President Bill Smith of the executive department of the Polk Township Fire Company had plenty of thanks to hand out at the Jan. 31 appreciation banquet.

He said the building and grounds committee did an especially good job keeping everything good looking. The Fisher family quickly stepped in when one of the freezers quit.The bingo committee, breakfast crew and golf committee are busy with fundraisers. Bryan Beck works on the website.Special thanks went to the families who let the fire crew and fire police help the community. The Polk Township supervisors help with blacktop and snowplowing.Other executive officers are Candy Burger, vice president; Mary Beth Serfass, secretary; and Larry Weibley, treasurer.Members of the board of directors who were recognized were Rich Beck, Aaron Keller, Rusty Burger, Rick Sherer, Matt Schessler, Linda Kile and Bill Thompson.Billy Tippett, fire chief, said he was proud to stand there for 2015 and thank volunteers and dignitaries. He considered Smith's words about family worth repeating."I thank anyone who puts up with us when our pagers go off," he said. "You guys are just as important as we are."He especially acknowledged his wife, Rebecca. He said they got married the first year he was chief and the second year their son was born."She supported me in everything, and you're pretty as hell. You allowed me to follow my dreams and I love you for it."Last year was busy, with 189 calls answered in Polk and seven neighboring municipalities. Many were emergency management assists or motor vehicle crashes, but there were 18 structure fires in Polk. An airplane crash received special mention because of its rarity."If it's going to happen, it will happen in Polk," said Tippett.Members put in 1,700 training hours, which averages 51 hours per person.Everyone received new turnout gear to provide them with the newest in safety equipment. It gives everyone a second set of gear ready to go in case the primary set is wet.A PEMA grant provided money for three thermal cameras for search and rescue in wooded areas or in a burning building.Polk is building relationships with neighboring fire companies and puts attitudes aside."We continue working toward a new truck and renovating another," he said.The line officers are Billy Tippett, chief; Aaron Keller and Rich Beck, assistant chiefs; Matt Schessler and Rick Sherer, captains; Derrick Burger and Mary Beth Serfass, lieutenants; Tim Overpeck, Jim Schafer and Al Keller, engineers; and Bill Thompson, safety officer.Supervisor Nancy May of Polk Township swore in the fire police.Auxiliary President Edna Schoenberger gave Smith a check for $4,100, making a total of $20,000 earned by that busy group in 2014.Other officers are Shirley Haydt, vice president; Sue Shoemaker, secretary; Melody Schessler, treasurer; Vicky Serfass, corresponding secretary; Dotty Kreger, bookings; and Blanche Strausberger, ordering supplies.All members of the auxiliary received pins.Schoenberger gave recognition to Mitch Kreger for his willingness to help out wherever and whenever needed.Forty-five-year members of the company are Ed Arnold, Clarence Hawk and Mitch Kreger. Thirty-year members are Candy Burger and Bernie Shea.