First responders, donor recognized at Butler Township
BUTLER TWP — Township commissioners recognized several first responders Monday, June 19, for helping to save the life of a Chicora woman after she suffered cardiac arrest on New Year’s Eve at Target.
Scott Frederick, Butler Township’s director of emergency services, awarded members of the Butler Township Volunteer Fire District, VA Butler Fire and Emergency Services and Butler Ambulance Service with the American Heart Association’s Heartsaver Hero award for saving Victoria Williams’ life last year.
At the meeting of the Butler Township commissioners, Frederick commended the members of each department for their work.
“There would not have been a successful outcome, and Vicky Williams would not be here with us tonight,” Frederick said of their efforts.
Williams helped pass out the honors — and hugs — Monday to everyone who helped her through her health emergency. She said the meeting Monday was the first time she would consciously meet some of the people who saved her life.
“I’m a nurse myself; I work in health care. I understand the severity and implications of what I went through,” Williams said. “I have a little girl; I have a lot of life ahead of me, and I can’t tell you how thankful I am for all of you that I am still here for that.
“I think it’s amazing that they’re all getting recognized and loving the fact that I am finally getting to put faces to the names of my heroes.”
Also at Monday’s meeting, the commissioners thanked Mary Jane Kuffner Hirt for her donations of “multiple gifts” to Butler Township.
Township commissioner president Dave Zarnick said Hirt made the donations in the name of the late township resident Bruce Betty, who was a public works employee for several years.
Hirt donated a trail-side bench and several plants to Preston Park, as well as four art prints from Betty’s collection of wildlife art to the township.
“He loved being in Butler Township,” Hirt said. “He always talked about having worked here, and he talked about the contributions he made as a member of the various planning organizations and everything.”
Township commissioners also appointed Braylon May, a senior at Butler Senior High School, as the student representative to the board Monday. The student representative acts as a voice for the youth of the township and also organizes student initiatives throughout the municipality.
May said he is excited to learn more about the township.
“I look forward to working with the township, learning how it works, and helping around and being part of the machine of Butler Township,” May said.
May will assume the post Sept. 18, and be student representative through the end of the coming school year.
