It took a lot of courage for Barton County Sheriff’s Office deputy Kyle Reed to pull an accident victim from a flaming vehicle wreck last summer. That heroic action earned him the Barton County Employee Recognition Award from the County Commission Monday morning.
The county Employee Relations Committee recommends outstanding individuals for the honor which is generally given quarterly. Wendy Prosser from the Appraisers Office represented the committee in presenting the plaque along with the commissioners, Sheriff Greg Armstrong and Reed’s family.
Prosser read from the nomination form: “During the early morning hours on August 6, 2011, following a very dangerous high speed pursuit which several times placed officers in mortal danger, the pursuit concluded when the fleeing vehicle collided head-on with a loaded truck\tractor and trailer.
“Officers quickly approached the combined mass, which had started on fire. Deputy Reed activated his fire extinguisher as the cab was quickly filling with smoke and the fire was approaching. Deputy Reed’s actions enabled the officers to release the injured driver from his restraints and carried him from the burning mass to a place of safety.”
 The commission voted unanimously to bestow the award.
In an unrelated honor, Communications Director Doug Hubbard reported that two dispatchers from the Barton County Communications Office were recently recognized for their work on a call with a barricaded subject. They were commended for their diligence in obtaining pertinent information for officer safety.
In other business Monday morning, the commission voted 3-2 to renew its membership in the Kansas County Commissioners Association for 2012 at a cost of $607.50. Commissioners Don Cates, Kenny Schremmer and Jennifer Schartz voted for the membership and John Edmonds and Homer Kruckenberg voted nay.
The association is tied closely to the Kansas Association of Counties and is comprised of the commissioners serving 105 counties. It provides training and seeks to build alliances between members.