MEMBER NEWS

Members can view additional items on the "Member News Page" in the members-only section of this web site. These items, more personal in nature, have been removed from this page.

If anyone knows of other news items that they would like to see posted to this site, please email me.

• Congratulations to HOWARD MILES and DAVID COTTEN, both passed the instructor job knowledge test in April 2008.
• Welcome to TONY FULLER who is the latest to join our part-time staff as of April 2008.
• JIMMY MCCLURE earned his Hazardous Materials Awareness / Ops certification in March 2008.
• THOMAS LEERKES has been promoted to Interim Engineer starting in March 2008. JEFF JONES has also joined our full-time staff and MELISSA KOLTONSKI is the latest addition to our part-time staff. Welcome to both!
• At the annual awards ceremony which was held in March 2008, DONALD FULLER was recognized as Volunteer Firefighter of the Year, and ERIC SCOFIELD as Career Firefighter of the Year.
• JOHN HELLMANN received his Officer I certification in November 2007.
• Several of our members completed the intensive hands-on 80-hour structural collapse technician training in Raleigh in November 2007. ASHLEY ABT, RYAN ARNETT, PETE CIRASOLE, THOMAS LEERKES, and MARK PALMER attended.
• TOM VEASEY and REBECCA FISHER were hired as full-time Lieutenants in November 2007.
• Welcome to our two newest volunteer members, JIMMY MCCLURE and TODD VAN CULIN. Both were accepted as probationary members in October 2007.
• STEVEN STANEK received his EVD certificate in October 2007.
• Welcome back ROY MOORE who is rejoining our roster as part of the Rescue Division.
• MELISSA KOLTONSKI and CHARLES GRUBBS received their Hazmat Awareness / Ops certificates in September 2007. Also, CHRIS MCARDLE completed his Fire Instructor Level III.
• Members have been busy completing certifications this summer. CHAD EDMUNDS earned his Driver/Operator, JASON NESBIT completed his Aerial Operator, and STEVEN STANEK received his Firefighter I/II, all in August 2007. Chad also earned his Level II Inspector certification in August. Congratulations to all!
• Congratulations to ASHLEY ABT, RYAN ARNETT, TOM BERGERON, THOMAS LEERKES, and BRYAN SYKES who have all been offered full-time positions! They will be coming on board during August 2007.
• Welcome to JEFF JONES and RYAN HILLEN who are joining the part-time staff effective August 2007.
• JEFF MAYNARD has been promoted to Captain, BOB PASCUCCI to Lieutenant, and STEPHEN COXto Engineer effective July 2007. Congratulations to all!
• CHRIS MCARDLE earned his Fire Officer III certification.
• MELISSA KOLTONSKI completed the Medical Responder certification in June 2007.
• Welcome to our three new interns: THOMAS POOLE will be on A-shift, MATT HOINA on B-shift, and TONY FULLER on C-shift.

• The latest additions to our Rescue Division roster are JOE BURRIS and KEVIN WILLIAMS who joined in May 2007. Welcome to both!
• Congratulations to PHILLIP SUTTON who just graduated from college in May 2007! And welcome back to our volunteer ranks!
• PETE CIRASOLE earned his Rescue Technician certification in March 2007.
• STEPHEN COX completed the Driver/Operator and Rescue Technician certifications in February 2007.
• MIKE BEASLEY and IAN BASS completed the Dive Rescue II certification class in February 2007.
• The annual awards banquet was held in February 2007. Congratulations to the following award recipients:

  Volunteer Firefighter of the Year: Billy Gilbert
  Career Firefighter of the Year: David Dillon
  Medal of Honor: Josh Haraway, Howard Miles, Kevin Smith
  Life Saves: Jon Brann, Pete Cirasole, Scott Criddle, Chris Dawson, Dustin Grimes, Mark Mitro, Jason Nesbit

• KEVIN BUTTS and STEVEN COX earned their PADI and Dive Rescue 1 SCUBA certifications in February 2007.
• CHAD EDMUNDS completed his Rescue Technician certification in January 2007.
• CHRIS MCARDLE received his Officer II certification in January 2007.
