Styx River VFD firefighter awards presented at appreciation dinner

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STYX RIVER, Alabama — Styx River firefighters and their families gathered recently for the annual appreciation dinner and a way of thanking these dedicated volunteers for the first responder services they performed throughout the year.

Chief Courtney Dunbar welcomed the attendees and after dinner, presented the awards. Deputy Chief Hubert Dunbar and Dispatcher Alice Dunbar, both recent retirees from the department, were each honored with plaques for 40 years of service. Since the department was formed in 1980, and the couple were among the founding members, this is the first time 40-year service plaques were handed out.

Chief Courtney Dunbar, who became a junior firefighter at age 16, was awarded a plaque for 30 years’ service. Firefighter/medical  Brittany Holston earned an award for five years’ service. Sister-in-law, and firefighter, Megan Estes, received the award for Holston, an RN, who was on call that evening and could not attend.

The Firefighter of the Year Award went to Cole Dunbar. He won the Junior Firefighter of the Year Award in 2018 when he was only 17. And now at age 19, and a full-fledged firefighter, he has again demonstrated outstanding service to his department.

The Styx River community, north of Interstate 10, is located in a fast-developing part of the county. With the Baldwin Beach Express at their doorstep, there is a growing interest in people and businesses locating to the area.

Even though the toll road to I-65 proposal failed in the recent election, Styx River knows that someday it could become a reality and they must be ready for the influx of traffic and structures that follow.

Training continues with emphasis on response times to reach emergencies in all 95 square miles of the department’s fire district.