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January/February 1997 Edition
Wheeling Fire Department Celebrates 100 Years of Community Service 1896- 1996
Incorporated in 1894, citizens of the Village of Wheeling soon began plan-ning to provide basic service for its residents.
Among the priorities was the establishment of a fire code and fire protection services. This need was based, in large part, on the fact that buildings and sidewalks were made of wood. Kerosene lamps and discarded coal ash added to these concerns. In 1896, the Wheeling Fire Department was formally established.
As was tradition at that time, the Fire Department was staffed by volunteers, with Christ Uetz serving as the first Fire Chief. The first fire truck was purchased in 1904 and is on display at the Wheeling Historical Museum.
The Fire Department remained volunteer until 1960, when the Village of Wheeling began to pay each man $ 1 per call. In 1969, Bernhardt Koeppen was hired as the first fulltime Fire Chief.
The ensuing years brought great innovations. In 1970, Wheeling became the first fire department to purchase lime green fire equipment. This change pro-vided higher visibility and safety for our personnel. Other departments soon followed.
In 1973, the Wheeling Fire Department joined several neighboring communities with a pilot program to cross train all Refighting personnel as emergency medical technicians and paramedics.
The Fire Department today operates out of two stations which house sixteen vehicles and 48 personnel who respond to approximately 3,500 calls annually. The Department has evolved into a multi-service organization which provides fire suppression, prevention, and investigation services.
As we reflect on the past 100 years of fire service in our community, we pause to express our appreciation for the selfless dedication and professionalism which has been exhibited by everyone who has served so well:
| Christ Uetz | 1896-1898 |
| Henry Lips | 1899-1904 |
| John Behm | 1905-1906 |
| Charles Johnson | 1906-1907 |
| Henry Hipp | 1908-1918 |
| Albert Utpadel | 1919-1921 |
| Frank Forke | 1922-1923 |
| Otto Utpadel | 1924-1925 |
| Albert Utpadel | 1926-1928 |
| Carl Moeller | 1929-1931 |
| Walter Pieper | 1932-1933 |
| Carl Moeller | 1934-1945 |
| Earl Johnson | 1946-1947 |
| Edward Gieske | 1947-1954 |
| Bernhardt Koeppen | 1955-1989 |
| Keith MacIsaac | 1990-Present |
Appearance Commission Presents Awards
At the December 2, 1996 Village Board Meeting, President Sheila H. Schultz announced the winners of the annual Appearance Commission awards. Members of the Appearance Commis-sion assisted President Schultz in pre-senting each winner with a plaque in appreciation of their efforts. The Com-mission added the category of Single-family Residential to its awards program just last year.
Multi-Family Category
Brookvale
Industrial Category
Genender International, Inc.
Commercial Category
Don Roth's Restaurant
Single-family Category Winners:
The Sprague Family
176 Sunrise Drive
The Sachs Family
240 3rd Street
The Thompson Family
1067 Kingsport Drive
The Michalik Family
921 Pebble Drive
Congratulations to an the winners!
The Village of Wheeling is pleased to announce that it will now be accepting the NOVUS brand credit cards for pay-ments due to the village. You may use your Discover or Bravo card to pay water bills, parking tickets, building permits, etc. at Village Hall.
In addition to the payment due there will be a fee assessed, ranging from $3 to $25. For more information, please call the Finance Department at 459-2600.
Firefighters Receive Advanced Certification in Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting
Lieutenant/Paramedic Richard Wydra, Firefighter/Paramedic . Patrick Trunda, and Firefighter/ Paramedic Thomas Piemonte have successfully passed written examinations conducted by the American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to obtain national certification in aircraft rescue and firefighting.
Lieutenant/Paramedic Richard Wydra is a 20-year veteran of the department and serves as the department's liaison to Palwaukee Municipal Airport. He is also a private pilot with more than 28 years of experience and serves as an associate instructor in the department's aircraft rescue and Refighting program. In 1994, he was named "Emergency Responder of the Year" by the (AAAE) for his work on emergency preparedness for Palwaukee Municipal Airport.
Firefighter/Paramedic Patrick Trunda is a 16-year veteran of the department and is the lead instructor in the department's aircraft rescue and firefighting program. Prior to joining the department in 1980, he was a Federal firefighter assigned to Glenview Naval Air Station. He is also currently certified by the State of Illinois as an "Airport Firefighter" and serves as team leader in charge of the department's specialized rescue team.