• Congratulations to CHARLES GRUBBS who earned his Medical Responder certification in January 2007!
• CHRIS DAWSON received his Officer Level II certification, and CHAD EDMUNDS completed his Officer Level I in December 2006. Chad also got his Live Burn (acquired structure) instructor qualification.
• PETE CIRASOLE earned his EMT certification in December 2006.
• DAVID DILLON has joined the full-time staff effective 12/4/06.
• RYAN ARNETT, JOSH HARAWAY, RYAN HILLEN and JAMIE PHILLIPS graduated from the Durham Tech Fire Academy in November 2006. During this 16 weeks of training they earned their Firefighter I/II, Rescue Technician and Hazardous Materials Level I certifications.
• DAVE AUCHMOODY, HOWARD MILES, SCOTT PEARSON and PETE CIRASOLE all earned their Level II Instructor certification in November 2006.
• DAVID GODFREY has announced his retirement from the department effective October 2006, after serving as a volunteer for 22 years.
• SCOOTER CARTER, JEFF MAYNARD, STEVEN STANEK and ADAM STUART all earned their EMT-B certifications in October 2006.
• Welcome to our three newest volunteer members who will be joining the department in October 2006: ZACK ALEXANDER, CHARLIE GRUBBS, and MELISSA KOLTONSKI.
• The following members passed the NC Medical Responder certification exam in August 2006: MIKE BEASLEY, ALAN CAPPS, MARK COATS, CHRIS DAWSON, KARL HUEGERICH, ROY MOORE, JODY PAXTON, BOB WALL, SEAN WOODY.
• Welcome to the newest additions to our full-time staff, who started officially in August 2006: Lieutenants JOHN WHITE, CHRISTOPHER McARDLE and CHAD EDMUNDS and Firefighters ERIC SCOFIELD, DAVID COTTEN and DAVID AUCHMOODY.
• SHAUN SWEENEY earned his Instructor Methodology certification in August 2006, and also passed the Firefighter I/II job knowledge test.
• BILL BOND, JAMIE PHILLIPS and ALEX WOODRUM are the latest to join our volunteer ranks. They have been accepted as probationary members in August 2006. RYAN HILLEN, RYAN ARNETT and BRIAN SIMMONS have joined our intern program starting this summer as well.
• ADAM STUART, JEFF MAYNARD and HOWARD MILES have been promoted to Lieutenant effective July 2006!
• BOB PASCUCCI earned his Aerial Operations certification in June 2006!
• TRAVIS HANSEN has completed his probationary period as of June 2006. He also successfully completed the Cary Fire Department Recruit Academy.
• The department welcomes DAVID DILLON who will be starting in May 2006 as our new part-time Fire Inspector.
• PETE CIRASOLE earned his Driver/Operator certification in early 2006.
• Welcome to STEVEN STANEK who is the latest to join the volunteer ranks. Steven was accepted as a probationary member in March 2006.
• GRANT KLOEFKORN has completed his probationary period and has been granted full membership status in March 2006.
• KEVIN BUTTS earned his EMT certification in January 2006.
• MATT RUNYAN, FRED REWKOWSKI, SAM MULLIS, BROOKS HASTINGS and GRANT KLOEFKORN received their Hazmat Ops Plus certifications in January 2006.
• MARK PALMER earned his Fire Officer Level I certification in December 2005.
• SAM MULLIS and MATT RUNYAN have completed their probationary period and have been granted full membership status in December 2005.
• HOWARD MILES passed the Fire Officer Level I exam in December 2005.
• DAVE AUCHMOODY earned his Fire Officer Level I certification in November 2005.
• JASON NESBIT completed Driver/Operator in November 2005.
• PETE CIRASOLE, SEAN WOODY and IAN BASS completed the Dive Rescue I certification class in October.
• ISSACHAR MODERT earned his Driver/Operator certification. PETE CIRASOLE just completed his Aerial Operator certification.
• BROOKS HASTINGS and GRANT KLOEFKORN completed the Wake County Essentials of Firefighting academy (a.k.a. "rookie school") in September 2005.
