DES MOINES, Iowa — Seven Iowans were honored on Wednesday for their heroic actions, including a teen who helped save a man whose Jeep crashed into an icy lake and a Spencer tennis coach who saved two boys who’d been swept away into a river.
Governor Kim Reynolds and Department of Public Safety Commissioner Stephan Bayens honored seven Iowans at the Sullivan Brothers’ Award of Valor and Governor’s Lifesaving Awards ceremony.
The Governor’s Lifesaving Award recognizes indivduals in four categories. Those who were honored include:
- Randy Hartley of Adel who received the Outstanding Service Award
- Tyler Borneman of Waterloo who received the Lifesaving Award
- Evan Scheck of Spirt Lake who received the Lifesaving with Valor Award
- Joseph Salmon of Spencer who received the Lifesaving with Valor Award
Two of the individuals on the list may sound familiar.
While coaching the Spencer High School girls tennis team on May 9 Evan Scheck and some players heard screaming nearby. Those at the scene discovered that two 12-year-old boys had been swept away while trying to cross a bike path that had been flooded by the Little Sioux River.
Scheck, without hesitation, entered the rushing waters to save the two boys. Scheck reached the first boy, who was in shock, and guided the boy to safety. Scheck went back into the water for the second boy, however the water was too deep and the current was too strong, so he stayed with the second boy until first responders arrived to save them from the river.
In February 2023 17-year-old Joseph Salmon was ice fishing on East Okoboji Lake with his mother when he witnessed a Jeep crash into the ice and slide into the lake. Salmon, also without hesitation, ran to the Jeep, took off the outer layer of his clothes, and entered the icy water.
Salmon shattered the back window of the Jeep and discovered that the male driver was trapped inside, his foot wedged between the center console and the seat. Salmon attempted to free the driver multiple times, going in and out of the vehicle, until he was able to remove the driver. Both the driver and his dog survived.
Also honored at the award ceremony were three officers with the Oelwein Police Department. Officer Gage Voshell, Officer William Ward, and Officer Codi Wurzer were presented with the Sullivan Brothers’ Award of Valor for running into an apartment fire and saving the lives of the residents inside.
To learn more about the awards and the stories of those honored for their heroic actions visit the Department of Public Safety’s website.
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