Page 24 2026 Hometown HEROES Magazine LINCOLN DAILY NEWS June/July 2026 Earnest shared the helmet he wore as chief and the custom sign he received as a gift from his daughter, Elizabeth. He shared the Larry Schroyer Award, presented to him by the Logan County ESDA for Lifetime Distinguished Service in Helping Others. Being on a volunteer fire department, you never know when a call will come in. This means sacrificing time with your family and sometimes putting yourself in harm’s way. Being in a small town makes it difficult to find volunteers. His wife, Jean, knew there was a need and was glad that Earnest could help. In small, close-knit communities like Emden, many of the firefighters are responding to calls for people they know. Jeckel stressed the importance of not getting upset and helping whoever needs it.
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