• Welcome to ED MOORE, JAMES GARRIS and JOHN WHITE who joined the part-time roster in September 2005. Ed will be working on A-shift, while James and John are on the fill-in list.
• A bit belated, but better late than never - JON BRANN completed his ERT certification last year. (If anyone else has gotten certifications recently that I haven't posted on the site, please email me!)
• MATT RUNYAN is the latest to earn his EMT-B certification in August 2005.
• JON BRANN, MARK COATS and CHRIS DAWSON have been promoted to the rank of Captain in August 2005. Also to ROY MOORE, SEAN WOODY, JODY PAXTON and HOWARD MILES have been promoted to the rank of Engineer.
• KEVIN BUTTS, PETE CIRASOLE, STEPHEN COX, JEFF MAYNARD, BOB PASCUCCI, SCOTT PEARSON, KEVIN SMITH, ADAM STUART, and BOB WALL will be joining the full-time staff, and SCOTT HACKLER will be joining the part-time staff assisting with fire inspections. They will be starting on 8/29!
• Welcome to our newest volunteer members, BROOKS HASTINGS and GRANT KLOEFKORN who joined in August 2005.
• ERIC SCOFIELD completed his 12-month probationary period in May 2005, and has been granted full membership status!
• TOM BERGERON just re-earned his EMT-B certification in April 2005!
• HOWARD MILES was appointed to the executive committee for the Wake County Safe Kids Coalition in February 2005.
• STEPHEN COX completed his probationary period and has been granted full membership status in January 2005.
• ISSACHAR MODERT completed his Driver/Operator certification classes in December 2004.
• STEPHEN COX, ERIC SCOFIELD and LUKE PEDEN are our first-ever live-ins. Stephen and Eric live at Station 2 and will be on duty on C-shift; Luke lives at Station 3 and will be on duty on A-shift.
• ISSACHAR MODERT has been hired by the Raleigh Fire Department.
• FRED REWKOWSKI, MATT RUNYAN and ERIK STEUCK have been accepted to the department as probationary volunteer members effective 14 December 2004.
• BRAD MOORE completed his probationary period and has been granted full membership status as of November 2004.
• STEPHEN COX and ERIC SCOFIELD passed their EMT certification exam in November 2004.
• JEFF MAYNARD earned NC's Fire Officer Level I certification.
• ERIC SCOFIELD, STEPHEN COX and BRAD MOORE graduated from the Durham Tech Fire Academy in November 2004. They completed their Firefighter I/II and Hazmat certifications and got all the classroom hours to prepare for EMT.
• PETE CIRASOLE received his EVD certification in October 2004.
• REBECCA MARKIJOHN received her ERT certification in October 2004.
• SHAUN SWEENEY received his Firefighter I/II certification in October 2004.
• HOWARD MILES was presented with this month's Town of Apex Star Award for his outstanding performance.
• SEAN WOODY received his Emergency Rescue Technician certification in September 2004.
• REBECCA MARKIJOHN earned her Hazardous Materials Technician in August 2004.
• GAVIN HOUGH and SAM MULLIS successfully completed the Wake County Essentials of Firefighting Academy in September 2004.
• RICHARD FONTANILLA completed the last of his Firefighter I/II certification classes in September 2004.
• Welcome to DUSTIN GRIMES who has joined our part-time staff as of September 2004. Dustin will be serving on A-shift in one of the rotating 24-hour slots.
• Welcome to our newest volunteer members, SAM MULLIS and GAVIN HOUGH. Their official start date is 8/31. Sam is assigned to B-shift, and Gavin is on A-shift.
• RICHARD FONTANILLA completed his Hazardous Materials certification in August 2004. He also completed his probationary period and has been given full membership status.
• STEPHEN COX, RICHARD FONTANILLA and ERIC SCOFIELD earned their First Responder-Defib certification in July 2004.
• PHILLIP SUTTON and LUKE PEDEN completed their Hazmat certification in July 2004.
• PAUL WITMER, CHARLIE POWELL and JOHN DEAN have joined our part-time staff effective 1 July 2004.
• SCOOTER CARTER and HOWARD MILES both received their ERT certification in June 2004.
