By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
For three decades, Wood County has been honoring the heroes among us. The tradition will continue later this week as the Black Swamp Humanitarian Awards are again handed out.
On Friday, 22 Wood County residents will be recognized for performing heroic acts – in many cases to save someone they didn’t even know.
Dinner reservations for the awards evening can be made until Wednesday by emailing requests to Dean King at deankingbg13@gmail.com. Tickets are $18. The reception begins at 6 p.m, followed by dinner at 6:30 p.m., at Nazareth Hall, near Grand Rapids.
Following are the people to honored on Friday:
- Kellie Johnson, Julie Haynes, Michelle Welling, Kerry Hite, Teri Gregg and Shellie Garver for performing life-saving measures on a Perrysburg school worker who had a medical crisis while serving lunch.
- Bryant Switzer and Peyton Switzer, of Bowling Green, who saved a toddler from possible drowning while they were on vacation in Florida.
- Steve and Dawn Tyda who stopped a man from jumping off I-75 overpass in Bowling Green.
- Denica Motz, Sgt. Michael Bengela and Officer Ryan Sehlhorst for saving an apartment maintenance man who collapsed on the job in Bowling Green.
- Janet Smith of Perrysburg, who responded to her neighbor’s calls for help after her neighbor fell and broke her leg.
- Sgt. Brian Bonnough and Deputy Patrick Mormile who performed life-saving measures on a man in cardiac arrest near Weston.
- Tom Wilhelm, Anthony Soto, Larry Miller Jr., and Brian Bonecutter, who helped at the scene of an accident in the Milton Center area.
- Joe Mettler, who stayed with the victim of a car accident near Tontogany until help arrived.
- Darla Baker, who noticed a fire as she was driving near Luckey and notified the owners so they could escape.
Family or friends of those being honored may join in the awards ceremony by contacting Dean King.
The first Black Swamp Humanitarian Awards dinner, held in 1989, was organized by former Wood County Prosecuting Attorney Betty Montgomery, and the late David C. Miller. Since 1989, more than 400 awards have been presented to individuals in recognition of their heroic deeds. To be nominated for an award, the nominee either must be a Wood County resident at the time of the event or the event had to occur in Wood County.
The awards being presented range from Good Samaritan Awards, Life Risk Awards, Beyond the Call of Duty Awards, and Service to Others Awards.