Firefighter/Paramedic Thomas Piemonte is a 3-year veteran of the department and serves as an associate instructor in the department's aircraft rescue and Refighting program. He is also a private pilot with more than 5 years experience.
"Protect Your Pipes," Urges the Water Division of Wheeling Public Works
Once again, the winter season has arrived and with the onset of winter's chill, residents are cautioned to take precautions to ensure the continuous supply of potable water. Frost is now beginning to form in the ground, and with it the possibility increases that water service lines may freeze.
Scott Lark of the Water Division of Wheeling's Public Works states, "We urge residents to let their faucets drip in an effort to prevent service lines from freezing. Additionally, residents should note that although the temperature outside may begin to warm, the soil will remain frozen for quite some time. Leaving water to drip well into the onset of favorable weather conditions will help to avoid any possible inconvenience."
For information, contact the Public Works Department between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Should an emergency arise after hours, please call the Wheeling Police non-emergency number, 459-2632, to request assistance from Public Works' on-call personnel.
Are You Walking on Thin Ice?
Fire Department Offers Advice
The Wheeling Fire Department cautions all residents to beware of the ice that forms on our many lakes and retention ponds. There are over 25 lakes and retention ponds throughout the village, and all of them form ice during the winter months. There is no safe way to determine if ice on these lakes is safe to walk on. Ice can form with varying degrees of thickness. In other words, it can be thick enough to walk on in one area and quickly change to dangerously thin ice in another area.
There are many different types of ice. The type of ice formed depends on several factors, including temperature, snow, and wind. In addition to temperature, ice formation is determined by the size and depth of the body of water. Shallow water at the shoreline will freeze first, while the deeper water is covered with extremely dangerous, thin ice.
In addition, ice is eroded by water on the surface. Water on the surface of ice is always a danger sign. Snow can also adversely affect ice conditions. Snow can add weight to ice and greatly reduce its carrying capacity. The only absolute in ice safety is TO STAY OFF THE ICE.
When a victim falls through ice into cold water, hypothermia sets in very quickly. Hypothermia occurs when exposure to cold air or water lowers the core body temperature to dangerous levels and can render the victim unconscious within minutes.
If you observe someone fall through the ice, immediately summon help by calling the Fire Department's Emergency 911 number. The Wheeling Fire Department is highly trained in ice and water rescue techniques. All personnel are trained annually in ice rescue techniques utilizing special quick-entry cold water rescue suits. The Department has a nine-member Dive/Rescue Team that is extensively trained on a monthly basis in the latest in water rescue and underwater rescue and recovery techniques. REMEMBER, THERE IS NO SAFE WAY TO DETERMINE THE THICKNESS OF ICE.
Fire Department Promotions Made
On Monday, November 18, 1996, five members of the Wheeling Fire Department were promoted as a culmination of a reorganization and an expansion of resources within the Wheeling Fire Department.
Promoted to the rank of "Battalion Chief" (shift commander) were:
Promoted to the rank of "Lieutenant/ Paramedic" (company officer) were:
With this reorganization, the Wheeling Fire Department is now staffed with 48 individuals, 42 of which are split between three shifts. Each shift is staffed with 14 emergency response personnel operating out of the Village's two fire stations. Annually, the department responds to approximately 3,500 emergency calls, including both emergency medical and fire-related incidents.
1997 Citizens' Police Academy Participants Sought
The Wheeling Police Department is once again seeking 24 enthusiastic people to participate in 1997's first Citizens' Police Academy. Participants will be provided with an "inside view" of municipal policing. Ideal candidates for the CPA are members of the community who are ready to learn, question, and provide dialogue on the topics presented by police instructors.
The classes will be held from 7:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. in the Village Hall Council Chambers, and will meet one night per week for ten weeks. The date of the first class has not yet been determined, but will be announced at a later time.
If you are interested in becoming a Citizens' Police Academy member, applications are available at the Wheeling Police Department. For more information contact Sergeant John Teevans at 459-2693.
Thanks!