• The APEX SMOKEATERS Softball Team has been crowned this season's CHAMPIONS in the Town of Apex "C" League. They finished first place overall and won the tournament at the end of the season!
• PETE CIRASOLE is the latest addition to our part-time staff. He will be on A-shift effective 1 July 2004. Also effective 1 July, JEFF HARRISON, DWAYNE BLALOCK, DAVID COTTEN and TYSON TAYLOR will become "regular" part-time staffers.
• LUKE PEDEN, ERIC SCOFIELD, STEPHEN COX and TIM ROYAL successfully completed the Wake County Essentials of Firefighting academy in June 2004.
• Several members have recently completed USAR structural collapse technician training: MIKE BEASLEY and SCOOTER CARTER completed theirs in Charlotte, and IAN BASS, JON BRANN, MARK COATS, SHANNON DAVIS, CHAD EDMUNDS, CHIEF HARAWAY, ISSACHAR MODERT, ROY MOORE and ROBERT WALL did the training at Troutman.
• PETE CIRASOLE has completed all of his Firefighter I/II classes as of May 2004.
• CHRIS DAWSON and JODY PAXTON have completed the ERT as of May 2004.
• Effective May 2, ISSACHAR MODERT will officially join the ranks of the part-time staff. He will begin work on C-shift on May 6.
• ROBYN BETTS and PHILLIP SUTTON earned their EVD certification in April 2004. Robyn also completed her FF I/II and Hazmat certifications.
• A warm welcome to our newest volunteer members: LUKE PEDEN, ERIC SCOFIELD, DEVIN BELL, SHAWN FISCHER, and TIMOTHY ROYAL will be starting on May 3. Also, welcome back CHAD EDMUNDS.
• REBECCA MARKIJOHN completed Fire Inspector I in February 2004.
• RICHARD FONTANILLA, MATT HOPKINS, KRYSTLE MIRES, BRAD MOORE and ADAM WILCOX completed the Wake County Essentials of Firefighting academy in February 2004.
• KARL HUEGERICH earned his Fire Inspector Level II certification in January 2004.
• REBECCA MARKIJOHN successfully completed her Driver/Operator and Aerial Operator certification in December 2003.
• STEPHEN COX, MATTHEW HOPKINS, KRYSTLE MIRES, STEPHEN TOWNSEND and ADAM WILCOX have all been accepted to the department as probationary members effective January 5, 2004.
• JON BRANN, MARK COATS, JEFF MAYNARD, MARK MITRO, JASON NESBIT, ADAM STUART and BOB WALL earned their Level II Instructor certifications in December 2003.
• In December 2003, CHARLIE ORLOWSKI attained his Firefighter I/II certification.
• In December 2003, JODY PAXTON and MARK PALMER successfully completed their Aerial Operator certification.
• As of 11/25/03, PHILLIP SUTTON has completed his probationary period and has attained full membership status.
• CHRIS DAWSON has earned his Fire Officer I certification.
• HOWARD MILES has attained the rank of Senior Firefighter on the full-time staff.
• SCOOTER CARTER obtained his Fire Officer I certification.
• PETE CIRASOLE and PHILLIP SUTTON earned their First Responder Defib certifications in November 2003.
• ERIC FOSTER challenged the Wake County First Responder test and has received his First Responder-Defib certification.
• GEORGE MISER has received his Firefighter I/II certification.
• SCOTT PEARSON and ADAM SMITH have completed Firefighter I/II, First Responder and EVD certifications.
• SCOTT PEARSON has been hired onto the part-time staff and will be serving on B-Shift. Also, welcome to JASON NESBIT who has accepted a position as full-time firefighter on A-Shift!
• MIKE McDOUGALD retired in September 2003 after more than 26 years of dedicated service to the department.

• JEFF SILVER completed his Chemistry of Hazardous Materials class, and will be a state certified Hazardous Materials Technician.
• HOWARD MILES is now a Certified Child Passenger Safety Technician.
• JODY PAXTON, MARK COATS and CHRIS DAWSON completed the Hazardous Materials Technician training class in August 2003.
