Dewey firefighters honored at annual banquet
By Brandi Makuski
Firefighters in Dewey were recently recognized for their service to the community.
Department members — past and present — and their spouses, along with town leaders and other supporters, gathered for the department’s annual recognition banquet on Jan. 20 at Bullheads Bar & Grill, 3368 Campsite Dr.
Dewey is a town of about 1,000 residents just north of Stevens Point. About 60 people attended the gathering.
Chief Brian Lepper presented a Challenge Coin to department members marking their respective years of service as of 2023, for meritorious actions, or for completing various professional development classes.
Lepper said the volunteer department responded 59 fire and EMS calls in 2023, including mutual aid calls to Stevens Point, Rosholt, Stockton, and Kronenwetter.
The department issued Challenge Coins to the following members:
- Dennis Meis for responding to 28 of those calls.
- Leroy Pukrop for responding to 27 calls.
- Tucker Bart for obtaining his Firefighter II State Certification
- LeRoy Pukrop and Dave Larson, for retrofitting a former Park Ridge Fire engine into one that services Dewey.
- Department member Malayna Polum, and her daughter, Autumn Polum, for their efforts installing a Smoke the Bear wildfire prevention sign at the corner of Sunset Dr. and County Hwy. X.
- David Briggs, a firefighter from a neighboring municipality, for his work as an instructor for the department.
Several were also recognized for completing an entry-level driver operator course: LeRoy Pukrop, Dennis Meis, Malayna Polum, Dave Larson, AJ Hawley, Rich Marsolek, Brett Burant, Ken Levandowski, and Andy Levandowski.
Years of Service awards
20 years
Andy Levandowski
5 years
Dave Larson, AJ Hawley
For more information on joining the Dewey Fire Department, call 715-344-2343 or contact the department on Facebook.
