Voting Meeting: WSFD Firefighters Honored For Saving Baby's Life

Four Western Springs Fire Department firefighters were honored for lifesaving heroism in the July resuscitation of an infant boy at the Board of Trustees voting meeting on Monday night.

The foursome—firefighters and paramedics Tim Conley, Ken Heinzelman and Stephanie Grimm, and firefighter Reese Effeny—were preparing to respond to an ambulance call on the morning of Saturday, July 23 for an infant not breathing when resident Jim Kienzle rushed into the Department carrying the infant, his ten-month-old son Charlie.

Quickly realizing it was the same call (and not a dreaded simultaneous crisis scenario,) the four successfully managed to resuscitate Charlie and transport him to La Grange Memorial Hospital, where he was happily playing with his parents by the time firefighters left. He would be released, alive and well, after a few days.

“It’s a great outcome, and that’s why we do this,” said Fire Chief Tony Bednarz as he issued the four firefighters lifesaving commendations and ribbons, in one of his final acts before his coming Dec. 31 retirement. “Your actions came as credit to the Village, and to you and your professionalism, training and dedication.”

Charlie, now a vibrant thirteen-month-old towheaded walking toddler, playfully adventured around the officials’ and firefighters’ legs as they received their awards before being picked up by his parents Jim and Julie Kienzle to help present the ribbons and for photographs.

“This is a happy occasion for the Village,” Village President Bill Rodeghier told the four firefighters. “You’ve brought honor to yourself, you’ve brought honor to your department and you’ve brought honor to the Village of Western Springs. On the behalf of the people, thank you.”

Many of the firefighters’ family, friends and colleagues (including members of the Western Springs Police Department) were in attendance. The rescuers’ lifesaving certificates will go in their official files.

2012 budget

The bulk of the rest of the voting meeting was devoted to the bevy of ordinances constituting the Village’s operating budget for the 2012 fiscal year. While the omnibus containing the ordinances was passed, the budget is still waiting for an adoption schedule.

The Village’s total expenditures for 2012 are $28,322,366; of which $17,769,356 is from operations and transfers and $10,553,010 from capital expenses.

Western Springs is currently undertaking the most expensive project in Village history: the $8.3 million transition of the Village water plant into a reverse-osmosis filtration system.

Correction: This story and photo captions have been updated to include the correct spelling of the names of Jim, Julie and Charlie Kienzle.