Springfield Township To Honor Fallen Firefighters
BY KAREN BERGER — MIRROR REPORTER
Ronald Adlington, a welder, then a supervisor at Chrysler Jeep for 36 years, spent his spare time with his family. But for 12 of those years, he also volunteered with the Springfield Township Fire Department.
On Saturday, October 8 during the 10th annual Fallen Firefighters Memorial Ceremony, Adlington will be the 53rd person added to the fallen firefighters list. Adlington, who died in January 2011, was a volunteer firefighter beginning in 1969, completing his service with the rank of engineer in 1981.
Held at Station No. 1 at 802 S. McCord Rd., the annual service will feature the Springfield High School JROTC and band. The free event is open to the public and includes a tour of the station.
“The memorial was really the vision of Chief Ray Feeney,” said assistant chief Rick Helminski. “He felt it was important to identify and recognize people who had dedicated 10 years or more to the township and community.”
The memorial was originally created in 1980, and was located on the property of the township’s administration offices. In 2002, Feeney had the memorial redesigned and relocated to Station No. 1. It was also expanded to include the names of lifetime members, trustees, dispatchers and firefighters.
Feeney joined the Springfield Township Fire Department in 1976 and moved through the ranks, serving as engineer, captain, deputy chief and assistant chief, before he was appointed fire chief in 2001.
During Feeney’s administration, the department went from a volunteer organization to a full-time paid fire department. He died in June 2005.
In addition to administration, the department now has 41 full-time and 41 part-time employees staffing three stations, with 11 on duty at all times, to serve a population of nearly 25,000.
Much has changed since STFD was formed in 1950, Helminski said.
“Years ago, dispatchers worked from their homes,” Helminski explained. “They had a special phone line and a printer that would tell them what the call is. We had four dispatchers working from home.”
Over the years, line of duty deaths and a concern for firefighter safety has really driven improvements in equipment, Helminski said. Since he joined the department 25 years ago, even simple pieces of equipment like gloves have improved.
While he used to wear rubber gloves, which weren’t as protective and would melt under extreme conditions, firefighters now wear leather.
The self-contained breathing apparatuses used to be heavy steel bottles and are now made of lighter composites.
And the department now uses thermal imaging cameras to locate people within a structure – where smoke can prevent firefighters from seeing someone on the ground. It can also help them locate hot spots within the fire.
Vehicles are also safer. Helminski recalls wearing just a lap belt while riding to a fire. Now firefighters wear shoulder harnesses, and an alarm sounds if they’re not buckled in.
Finding grants to fund upgrades in equipment is part of his and Chief Barry Cousino’s job, Helminski said.
“Since the economic downturn, we’re trying to do more with less, and we’re doing it. I think our department is second to none. We have a great group of men and women,” he said.
Often, those men and women represent a long line of family members who have been firefighters or first responders.
“We’re unique. Not everyone can do this job,” Helminski said.

The annual Fallen Firefighters Memorial Ceremony starts at noon on Saturday, October 8 at 802 S. McCord Rd.

Springfield Students Earn Honors During DECA Fall Frenzy
BY KAREN BERGER — MIRROR REPORTER
Springfield High School seniors Taylor Breedlove, Ciara Ruiz and Ashley Navarre put their brains together to solve a retail business challenge. Nearby, Ali Laney, Sam Sumner and Chelsea Haas were doing the same, while Cassidy Cohen and Megan Flowers filled out applications and went through job interviews.
The Springfield DECA team members had their first challenge of the year, during the September 28 DECA Fall Frenzy at Owens Community College. DECA, which stands for Distributive Education Clubs of America, is a national organization in its 75th year.
A collaborative effort between Owens and Penta Career Center, Fall Frenzy tested students’ knowledge and skills in marketing, merchandising, management and entrepreneurship – in scenarios ranging from apparel and accessories to sports, food service and e-commerce.
To prepare for this first of several upcoming DECA events, the teens practiced interviewing and researching topics in the classroom, and memorizing facts about DECA, said Frank Kohlhoffer Jr., marketing education teacher for the Penta Career Center Satellite at Springfield High School.
“I did mock interviews with the assistant principal,” Megan said of Libby McIlwain.
Both Megan and Cassidy marveled at how much work and detail goes into creating a resume for the first time.
“It’s a lot more detailed and precise than I thought,” Cassidy said.
Throughout the year, students will also focus on projects that involve meeting with local business owners, putting together presentations and getting on-the-job experience.
While Megan works at IHOP, Cassidy works for her parents’ cleaning and vending businesses. Her mother Pam was on hand to judge several DECA events as well.
Judges include business owners from a variety of industries, said Brenda Schwind of Directions Credit Union, who wrapped up public relations interviews.
Many of the judges include former DECA students, such as Maumee graduate Christina McCain, who earned her marketing degree from University of Toledo before working as a distribution manager for Libbey Glass.
“DECA is good at teaching self esteem and confidence in speaking to people,” McCain said. “It helped me to feel prepared when speaking in front of people in class or going for a job interview.”
Springfield winners in the Fall Frenzy included:
• Megan Flowers, third place, female employability.
• Ernest Persely, fifth place, male public relations.