Winona Officer, Warsaw Residents Honored For Saving Woman's Life
Posted
Jennifer Peryam-jperyam@timesuniononline.com
WINONA LAKE - A Winona Lake police officer and two Warsaw residents were honored during Tuesday's Winona Lake Town Council meeting for saving a woman's life who nearly drowned.
A 21-year-old female Grace College student was hospitalized March 16 following a near drowning at Winona Lake Park.Winona Lake Police Officer Paul Heaton received a Life Saving Award, and Warsaw residents Andrew Beverly and Ramon DeLaCruz received Citizen Appreciation Awards. Winona Lake Town Marshal Paul Schmitt presented the awards to the men.
According to a police report, Heaton was dispatched to a possible drowning at Winona Lake Park March 16.
When he arrived, Warsaw residents Beverly and DeLaCruz were attempting CPR on a woman on the beach. Beverly had pulled the girl from the shore and assisted in initial CPR, and DeLaCruz called 911.
Heaton took over performing CPR on the woman and was able to revive her until EMS units arrived. The victim was taken to Kosciusko Community Hospital, then transported to Lutheran Hospital in Fort Wayne.
After the victim was rescued, the Kosciusko County Dive team, along with members of various police and fire departments, were on hand checking the waters to make sure no one else was in the lake.
Heaton said he was happy how the Warsaw residents worked together.
"I was a block away when the incident happened, and it was good how we all worked together and nice to be recognized," Heaton said.
"It was a privilege to save her life, and I believe it was God who saved her," Beverly said.
Beverly said he has been in contact with the woman's family recently, and said she is physically back to normal.
Beverly had taken a CPR course last year that he feels helped him save the woman's life.
"It was scary when it happened and was an eye opener and makes me appreciate things in life more," DeLaCruz said.
Also during the meeting, David Frush, 2505 Marjorie St., Winona Lake, expressed his concern with water running off of Roy Street into his yard.
He said the home was built in 2002 when the contractor said a culvert needed to be built under the home to connect the sewer.
Town Coordinator Craig Allebach said Public Works Director Pete O'Connell and Larry Long looked at the issue and will need to install a culvert to trap the water.
In other business, the council approved the town applying for three quotes for construction of a storm drain along Widaman Street from Roy Street to Western Avenue.
The council also approved a resolution for hiring town office personnel at $15.99 per hour. Kimberly Kotzenmoyer will replace Ellen Swain, who has served as the town's utility clerk for 14 years.
Carol Pfister Quella will replace Karen Shinledecker, who served as the clerk-treasurer's assistant for seven years.
Alan Alderfer, KCV Cycling Club president, thanked the town for their support in the Fat and Skinny Tire Festival May 3-4 in Winona Lake.
Upcoming events in the town include Sailboat Regatta on Winona Lake, Saturday and Sunday; Art Fair in the Village at Winona, June 7-8; Friday Shop Hop in the Village at Winona, June 13; Winona Lake Park activities begin June 16; Masterworks Festival is June 22-July 19; and the Warsaw Optimist Triathlon at Winona Lake Park is 8 a.m. June 28.
