"Wolt" Retiring After 50 Years Service to Fire Department

(FROM LEFT, ASSISTANT FIRE CHIEF MATT KULESZA, FIRE CHIEF BOB TUTKO, SECOND ASSISTANT CHIEF JIM WOLTERS AND MAYOR JEFF BLOEMKER AS THE MAYOR READS A PLAQUE FROM THE ILLINOIS STATE FIRE MARSHAL'S OFFICE RECOGNIZING "WOLT" FOR 50 YEARS' SERVICE TO THE FIRE DEPARTMENT)

Jim Wolters has decided to hang it up after 50 years' service to the Effingham Fire Department.

"Wolt" has been most recently serving as Second Assistant Chief of the Effingham department. During a ceremony at City Hall Tuesday night, dozens of current and retired Effingham firefighters gathered to honor Wolters. A special honor was the presentation by Fire Chief Bob Tutko of a plaque read by Mayor Jeff Bloemker honoring Wolters from the Illinois State Fire Marshal's Office. 

A private reception for "Wolt" is in the works.

(FIRE CHIEF BOB TUTKO, FIREFIGHTER TASHA VERDEYEN, AND ASSISTANT FIRE CHIEF MATT KULESZA)

The City Council also recognized two firefighters for service milestones; Tasha Verdeyen for 10 years' service, Blake Poe for five years' service.

(FIRE CHIEF BOB TUTKO, FIREFIGHTER BLAKE POE, AND ASSISTANT FIRE CHIEF MATT KULESZA)