• JEFF SILVER completed his Aerial Operator certification in August 2003.
• Welcome to BRAD MOORE, BRANDON JONES and RICHARD FONTANILLA - they were accepted into the department as probationary volunteer members in August 2003.
• A (VERY) belated congratulations to ROY MOORE, SEAN WOODY and JODY PAXTON who have all attained the rank of Senior Firefighter.
• MARK MITRO completed his Driver/Operator certification in July 2003! He has also been promoted to First Class with Raleigh FD and was presented with a certificate of excellence as class valedictorian.
• JEFF SILVER completed his Driver/Operator certification in June 2003.
• BILLY GILBERT, ISSACHAR MODERT and REBECCA MARKIJOHN obtained their Emergency Medical Technician Basic certification in June 2003. REBECCA has also just obtained her Firefighter I/II certification.
• PHILLIP SUTTON's long-awaited 18th birthday has finally arrived, and as of 25 May 2003 he will leave the ranks of the Explorers and become a full-fledged senior member of the department. Welcome aboard, Phillip!
• IAN BASS received his First Responder-Defib certification in March.
• ROBYN BETTS, ISSACHAR MODERT, MICHAEL PENDERGRAFT, STEPHEN PENN, BRIAN SICO and SHAWN WILLIAMS completed their probationary period in March 2003.
• BOB GWYN announced his retirement from the department in March 2003 having served for 29 years.
• IAN BASS is the latest addition to the full-time staff. He will be working on B-shift at Station 3 starting Sunday, 3 March 2003.
• DAN CONNELL, SCOTT PEARSON, ADAM SMITH, EDDIE WOODALL and DAVE CERONE completed the Wake County Essentials Academy on 16 February 2003.
• Congratulations to JIMMY RAGAN who is retiring from the department after 32 years of dedicated service.
• The following awards were given out at our annual appreciation banquet that was held on 15 February 2003 at the Embassy Suites in Cary:
  • Firefighter of the Year: BILLY GILBERT
  • Employee of the Year: ALAN CAPPS and HOWARD MILES
  • Junior Firefighter of the Year: PHILLIP SUTTON
  • Most Calls Run (Volunteer): SUE-LYNN HINSON
  • Most Calls Run (Full-Time): HOWARD MILES
  • Most Training Hours (Volunteer): SHAUN SWEENEY
  • Most Training Hours (Full-Time): CHAD EDMUNDS
  • President's Award: BECI MARKIJOHN
  • Chief's Award: SUE-LYNN HINSON
• Welcome to our newest volunteer members DAN CONNELL, SCOTT PEARSON, ADAM SMITH, and EDDIE WOODALL who have been accepted into the department under probationary status as of January 2003!
• ROBYN BETTS, ISSACHAR MODERT, STEPHEN PENN, MIKE PENDERGRAFT and BRIAN SICO successfully completed the Wake County Essentials Academy in December 2002.
• The Apex Fire Department won the award for Best Overall Display at the 8th annual Wake County Public Safety Day sponsored by Durham Highway Fire Department on 21 September 2002. Thanks to BILLY GILBERT and JOSHUA HARAWAY for setting up a tableful of fire prevention material and showing off our new Brush 1.
• JOHN HELLMANN, BERT GOODMAN and STEPHEN PENN completed Emergency Vehicle Driver on 9/21.
• WAYNE BURTON, PETE CIRASOLE and SHAUN SWEENEY completed their probationary period and were granted full membership status at the 9 September business meeting!
• Welcome to ROBYN BETTS, DAVE CERONE, ISSACHAR MODERT, MIKE PENDERGRAFT, STEPHEN PENN, BRIAN SICO and SHAWN WILLIAMS who were accepted into the department as probationary members at the 9 September business meeting!
• BERT GOODMAN received his North Carolina Firefighter I/II and Hazmat Ops Plus certificates in August 2002!
• STEPHEN SCHMAUS, BECI MARKIJOHN, IAN BASS, GEORGE MISER, PETE CIRASOLE, BRIAN CRAWFORD, SHAUN SWEENEY, JOHN HELLMANN AND SCOTT CARLSON completed the Hazmat Ops Plus certification class on 27 August 2002.