The Wheeling Board of Health would like to thank everyone who participated in the Wheeling Community Blood Drive on November 13, 1996. The drive was successful in collecting 30 units of blood for LifeSource, the Blood Center. Additionally, the Board of Health would like to thank Hackney's in Wheeling, Don Roth's, Wa-Pa-Ghetti's Pizza and Northwest Community Healthcare for their support of this event.
We hope that those who came out to the blood drive will be regular donors at all the Wheeling Community Blood Drives.
PAVILION SENIOR CENTER
199 N. FIRST STREET · 459-2670
PROGRAMS & SERVICES
Wheeling Residents $8.00
Non-Residents $10.00
The Pavilion Senior Center offers a wide variety of services for area residents age 55+, as well as social, recreational and educational programs.
On-going programs include: Crafts; Current Events; Educational Forums; Book Reviews; Library Lending; Chorus; Dances; Pot Luck Dinners; Bridge; Pinochle; Aerobic and Stretch Exercise; Yoga; plus Special Events and Trips.
SPECIAL EVENTS
55 ALIVE - A 2-part course by AARP Wed. 1/8 and 1/15, 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. Successful completion will make you eligible for a rate reduction on your car insurance. You must attend both sessions to receive certification. Registration is limited, call 459-2670. Send check - $8 payable to AARP - to Pavilion.
RULES OF THE ROAD - A Secretary of State's class to review for the written license exam. FREE but call to register -Thursday 1/23, 10 a.m. to Noon.
TELEPHONE REASSURANCE - Would you like someone to call you every day (Mon. through Fri.) and see how you are doing? If we do not make contact, we will follow up and make sure everything is all right. For more info or to request this service, please call Pavilion at 459-2670.
ENTERTAINMENT BOOKS are on sale at Pavilion 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Mon. - Fri. for $35.00. Get them while they last!
MEN'S CLUB BREAKFAST - Fri. 1/10 and 2/ 14, 9 a.m. $2.00. Join us for breakfast at 9 a.m. and a program at 9:30 a.m., 1/10 "Lower Back Pain" Dr. Tom Pappas, 2/14 "Save Your Estate!" by Jim Cecil.
POTLUCK LUNCHES & PROGRAMS -Thurs. 1/2 and 2/6 Noon. Please call and let us know what you will bring. Program 2/6 -Book Review 1 p.m.
"I'VE GOT TO GET ORGANIZED" Program by Indian Trails Library at Pavilion, Tues. 1/14, 7 p.m. Please call to register.
DO YOU PLAY A MUSICAL INSTRUMENT? - Join us for a meeting Fri., 1/17,10 a.m. at Pavilion.
BREAST HEALTH PROGRAM - Wed. 1/29 1 p.m. at Pavilion, sponsored by Highland Park Hospital.
LUNCH BUNCH - The Barn in Barrington -Wed. 11 a.m., 2/26, Code 5711-0, R $18, NR $20. Register at Wheeling Park District or at Pavilion Senior Center.
CARING HEARTS - Friendly Visitors - The mission of "Caring Hearts" is to visit the homebound Village of Wheeling elders to make them feel cared about and safer in their own homes. Volunteers will go out in teams of two to visit our homebound friends who may be recovering from illness or who may just need some friends to talk to. The Caring Hearts will reach out to all Pavilion Members and Village of Wheeling residents ages 55+. If you would like more information, to be visited, or be a visitor, please call Nancy Janssen at 459-2670.
| (847) 459-2600 | TDD (847) 459-2615 |
|---|---|
| FIRE/POLICE/PARAMEDICS | 911 |
| Non-Emergency Fire | 459-2662 |
| Non-Emergency Police | 459-2632 |
| Public Works Department | 459-2624 |
| Water Billing | 459-2607 |
| Community Development Department | 459-2620 |
| Pavilion Senior Center | 459-2670 |
| Village President, Sheila H. Schultz | 459-4614 |
| Village Clerk, Janet M. D'Argo | 459-2609 |
| Trustees | |
| Judy Abruscato | 541-8783 |
| Elizabeth L. Hartman | 537-2644 |
| Robert Heer | 541-4274 |
| Patrick Horcher | 419-1956 |
| Jeanne Selander | 459-9186 |
| Wayne J. Wisinski | 394-3432 |
| Village Manager | |
| Craig G. Anderson | 459-2617 |
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