Wheeler Chamber of Commerce Hosts Dinner in Honor of First Responders

The Wheeler County Chamber of Commerce hosted a dinner celebrating the county’s first responders on Oct. 27 at the Little Ocmulgee State Park and Lodge.

“I know that we are safer in our community because of the people that are out there,” said Chamber President Suzanne Couey.

The chamber invited first responders from both the county and city level to attend the dinner. Invitations were extended to the Wheeler County Emergency Management, 911 Center, Alamo Volunteer Department, Alamo Police Department, Crossroads Fire Department, Georgia Forestry, Georgia State Patrol Post 16, Springhill Volunteer Fire Department, Stuckey Volunteer Fire Department, Wheeler County EMS and the Wheeler County Sheriff’s Office.

Catering was provided by the park’s Lodge kitchen, which included chicken, salads, deserts and refreshments. According to Little Ocmulgee Park Manager Sonny Taylor, the park is willing to “partner in any way” with the Wheeler Chamber and the county’s first responders.

Attendees could also participate in a trivia game, in which teams divided by tables had to answer 25 first responder-related questions, with the team with the most correct answers winning $25 in Lodge bar credit for each team member. The game was won by team “Responder Over Yonder,” which included Lt. Collin Stinson, NREMT Kandice Green-Coombs, Travaris Coombs, Lt. Austin Brown, Trinity Brown, David Bush and Glenn Taylor.

“They don’t have to put their lives on the line, and they do put their lives on the line,” said Couey.

Little Ocmulgee’s Katelyn Morris spoke to attendees about ongoing park projects, including the park’s new cabins, the remodeling of the shop next to the golf course and the expansion of the on-site restaurant. She also spoke about future projects, such as a potential modernization of some of the park’s historic buildings.

“People who live in this community don’t support the park like we want them to, and the park manager, Sonny Taylor, is really, really trying to do some good things out here,” said Couey.

Wheeler County Emergency Management Director Steve Adams also announced a meeting at the Springhill Fire Department on December 4 which will also be catered. The Wheeler County Chamber of Commerce will hold its next meeting at the Little Ocmulgee State Park on Nov. 11.