Malvern Honors Fire, Rescue Volunteers

Malvern firefighters (from left): Mike Keys, Duane Volz, Kyle Poort, James Volz, Mike Vandenberg, Blake Starnes, Larry Frink, Parker Lewis, Jeff Van Fossen, Lewis Van Fossen and Levi Anderson

Malvern Rescue honorees - front row (from left): Zennith Wilber, Linda Seipold, Back row: Lewis Van Fossen, Ryan Grant, Denise Bainter, Vicki Drews, Andrea Mills, Doug Shere and Jeff Van Fossen.
For the first time in three years, personnel from the Malvern Volunteer Fire Department and Malvern Rescue were publicly recognized for their commitment and service to the Malvern community and surrounding area.
An awards banquet for the two departments took place at the Malvern Community Building on March 26. It was the first such banquet since 2019 as COVID-19 restrictions forced the cancellation of the event in 2020 and 2021.
Fireman Of The Year Awards were presented to Kyle Poort (2019), James Volz (2020) and Blake Starnes (2021).
MVFD presented a 20-year service award to Mike Vandenberg and a 10-year service award to Jay Penry. Duane Volz, Larry Frink, James Volz, Kyle Poort and Blake Starnes were recognized as the department’s top five responders.
MVFD also recognized its current officers - Chief Larry Frink, Assistant Chief Duane Volz, Captain James Volz, First Assistant Captain Blake Starnes, Second Assistant Captain Jeff Van Fossen, Secretary Kyle Poort and Treasurer Mike Vandenberg.
EMT Of The Year Awards were presented by Malvern Rescue to Linn Baer (2019), Vicki Drews (2020), Linda Seipold (2020), Zennith Wilber (2020) and Paramedic Ethan Richter (2021).
Malvern Rescue service awards were presented to Linda Seipold (40 years), Zennith Wilber and Denise Bainter (20 years), Nurse Paramedic Andrea Mills and Vicki Drews (10 years) and Ryan Grant (5 years).
Malvern Rescue’s top five responders were Vicki Drews, Zennith Wilber, Linda Seipold, Jeff Van Fossen and Andrea Mills.
Malvern Rescue’s current officers are Chief Doug Shere, Assistant Chief Andrea Mills, Captain Jeff Van Fossen, First Assistant Captain Vicki Drews, Second Assistant Captain Ethan Richter and Secretary-Treasurer Zennith Wilber.
Kenneth Seipold presented information for the Mills County Protective Association and Ryan Grant gave the invocation prayer.
Guest speaker for the banquet was Allen Hall who honored Linda Seipold’s years of service. She was presented a Zach Jones painting by Malvern Rescue to thank her for her 40 years of serving the community as an EMT.
Kenneth Seipold presented information for the Mills County Protective Association and Ryan Grant gave the invocation prayer.