The South Lake Chamber of Commerce held its 3rd Annual First Responders Breakfast at the Clermont Arts and Recreation Center. The event is dedicated to expressing the community’s heartfelt gratitude to the brave men and women who put their lives on the line every day to protect and serve. Held in the spirit of appreciation, the event recognized the tireless work and dedication of first responders across South Lake County.
As a gesture of thanks, medals were presented to these heroic individuals in recognition of their service and commitment to the community.
The 2024 Public Service Awards were the highlight of the breakfast, where first responders from various departments were honored for their outstanding contributions.
2024 Public Service Award Recipients:
- Lt. Mike Lyon & Taylor Atherton: Presented by Groveland Fire Chief Kevin Carroll.
- Ms. Jessica Carr: Honored by Lake County Fire Rescue’s David Kilbury.
- Battalion Chief Russ Stromberg: Awarded by Clermont Chief David Ezell.
- Master Deputy Bradley Link (In Memoriam): His wife, Mrs. Link, accepted the award on his behalf, presented by Major Todd English from the Lake County Sheriff’s Department. Deputy Link was tragically killed in the line of duty.
- Officer Zack Corman: Presented by Chief Rick Thomas of the Howey-in-the-Hills Police Department.
- Sergeant Andy Razo: Honored by Chief Chuck Broadway of the Clermont Police Department.
- Greg Reynolds: Presented by Chief Eric Pedersen of the Mascotte Police Department.
- Officer Oscar Palma: Honored by Groveland Police Chief Shawn Ramsey and Mayor Evelyn Wilson.
In addition to recognizing these exceptional individuals, the event featured presentations by key sponsors. Clinton Pownall of Computer Business Consultants, the main event sponsor, delivered an informative presentation on the importance of computer security. Tony Valente, representing the Frankie Valente Scholarship Fund, served as co-sponsor, with the South Lake Chamber of Commerce donating $1,000 to the scholarship fund, which provides financial support to first responders seeking further education.
The First Responders Breakfast was a heartfelt tribute, ensuring that these local heroes know how deeply appreciated they are by the South Lake community. Their unwavering dedication keeps the area safe, and their contributions will never go unnoticed.
