When Nick Miller first joined the Hoodland Fire District as a volunteer in 2001, he was an “un-corralled, wild kid with a lot of energy and enthusiasm,” according to Fire Chief Mic Eby.

But Eby noted that over the years, Miller has focused that energy and enthusiasm in becoming one of the best volunteers in the district.

And on Saturday, Jan. 24, at The Resort at The Mountain, Miller’s hard work
and focus earned him the Firefighter of the Year award at the district’s annual
banquet.

“I joined the fire department to help serve the community I grew up in,” Miller
said after receiving the award. “It’s great to receive the award, but I basically
do it for the community.”

Eby noted one of Miller’s greatest contributions was invigorating the
responders in the Brightwood area. The district’s station there previously was
“dead,” Eby explained, but things turned around with Miller responding to
even late night calls.

“Now he’s an anchor point for main station for late night calls,” Eby added.
Miller is currently attending an Emergency Medical Technician class to become
a medic, which Eby described as “the first steps to advancing to a senior
firefighter.”

The district also honored two Rookies of the Year, one from each of the past
two recruit classes: Kevin Frank from the 2013 class and Susan Mikolasy from
the 2014 class. Mikolasy serves at the Government Camp station, and she
also attends meetings in the community as a district representative, cleaned
and organized the station and made a new sign for it. Frank serves at the
Brightwood station, where he arrives at 7 a.m. in the morning to clean rigs
and call in a report, while also typically being the first responder to arrive on a
scene and the last to leave.

“Both of them were kind of like the steadfast class leaders, doing a lot to
maintain and keep them together,” Eby said.

Linn Norgard, who has served the district for 30 years, earned the district’s
Officer of the Year award. Eby noted that thanks to his long history with the
district, Norgard has filled in for himself and the deputy chief at numerous
meetings.

“He’s been our clutch hitter, so to speak,” Eby said. “He knows the district, he
knows the people, he knows the department.”

The EMS of the Year award went to Melinda Revere, a member of the 2014
training company. Eby credited Revere with excellent diagnostic abilities and
bedside manner, and for being one of the most physically fit volunteers in the
district.

“It seems to me every time I work with her she’s getting better,” Eby said.

The Above and Beyond Community Recognition award went to the Hoodland
Fire Support Group, who prepare food for firefighters returning from a house
fire and other calls. The group also prepared the food for the standby
firefighters from other districts (including Sandy, Boring, Colton and Estacada)
who covered the district during the banquet.

“They’re there whenever we need them, day or night,” Eby said. “A lot of
times, we see them after a call, always there with smiles and food. They make
a hard night’s work worth it when you come in and there’s the nice smell of
food.”

“They deserve it,” he added. “They’ve been more than supportive; it’s all
encompassing.”

The district also awarded Years of Service awards to Karin Powell and Tony
Hadeed for three years, Battalion Chief Casey Buck for 25 years, Senior
Firefighter/Paramedic Scott Kline and Battalion Chief Pat McAbery for 30 years
each, and to Chief Eby for 35 years, while honoring Kim Weaver, who retired
after 19 years of service.

“We appreciate the time he’s given us and the support for the district,” Eby
said.