CENTERVILLE – On Sept. 11, St. Mary Parish in Centerville’s Council No. 2144 Knights of Columbus and the Fourth Degree Knights from the James R. Baldridge Assembly No. 1925 honored first responders in the parish. A Blue Mass, which recognizes people engaged in public safety, was celebrated on the 10th anniversary of the terrorist attacks in New York City and the Washington, D.C., area.
Grand Knight Bob Pontious presented a certificate of appreciation to each individual honored. Father Dennis Schaab, pastor, prayed the Blue Mass blessing.
Those honored were:
• Fire Captain Mike Bogle, 23-year veteran of the Centerville Fire Department and recently retired after a 21-year career as a reserve police officer.
• Firefighter Tony Caraccio, 11-year veteran of the Centerville Fire Department.
• Trooper Bartt Carney, 11-year veteran of the Iowa State Patrol.
• Chief Tom Demry, 18-year law enforcement veteran, currently serving as Centerville’s chief of police.
• Deputy Wade Duley, 21-year veteran of the Appanoose County Sheriff’s Department and 25-year firefighter with Centerville Fire Department.
• Sergeant Mike Moore, 9-year veteran of the Centerville Police Department.
• Firefighter Ryan Moore, 15-year veteran of the Centerville Fire Department.
• EMT/firefighter Deborah Ollinger, 34-year veteran first responder currently serving as a member of the Moravia Fire Department.
• EMT/firefighter Frank Ollinger, also a 34-year first responder veteran serving with the Moravia Fire Department.
• Trooper and 1st Sergeant Kevin Stallo, 14-year veteran of the Iowa State Patrol and a 19-year veteran of the Missouri National Guard.
All of the male honorees are members of Centerville Knights of Columbus Council No. 2144.
Also honored but unable to attend was firefighter Tom Sheston, a 35-year veteran of the Centerville Fire Department.
