Staff photos / J.T. Whitehouse Dawn Baker, east regional liaison for Auditor of State Keith Faber, left, presents a letter of commendation to, from left, Capt. Josh Grossman, Capt. Herb Fogle, Justin Hofstetter, Gio Melia and Pete Oberacker at Monday’s Cardinal Joint Fire District board meeting. The men were the first responders at a fatal state Route 11 crash Oct. 16 that killed Ohio State Highway Patrol trooper Nick Cayton from the Canfield post.

CANFIELD — The first half of Monday’s Cardinal Joint Fire District board meeting dealt with commendations and the hiring of a new firefighter/EMT.

The meeting opened with the floor being turned over to Dawn Baker, east regional liaison for Auditor of State Keith Faber. She presented a commendation to CJFD first responders who were on the scene for the fatal crash on state Route 11 on Oct. 16 in which Ohio State Highway Patrol trooper Nick Cayton was killed.

“This is a statewide recognition of their efforts,” she said.

The commendation was read, then presented to Capt. Josh Grossman, Capt. Herb Fogle, Justin Hofstetter, Gio Melia and Pete Oberacker, who responded to the crash. Along with the honors was a glass EMS award.

A second set of commendations went out to another group of CJFD first responders credited with saving a newborn on U.S. 224 on Nov. 16.

“We were heading to the hospital when Kayla’s water broke and the baby was coming,” said Preston Woods. “I knew I had to pull over and get help.”

He pulled off 224 at the Wells Fargo building in Canfield Township and dialed 911. First responders Ed Orr and Capt. Rob Tieche, along with Lt. Dave Hess and Michael Sofranko, responded. When they arrived, the baby was not breathing and the men revived him and got him to the hospital.

“They had saved my son (Ryker)’s life,” Preston said.

All the first responders received commendations and a special one went to Ryker.

The final segment of the recognitions was reserved for firefighter/EMT Leslie Hafler, who was sworn in as a member of the CJFD team. Hafler is in school working toward her paramedic certification.

During the business segment of the meeting, Hutchison reported May had 253 calls, of which 123 were ambulance transports. There also were three mutual aid calls and one received.

“We occasionally need mutual aid ourselves,” Hutchison said. “On Father’s Day, we had five calls in less than 30 minutes, and had to receive aid from Ellsworth.”

In other business, the board:

• Accepted the resignation of Daniel Early, who will be working full-time for Howland effective immediately.

• Approved a contract with Bound Tree for the maintenance of various equipment at a cost of $5,744.

• Approved $4,870 for the crack repair and sealing, and restriping of the blacktop at Station 2.

• Accepted the quote of $2,400 for a 2005 Dodge truck from Sebring Auto Repair and Towing.

• Declared two recliners purchased in 2017 as surplus with no value so the items could be scrapped.