Last week, several awards were presented by the Brown-Bishop Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 704. These awards recognized youth essay winners, as well as the Emergency Medical Technician of the Year, Law Enforcement Officer of the Year, Firefighter of the Year, and the Teacher of the Year.
The first award presented was Law Enforcement Officer of the Year, which was given to Detective Sergeant Tony Adamson.
“I’m honored,” Adamson said of his award.
Adamson currently works in the Domestic Violence Unit and has been a police officer for over 17 years.
In a press release from the Parsons Police Department announcing this award, Deputy Chief Dennis Dodd praised Adamson’s commitment and leadership within the department. “Detective Sergeant Adamson has demonstrated an exceptional level of dedication and professionalism throughout his career. His leadership in the development and continued growth of our Domestic Violence Unit has significantly improved how we support victims and investigate these complex cases,” Dodd said. “Tony’s work ethic, compassion for those he serves, and commitment to holding offenders accountable make him truly deserving of this recognition.”
Keith Keller was named
See VFW, Page 8.
Firefighter of the Year, but was not present during the ceremony.
The Teacher of the Year was won by Jessica Heit.
The Patriot Pen essay contest is for students in grades six through eight. Students draft a roughly 400-word essay, expressing their views based on a patriotic theme chosen by the VFW Commander-in-Chief. Local winners are: third place, Blakely G. Basore; second place, Kinsley R. Nutter; and first place, Michael Roberts.
The Voice of Democracy essay contest offers a scholarship opportunity to high school students across the nation. The theme for the 2025-’26 school year was: “How are you showing patriotism and support for our country?” The local winner was Samantha Jane Ellis.
Recently retired Rick Teal was named EMT of the year at the local level. Danielle Springall, of Post 56 and the Department of Emergency Services Program for the state-level VFW, announced he was also awarded the post, district, and state-level award for EMT of the Year.
“In recognition and sincere appreciation of his dedication and selfless service to the Labette Health Emergency Medical Services. During Captain Rick Teel’s outstanding career, he has maintained a record of highly professional, exemplary service to the community and our nation,” Springall said. “His extraordinary commitment clearly illustrates the proud core values and traditions of the EMT profession, further highlighted by the degree of admiration and respect of both his peers and the local public he serves.”
Springall said that in six years of helping to select the awardees at the state level, Teel has been the most deserving recipient.
Of his awards, Teel said he was hugely honored.
“With Rick, it was not just his career, but what he also did within the community, and being more than just his job. He brought his kindness into the community. It’s great to be able to have somebody like that to give the award to,” Springall said.
