To celebrate National Emergency Services Telecommunicator's Week the DeSoto County Sheriff's Office held an Awards dinner to honor the 9-1-1 dispatchers for their dedication and hard work. 

The event was held at the Turner Agri-Civic Center this past Saturday evening.  The ladies arrived in style in Horizon Coach's VIP Coach driven by it's owner, Mike Waller.  Upon their arrival, the ladies walked the red carpet leading into the dinner.  Once inside, dinner was served  by other hero's which included deputies from the DeSoto County Sheriff's Office, EMT's paramedics and Firefighters from both the Arcadia Fire Department and DeSoto County Public Safety Department.

The theme for the evening was "You Make a Difference" derived from the story of an old man who was walking along the beach early one morning where thousands of starfish had washed ashore and lay dying.  He noticed a young man who was picking up some of the starfish and throwing them back into the water.  The old man scoffed and said to the young man, "I don't know why you bother, you are not throwing enough back to make a difference."  The young man bent over and picked up another starfish and sent it sailing back into the ocean, "Made a difference to that one," he said.

In a world where so many bad things happen to people, these ladies make a difference each time they pick up a 9-1-1 call and send help to the person on the other end of that line. 

The following awards were presented:

• Making a Difference through Exemplary Service - presented to Regina Wilson by Lt. Tony Rinaldi with the DeSoto County Public Safety Department.
• Making a Difference through Overcoming Obstacles - presented to Ana McDonald by Deputy Ricky Muse of the DeSoto County Sheriff's Office.
• Making a Difference Through Compassion - Presented to Ashley Walker presented by Chief C. W. Blosser of the Arcadia Fire Department.
• Making a Difference Through Laughter - Presented to Megan Gaskins by Captain Martin McLure of the DeSoto County Sheriff's Office.
• Making a Difference Through Excellence - Presented to Lindsey McCall by Deputy Ricky Muse of the DeSoto County Sheriff's Office.
• Making a Difference Through Integrity - Presented to Latonja Powell by Lt. Keith Sowell of the DeSoto County Sheriff's Office.
• Making a Difference Through Team Work - Presented to Lynn Walker by Sheriff Vernon L. Keen of the DeSoto County Sheriff's Office.
• Making a Difference Through Dependability - Presented to Tracie Crites by Major Roland Wilson of the DeSoto County Sheriff's Office.
• Making a Difference Through Enthusiasm - Presented to Dora Bolanos by Major Roland Wilson of the DeSoto County Sheriff's Office.
• Making a Difference Through Going the Extra Mile - Presented to Tanya Whidden by Chief Glenn Prescott of the DeSoto County Public Safety Department.
• Making a Difference Through Perseverance - Presented to Cathy Selkowitz by Deputy Sheriff Darrell Massey of the DeSoto County Sheriff's Office.
• Making a Difference Through Commitment - Presented to Shirley Morales by Lt. Tony Rinaldi.
• Making a Difference Through Kindness - Presented to Carol Ann Shepherd by Sheriff Vernon L. Keen of the DeSoto County Sheriff's Office.
• Making a Difference Through Rising to the Challenge - Presented to Keri Jo Brown by Lt. Keith Sowell of the DeSoto County Sheriff's Office.

   

  Ballots were distributed to the employees of the DeSoto County Sheriff's Office, the Arcadia Police Department, the Arcadia Fire Department and the DeSoto County Public Safety Department and asked that they vote for the dispatcher who they felt most deserved to be our Dispatcher of the Year.  It was with great pride that Sheriff Vernon Keen presented Mrs. Anna McDonald with that award. 

   

  Special guests in attendance were Tom Hartman and Joey Kirkland along with their wives and children.  These gentlemen along with Tony Stockton and Matt Fowler, all from Hardee County, wrote and recorded a song for the dispatchers of DeSoto County.  The song, entitled "Lifeline", was played for the first time at the dinner as a surprise to the dispatchers.  Lower quality excerpts of the song are playing on this page.
  For a CD of the song in its entirety contact Tom Hartman @ tom@onefamilyonefocus.com
  or call First Christian Church of Wauchula @ 863-773-9243

Last year's tribute is also listed below (2005)