The Cassville Volunteer Fire Company No. 1, Fire District No. 2, of Jackson, recently held its 71st annual installation of officers and awards banquet.
The event was held at Jackson’s Miller Avenue fire station on Jan. 9. The installation ceremony returned John I. Alchevsky to his post as department chief for a third consecutive year.
“I truly appreciate the support that the crew of Cassville shows every time, all the time,” Alchevsky said. “We all have heard the phrase that a crew is only as good as its chief, but I look at it as a two-way street. The chief is also only as good as his crew.”
Alchevsky said there is no way he could do the job without the officers and firefighters of Station 56. He said anything the company has accomplished is a testament to the officers and firefighters.
“I am very proud to have been chosen to lead this fine group of volunteer firefighters,” he said.
The new officers assumed their posts on Jan. 1 for a one-year period. Also elected were Assistant Chief Adam R. Poppe, Capt. Andrew Kubinski, 1st Lt. Edward Danza and 2nd Lt. John P. Filardo.
Elected to the executive board were President Gregory T. Genovese, Secretary Anthony Jacobs and Sgt.-at-Arms Vincent Tracy.
Vice President Kenneth Persichetti and TreasurerAdam Poppe were re-elected to a second term of office.
Firefighters John Poppe Jr. and Charles Staffieri were appointed by Alchevsky to serve as the safety and assistant safety officers, respectively, and Jesse Langguth was reappointed to the position of chief engineer.
Firefighter Anthony Jacobs received the 2009 Firefighter of the Year Award, and firefighter Jean-Paul Bergeron received an award for being the 2009 Rookie of the Year.
Cassville Volunteer Fire Company No. 1 protects 65 square miles of southern and northwestern Jackson and is staffed by more than 30 active volunteer firefighters. For more information, visit the fire company’s Internet website at www.cassvillefire.org.