Maryville Installs Firefighter During Caucus
By Charlie Feldman
Christopher Hartsoe was hired and sworn in as a full- time probationary firefighter/ paramedic at the Wednesday, May 27 Maryville village board caucus meeting.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the board met online on Zoom.
A time factor was involved because his predecessor Terry Hodapp had retired. Hodapp was a volunteer with the Maryville Fire Department before becom- ing a paid on-call re ghter in August 1994 and a full-time paramedic/ re ghter in Decem- ber 2000. He retired after 26 years of service.
Hartsoe was sworn in by his brother Jeff Hartsoe of the Fire and Police Board of Commissioners in the council chambers. Afterward, Mayor Craig Short
congratulated the new hire and welcomed him to the department. “It’s an honor and a privilege,” the mayor said. “I’ve known you for a few years. I know the type of character that you have. I’m really glad that
you’re here with us.”
“I appreciate the opportunity
to serve in the community where I started,” Christopher Hartsoe said.
A member of the Maryville Fire Department as a paid on-call re ghter since February 2014 and currently a lieutenant with the department, Hartsoe brings a lot of knowledge to the department and has in the past helped train its probationary firefighters.
The re department hopes to have a get-together for Hodapp once things open up after the COVID-19 pandemic is over. Fire Chief Kevin Flaugher posted the following statement on the department’s Facebook page:
“I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Firefighter/Paramedic Terry Hodapp on his retirement.
“He was passionate about his patients and those that he has helped over the years,” Flaugher wrote. “Thank you, Terry, for all of your years of service and commitment. Best wishes in what the future may bring you. You will be greatly missed.”
Flaugher’s health has improved. His doctor signed a re- lease for him to go back to work – administrative work only for a couple of hours a day
“He will start coming back to work and helping George [May] and I with building permits and other stuff,” Short said.
The board will meet again on Zoom for its next regular board meeting on Wednesday, June 3 at 6:30 p.m.
