Thank You, First Responders

Not every kid takes the fire science and criminal justice classes at the Grundy Area Vocational Center knowing that they'll become a firefighter or police officer, but both programs have churned out new recruits at a high rate.

Officer Sarah Markusic hasn't been with the Morris Police Department all that long, but she's made a big impact in her time there.

The lines of the Morris Fire District weren't set until 1991, which meant the Morris Fire Department had a lot more ground to cover as a volunteer department in the time before it.

Officer John Martinez has only been at the Minooka Police Department for three years, and he's already been recognized as its 2023 Officer of the Year.

The Grundy County Children’s Advocacy Center now has a home at the We Care building, 530 Bedford Rd in Morris, and Executive Director Timberlie Jahn has come a long way from sitting in a desk at the Grundy County State’s Attorneys office, filling out grant applications.

When Bob Coleman started his firefighting career, Morris was a volunteer organization made up of 25 firefighters who all had day jobs. By the time he retired, it grew into a full time, fully-staffed fire department.

Vanessa Read was an emergency room nurse for 11 years – eight years at Morris Hospital – before transitioning into Morris Hospital’s nursing supervisor of emergency services in October 2023.

Grundy County community members sent in thank you messages to area first responders. Read their heartfelt notes here.

Justin Martin is the School Resource Officer for Morris Grade School and coaches baseball at the school as well as basketball at Morris Community High School.