Tommy adds with a smile. (Anne Sutherland)

Image: Mark cracks a smile — Mark Jackson, Fire Chief in Milford, made Salutatorian in the Italy Fire Academy. He thanks his family for all of their support during the long hours of schooling. “This is not just a job, it’s a calling,” Jackson explained to the class.

Mark cracks a smile — Mark Jackson, Fire Chief in Milford, made Salutatorian in the Italy Fire Academy. He thanks his family for all of their support during the long hours of schooling. “This is not just a job, it’s a calling,” Jackson explained to the class. (Anne Sutherland)

Image: Instructors and their students — Jackie Cate, Brad Chambers and Randy Boyd helped Chief Chambers instruct this class of the Italy Fire Academy.

Instructors and their students — Jackie Cate, Brad Chambers and Randy Boyd helped Chief Chambers instruct this class of the Italy Fire Academy. (Anne Sutherland)

Image: Service Award — All Italy firemen received a badge to wear on their uniform shirts.

Service Award — All Italy firemen received a badge to wear on their uniform shirts. (Anne Sutherland)

Image: Local heroes — These men put their lives on the line everyday, Italy’s finest!

Local heroes — These men put their lives on the line everyday, Italy’s finest! (Anne Sutherland)

Image: Italy firemen in training — Each man lines up for the next skill they are learning.

Italy firemen in training — Each man lines up for the next skill they are learning. (submitted)

Image: Fire ablaze — The firemen are required to endure the heat of the flames as they try to extinguish the fire in the training house in Waxahachie.

Fire ablaze — The firemen are required to endure the heat of the flames as they try to extinguish the fire in the training house in Waxahachie. (submitted)

Image: That dummy weighs a lot — One of the requirements of the firemen is to retrieve the 160lb dummy from the smoke filled house.

That dummy weighs a lot — One of the requirements of the firemen is to retrieve the 160lb dummy from the smoke filled house. (Submitted)

Image: Hoses are important too — Loading and re-loading hoses is just apart of the training.

Hoses are important too — Loading and re-loading hoses is just apart of the training. (Anne Sutherland)

Image: Chief watches his students — Chief Chambers instructs the new firemen about the hoses.

Chief watches his students — Chief Chambers instructs the new firemen about the hoses. (Anne Sutherland)

Image: Top of the engine — Loading the hose.

Top of the engine — Loading the hose. (Anne Sutherland)

Image: Learning the ropes — Tommy Sutherland repels down the fire training building in Waxahachie while his classmates look on.

Learning the ropes — Tommy Sutherland repels down the fire training building in Waxahachie while his classmates look on. (Submitted)

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