98.1 KHAK First Responder Friday Honors TJ and Hilary West

Every Friday morning at 6:30, 98.1 KHAK's Brain & Courtlin pay tribute to an Eastern Iowa first responder during our 'First Responder Friday' segment! The weekly honoree receives a $25 gift card to Wild Hogs Saloon and Eatery in Walford and a $25 gift card to Honor and Respect.

Today we're honoring TWO people: TJ and Hilary West! They were nominated by Brenda Leach, and the entry reads:

"The Alburnett Otter Creek Township Fire Department is fortunate to have another husband-and-wife team on our department! TJ is a double hero to us, as both a combat veteran and a first responder, embodying the true heart of a volunteer. He was most recently elected as our new Fire Chief when Chief Hoover (who was previously honored) chose to step down from a formal command position. TJ had been serving as our acting Assistant Chief for some time and graciously accepted the nomination and vote to become the new Chief. He brings leadership skills and a strong fire service background, and he's one of the four CPR/BLS instructors on the department, as well as an EMT!

His wife Hilary is a force in her own right. Hilary joined the department in 2016 and, for a time, shared her skills and time with another local volunteer department. She transitioned from the fire side to becoming one of the department’s EMTs some time ago. Like many other volunteers, Hilary works full-time, but when the call comes in, she’s always ready to respond. As a local woman, caring for her community comes naturally to her. Hilary brings a wealth of skills to the team, from business and marketing expertise to her personal interactions with our community.

This powerhouse couple does it all. Between managing their kids’ schedules, caring for their fur babies, juggling work, and fulfilling the duties and responsibilities of running an organization that serves a small rural community, they still manage to make it all work while keeping a smile on their faces. Here’s to many more years of service!!!"

Congratulations to TJ and Hilary! We thank you both for your dedication and service to our community over the years!

Our First Responder Friday winners are selected from nominations submitted by you! You can make a nomination below. When including your photo, please keep in mind that any kids in the picture need to be your own. Please let us know if we have parental permission to post the children, otherwise, their faces will be covered when the photo is published on our sites. Thank you for your submissions!