• CSHAUN SWEENEY, PETE CIRASOLE and SCOTT CARLSON succesfully completed the Wake County Essentials Academy on 2 June 2002.
• MARK HARAWAY has been hired as Fire Chief beginning 10 June 2002.
• On 6 May 2002, BERT GOODMAN, JOHN HELLMANN, BECI MARKIJOHN, ROBERT SMAILES and IAN BASS completed their probationary periods and were granted full membership status.
• On 11 March 2002, PETE CIRASOLE and SHAUN SWEENEY were voted into the department as probationary members.
• Kudos to IAN BASS, PAUL JARVI, STEPHEN TOWNSEND and BECI MARKIJOHN for all their hard work getting through the February/March 2002 Wake County Essentials Academy.
• The following awards were given out at our annual appreciation banquet that was held on 3 March 2002 at the Embassy Suites in Cary:
  • Firefighter of the Year: JEFF MAYNARD
  • Employee of the Year: JON BRANN
  • Junior Firefighter of the Year: TRAVIS HANSEN
  • Most Calls Run (Volunteer): JEFF SILVER
  • Most Calls Run (Full-Time): JON BRANN
  • Most Training Hours (Volunteer): SUE-LYNN HINSON
  • Most Training Hours (Full-Time): MIKE BEASLEY
  • President's Award: STATION 2 PERSONNEL
• Congratulations to MARK COATS on his promotion to Engineer on B-shift, effective 22 February 2002!
• Congratulations to SHANE FIELDS who will be starting the academy with the Charlotte Fire Department shortly!
• On 4 February 2002, BILLY GILBERT was voted off probation and granted full membership status three months early, upon recommendation from the Fire Chief. Welcome back, Billy!
• Congratulations to KARL HUEGERICH for his promotion to the new Fire Marshal position in the Town of Apex Fire Department!
• STEPHEN SCHMAUS and BERT GOODMAN successfully completed the Wake County Rookie School on 2 December 2001.
• On 16 November 2001, HOWARD MILES accepted a full-time position with the Town of Apex Fire Department. The volunteer ranks are going to miss you, Howard!
• On 5 November 2001, BERT GOODMAN, BILLY GILBERT, JOHN HELLMANN, BECI MARKIJOHN, ROBERT SMAILES, IAN BASS and JOHN CLEVENGER were accepted to the department for probationary membership. Who says volunteerism is on the decline!
• On 9 September 2001, PHILLIP SUTTON completed the Wake County Rookie School.
• KEVIN RINK, ROY MOORE and SEAN WOODY all accepted full-time positions with the Town of Apex Fire Department and will be starting in August 2001.
• On 1 July 2001, STEPHEN SCHMAUS was accepted to the department for probationary membership. TRENT HALL and ERIC FOSTER completed their probationary period and were granted full membership status.
• On 2 April 2001, JOSEPH MILAZZO, JAMES WAKEFIELD, BRIAN CRAWFORD, HOWARD MILES, JORDAN GREGORY and MARK MITRO completed their probationary period and were granted full membership status. JESSIE GIL and ROGER NORMAND were accepted to the department for probationary membership.
• The following awards were given out at our annual appreciation banquet that was held on 11 February 2001 at the C. C. Jones Building in Apex:
  • Firefighter of the Year: BRIAN YATES
  • Employee of the Year: KIM MATTHEWS
  • Most Calls Run: JASON MILLS
  • Most Training Hours: ROY MOORE
  • President's Award: SUE-LYNN HINSON
• On 4 December 2000, ERIC FOSTER was accepted to the department for probationary membership.
• In December 2000, CHAD EDMUNDS graduated from the Raleigh Police Academy.
• On 2 October 2000, BRIAN CRAWFORD, JORDAN GREGORY, JOSEPH MILAZZO, HOWARD MILES, MARK MITRO and JAMES WAKEFIELD were accepted to the department for probationary membership.
• In June 2000, JEFF SILVER graduated from the ACCELERATED Raleigh Fire Department rookie academy.