The Emergency Service District #3 hosted the 12th Annual Fire Department Appreciation Dinner on Monday night in the Italy Community Center. ESD Board members are Jackie D. Cate, Vicente Guerrero, Howard Morgan, James Steele and Murrie Wainscott.

Dickies of Hillsboro catered a delicious meal of sliced brisket, polish sausage, potato salad, barbecue beans, cole slaw, rolls, pecan pie, peach cobbler and iced tea.

ESD President, Jackie D. Cate, welcomed everyone and served as Master of Ceremonies for the night. Fire Department personnel were presented with certificates of appreciation and recognized for their years of service.

Josh Droll was honored with a plaque for his 15 years of service. The Drolls moved to Ennis this summer so Josh retired from the department. Droll was a firefighter with the Italy Fire Department from February 1999 to July 2014.

“Josh, we appreciate everything you have done with our department,” said Chief Don Chambers. “You were always here when we needed you and served our department well.”

Retiring ESD Board Members, Howard Morgan and James Steele, were also presented with plaques. Morgan served on the board from February 2006 to December 2014. Steele served from January 2008 to February 2014.

“I was going to retire two years ago, but these guys talked me into staying,” said Steele. “I am glad I did. We have gotten some things accomplished in the last two years – getting the tax rate increased and we found a place to build a new fire station building.”

Morgan thanked all the fire personnel for the jobs they do. “I am retiring because I am not physically able to come and do any more. I am proud of the job you do to protect lives and property,” Morgan said.