Towner honored by Palatine emergency group

Chuck Towner received the first annual Berni Knepper Volunteer of the Year Memorial Award last week from the Palatine Emergency Management Agency. It was presented at the agency's annual Volunteer Holiday Dinner.

The award is in recognition of service and dedication to the village and its residents, and was established in honor of Berni Knepper, a dedicated volunteer who died recently after a long illness. Bernie's wife Sandy, their son and daughter-in-law and his sister were in attendance.

Towner, a Palatine volunteer since 1995 and an avid ham radio operator (W9KQJ), has been instrumental in the recent recruitment and training of more than 40 volunteers who have achieved their ham radio licenses. He is also a member of the RACES/ARES program of the Palatine Emergency Management Agency. RACES, pronounced RAY-sees, is an organization of amateur radio operators who volunteer to provide radio communications to impacted jurisdictions in times of emergency.

The Volunteer Holiday Dinner is sponsored by the RSVP (Retired and Senior Volunteer Program) of Arlington Heights and is hosted by the Village of Palatine Emergency Management Agency and Citizen Corps. Volunteers were entertained by The DeKalb Foot Stompers at Durty Nellie's.

Also honored was Tom Smith, Palatine Emergency Management coordinator, for his efforts in promoting volunteering in Palatine.

For more information about volunteer or support opportunities, visit palatine-ema.org or tune to 1660 on your AM radio dial.