ROCKLAND – The night of February 1, of this year, is not a night that Craig Dennison and Donald Holbrook III of Warren will soon forget. It was the night an ATV they were riding on crashed through the ice on Crawford Pond in Union. Knox Regional Communications Center dispatchers, sheriff’s deputies, fire departments and civilians all worked together to rescue the men.

Knox County Sherriff Tim Carroll and Knox County Commissioners during their regular meeting on March 10, in chambers at the Knox County Courthouse, recognized those individuals.

Sherriff Carroll said he had 17 certificates of appreciation to hand out.

“Not everyone could make it today,” he said. “It’s recognizing the civilians who made the call and assisted at the scene. We want to also recognize the Union and Warren fire departments, the dispatchers who coordinated the rescue efforts, ambulance crews, and sheriff’s deputies.”

Those awarded certificates were Shawn Saindon, Amanda Beal, Jenny Brooks, Gerold Brooks, Greg Andrews, as well as Warren Fire Chief; Kevin Curry, EMT; Will Jackson, firefighter; Jim Murphy Jr., firefighter; Jason Earl, EMT; Vaughn Sanders, firefighter; and Zachary Greene, a dispatcher.

Those awarded certificates, but unable to attend were Jarin Brooks, Isabel Crane, Isadora Osgood, and firefighter Jodi Fields, as well as Tracie Webster, dispatcher; and Ryan Soule, firefighter.

Carroll said two deputies who were unable to attend will be recognized, as well.

“There are two members of the Knox County Sheriff’s Office,” he said. “Tim Davis is at a training event today and Sgt. Arthur Smith, who I think deserves a little extra recognition — he went into the water to save the second individual putting his life in as much danger as the first two in the water.”

Carroll said Smith will be recognized at the state level, as well.

“Today is a tribute to two lives being saved, those of Don Holbrook and Craig Dennison.”

In other business, commissioners appointed Robert Coombs to be the new Knox Regional Communications Center communications director. Coombs had been appointed interim communications director in September of 2019. Knox County Administrator Andrew Hart said that nine candidates had applied for the position.

Hart said it was the recommendation of the six-member oral board to hire Coombs.

“It was recommended by all of the oral board that we hire Bob as director,” he said “I know that in the interim Bob has done a great job of communicating both internally with the staff and externally with myself, the sheriff, and others, so it is my pleasure to recommend Bob to the commissioners.”

Commissioner Meriwether said she was particularly impressed by one fire chief ,who, she said, was hard to please.

“He was uncharacteristically enthusiastic —and this person is not enthusiastic about anything, as far as I can tell —and he was extremely enthusiastic about Bob’s concern about addressing some concerns.”

The commissioners voted 3-0 to appoint Robert Coombs the new communications director.