We regret to advise you that a medical helicopter crashed in
northern Illinois last night, killing all three people on board. The Federal
Aviation Administration reports the helicopter crashed Monday night while
traveling from Rockford, near the Wisconsin border, to a hospital about 60
miles south in Mendota to pick up a patient. The helicopter was registered to
Rockford Health System and no patients were on board when the helicopter
crashed around 2030 hours into a field in Rochelle, about midway
between the two cities. The FAA says the helicopter was destroyed and all three
people on board were killed. Rockford is about 80 miles northwest of Chicago.
According to Rockford Health System's Facebook page, the crew members were
Pilot Andy Olsen, Nurse Jim Dillow, R.N., and Flight Nurse Karen Hollis, R.N.
They are having a press conference at 1030 this morning to provide more
details. Our condolences to all affected. RIP.
SEASONS
GREETINGS-BUT KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR SEASONS
SADNESS:
While this is the "most wonderful time of the
year"-it is also a time where emotions can get ripped for some very
personal reasons. Sometimes we see it-sometimes we don't. Suicide is a mystery
in so many cases, leaving family and friends clueless about what happened, what
was missed, what could "we" have been done. Firefighters = courage,
resilience, self-sacrifice, confidence and the ability to handle the most
difficult situations*... but some may be less able to cope and may suffer from
depression, isolation and other behavioral problems. And as we have all seen,
some may choose suicide as the only solution.
In
North Dakota last week, a Battalion Fire Chief took his own life ...and his
friends wanted us to share some details with you.
Battalion Fire Chief Daniel L. Olson, 42, Bismarck, died
Dec. 1, 2012. Dan died after taking his own life. He was born in 1970. Dan
deeply cared for his career as a firefighter. Dan first became a volunteer
Firefighter in Berthold, later served as a professional at the Minot FD from
1996-99, and became a Firefighter with the Bismarck FD in 1999. Dan was
currently serving as Battalion Chief, a tremendous honor he had
just received in 2012. Dan was also a part of the North Dakota National
Guard. Dan proudly served his country with the North Dakota National
Guard 957 MRBC in Iraq from 2003 to 2004 and in Kosovo from 2009 to 2010. Dan
was currently Master Sergeant in the 164 Engineer HHC.
Dan will always be remembered for his courage during difficult times, and even
though he lost his battle with P.T.S.D. and took his own life, his family
and friends know he is at rest and peace.
He is survived by his wife of 21 years, Tanya; his daughters, Emilee, 16, and
Aimee, 13; his son, Kevin, 3; his mother, Adeline; his brothers, Aaron Olson
and Ron Olson; and an extended family,
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be shared with the Emilee, Aimee and
Kevin Olson Memorial Fund, Bremer Bank, 710 S. Washington St., Bismarck, N.D.
58504.
Friends may share condolences and memories with the family online at wwwbismarckfuneralhome.com.
RIP.
DID
YOU KNOW THIS? The myth that suicides spike during the
holidays is not factual. The months of November, December and January actually
have the lowest number of suicides per day, according to data from CDC.
++...but that is based upon the general population, not Firefighter specific.
So keep your eyes and ears open and take a sec to read the links below.
FINAL
WORD: Our condolences to the family and friends of Lavern
Rinehart who lost his battle with Alzheimer's December 9th 2012 in Cozad,
Nebraska. He was a Firefighter for 43 years and a Nebraska Deputy State Fire
Marshal in the pipeline division. RIP.
