Effingham, IL-(Effingham Radio)- The Effingham County Board met on Monday for their regular meeting and recognized two officers with Lifesaving Awards.
From the Effingham County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page:
“At the July 21st Effingham County Board meeting two Effingham County Sheriff’s Deputies were recognized with life saving awards.
On May 22nd, Deputy Brandon Kuhl and Deputy Tyler Koester were dispatched to a call in rural Dieterich where a woman was bleeding from cuts to her forearm and neck. When Deputies arrived they immediately realized the woman’s injuries were life threatening. Deputy Kuhl quickly applied pressure to the woman’s neck wound to control the bleeding, as Deputy Koester worked on her forearm. During the ordeal the woman lost consciousness and both Deputies assisted EMTs carry the woman across a muddy field to an awaiting ambulance. Deputy Koester then rode to the hospital in the ambulance, at the request of the EMTs, as Deputy Kuhl stayed at the scene to interview witnesses and gather information for a report.
Both Officers were commended for working diligently to provide aid to the person who was in a medical, and emotional, crisis. Without their initial quick intervention, it is likely that a life would have been tragically lost.
The Effingham County Sheriff’s Office life saving awards don’t often get presented publicly, but when they do, I think it helps to show that officers do much more than patrol, and enforce laws. These two young officers are a good example of the professionalism and dedication we strive to represent, and they also show what is great about our community.”
The County Board also passed a resolution commending Kurt Schmidt for his five years with the health department as he retires, although Schmidt could not attend.
After the presentation of awards, the Board included all full-time County employees—except its own members—in the Employee Assistance Program, aimed at supporting staff wellbeing. A new loitering ordinance was approved to balance public access and concerns around camping on county grounds. Members also named new city police chief Kurt Davis to the 911 Board and accepted participation in nine opioid settlements, along with Purdue Pharma agreements.
Funding was issued to CEAD Council for opioid initiatives, and ARPA funds will go toward new benches, pet waste stations, and landscaping in the courthouse courtyard. A bridge bid was awarded in Union Township, subdivision plats were approved, and the audit passed. A partnership for TextMyGov was declined, while an Enterprise Zone annexation with Effingham moved forward. Salaries for incoming sheriff and public defender were also set, and Board members received passes to the Millroad Thresherman’s Show.
Updates included status changes for South Altamont Road and ongoing legal appeals concerning the Assault Weapons Ban, with State’s Attorney Aaron Jones stating he is joining the appeal of the Assault Weapons Ban to question its constitutionality.
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