After a two-year, pandemic-forced hiatus, about 60 workers and elected officials for the city of Perry gathered Wednesday at the Perry Police Department for the eighth annual Employee Safety and Appreciation Day.
The program began at 10:30 a.m., with opening remarks from Perry Mayor John Andorf, who thanked the gathered workers for their devotion and professionalism and noted the many good things he hears about Perry from people around the state.
The Safety Day segment featured Perry Police Chief Eric Vaughn and Assistant Chief Jim Archer with an informative presentation on the latest techniques for surviving an active shooter. They discussed the ALICE (Alert, Lock Down, Inform, Confront and Evacuate) protocol for responding to a mass shooting event.
Employee Appreciation Day ceremonies followed, with 56 city workers and elected or appointed officials honored for reaching service milestones in 2020, 2021 and 2022. Each received a certificate of appreciation for his or her tenure in service to the Perry public. Certificates were presented to:
- Robert Bennett, Fire Department, 40 years
- Kevin Kanealy, Parks and Recreation Department, 35 years
- Alan Kelleher, Public Works Department, 35 years
- Thomas Wolf, Fire Department, 30 years
- Brian Eiteman, Fire Department, 30 years
- Eric Vaughn, Police Department, 25 years
- Jean Dowd, Parks and Recreation Department, 25 years
- Jeff South, Public Works Department, 25 years
- Wayne Schuttler, Police Department, 25 years
- Bill Annear, Public Works Department, 25 years
- Jeff Hix, Water Department, 25 years
- Jim Archer, Police Department, 20 years
- Suzanne Kestel, Public Library, 20 years
- Jose Arceo, Public Works Department, 20 years
- Josh Wuebker, Public Works Department, 20 years
- Pam Ballard, Water Department, 20 years
- Jill Cook, Public Library, 15 years
- Ronny Defenbaugh, Fire Department, 15 years
- Clint Nelsen, Fire Department, 15 years
- Rodney Cromwell, Fire Department, 15 years
- Lori Riley, Police Department, 15 years
- Jimmy Kezar, Public Works Department, 15 years
- Josh Sparks, Police Department, 15 years
- Ana Jimenez, Police Department, 15 years
- C. C. Hellman, Parks and Recreation Department, 15 years
- Mike Landals, Public Works, 15 years
- Sven Peterson, City Hall, 10 years
- Mary Murphy, Public Library, 10 years
- Maritza Saldana, Water Department, 10 years
- Barb Wolling, City Council, 10 years
- Dr. Randall McCaulley, City Council, 10 years
- Andrew Smith, Fire Department, 10 years
- Jason Bane, Fire Department, 10 years
- Matt Holmes, Water Department, 10 years
- Kayla Rothmeyer, Public Library, 10 years
- Shaun Schulte, Public Works Department, 10 years
- Christopher James, Fire Department, 10 years
- Susan Brickner, Public Library, 5 years
- Colleen Weir, Public Works Department, 5 years
- Dean Berkland, City Council, 5 years
- Dave Barkley, Fire Department, 5 years
- Emily Onnen, Police Department, 5 years
- Caleb Wallace, Police Department, 5 years
- Blake Jans, Water Department, 5 years
- John Wuebker, Water Board, five years
- Michael Heinz, Fire Department, 5 years
- Joel Heinz, Fire Department, 5 years
- Ethan Whiney, Public Library, 5 years
- Norma Penado, Police Department, 5 years
- Marion Valero-Lehman, Fire Department, 5 years
- Benjamin Brown, Fire Department, 5 years
- Jay Rice, Fire Department, 5 years
- John Anderson, Parks and Recreation Department, 5 years
- Steve Heck, Water Department, 5 years
- Robert Dobek Sr., Cemetery Department, 5 seasons
- Mark Hemphill, Parks and Recreation Department, 5 seasons
Flu shots were available prior to the catered lunch. A raffle followed the meal, with lucky workers winning items sponsored by local businesses.
