Helena honors first responders’ life-saving actions – Shelby County Reporter

By DANIEL LOCKE | Staff Writer

HELENA – Six first responders were honored for life-saving actions at a regularly scheduled meeting of the Helena City Council on Monday, Aug. 11, each receiving a letter of commendation.

The first responders recognized included Cpl. Trey Trapolino of the Helena Police Department as well as Capt. Jack Clark, firefighter Kurt Schroeter, firefighter and medic Trenton Johnson, firefighter Mathew Finney and firefighter and medic Brodie Jones of the Helena Fire Department.

Around 5 a.m. on Nov. 20 of last year, Trapolino was the first to respond to the scene of a Helena woman in cardiac arrest and took over CPR from her husband. Clark, Schroeter, Johnson, Finney and Jones arrived on the scene and efficiently performed their jobs. This effort saved the woman’s life.

“Everything has to come together and it has to come together right,” Fire Chief Chris Miller said. “It has to come together in a very timely fashion and these guys demonstrated that for us.

Also, the council made appointments to various boards, including Alex Miller to the planning and zoning committee.

Miller, a candidate for Place 5 on the Helena City Council, is enthusiastic about the opportunity he has to make a positive impact in his hometown and help positively shape the community’s future.

“As a lifelong Helena resident, it’s an honor to serve the community in this way,” Alex Miller said. “I look forward to joining the planning and zoning committee and making a lasting impact in this town. With extensive experience in development, I believe my knowledge will be valuable to benefit the controlled growth of Helena.”

The council also appointed Matt McDonald and Christina Florez to the farmer’s market board. City Council Member Hewy Woodman gave the board credit for the hard work it puts in to make its events happen.

“It rained half those markets, it was very hot,” Woodman said. “I couldn’t stay out there the whole time, but they did. An outstanding job by them.”

In other news, the council:

Appointed election officers for the Municipal Election on Tuesday, Aug. 26
Approved a resolution to submit a road and infrastructure plan to Rebuild Alabama
Held a first reading for an ordinance related to violation of orders as well as rules and regulations

The next regularly scheduled meeting of the Helena City Council will take place on Monday, Aug. 25 at Helena City Hall. The work session will begin at 5 p.m. and the council meeting will begin at 6 p.m.