BATH TOWNSHIP, Ohio (WLIO) - The Bath Township Fire Department held a special ceremony Thursday evening to swear in four new firefighters and …
A 25-year veteran at the Lima Fire Department now becomes the station's chief and is ready to take the helm. Lima Mayor Sharetta Smith gave the oath of office to Deputy Chief Jack McDermitt, surrounded by his family, for the position of the City of Lima's fire chief. He started his career as a firefighter in 1999 and moved up the ranks. He says becoming chief wasn't a goal he set for himself, but learning from other leaders and Chief Andy Heffner, he was inspired to move toward leadership positions within the department, and he hopes to continue to take the department forward.
The Lima Fire Department is building up its ranks as five new firefighters were sworn in. Mayor Sharetta Smith doing the honors as family and friends watch their loved ones take the oath to a career with the Lima Fire Department. Sworn in were Matthew Baker, Taryn Hutchinson, Levi Probst, Jacob Schwarzman, and Alex Walker. These firefighters are the first to finish a probationary year of service before being sworn in. Chief Andy Heffner says this is a new process he believes will benefit the department.
The city of Lima seeing its first new mayor in just over three decades and hundreds came out to see history being made. Mayor-Elect Sharetta Smith took her oath of office on Monday becoming Lima’s 59th mayor in the city of Lima’s 190 years history. And with that, she is also making history not once, but twice becoming the city’s first African American mayor and its first female holding the seat.