Congratulations are in order for two recent promotions of Local 2625 members.  Dale Kyrouac has been promoted to Captain, and Local 2625 President Eric Schrage has been promoted to Lieutenant.

Brother Kyrouac will serve as the Captain of D-Shift, while President Schrage has been assigned as Lieutenant of Firehouse #1 on B-Shift.

Local 2625 is anticipating several new additions in the near future.  After recent retirements and a resignation dating back to November 2009, an Assistant Chief position and four firefighter/paramedic positions are currently vacant.

Collinsville Fire Department Captain Rick Welle has been officially named the new chief of the Edwardsville Fire Department.  Welle has been serving as the acting fire chief there since April, after the resignation of former chief Brian Wilson.

The Edwardsville City Council approved the decision at its meeting Tuesday night.  Welle has served with Collinsville Fire Department for nearly 29 years, most recently as Shift Commander and the EMS Coordinator.

Welle served as the President of Local 2625 from 1998-2007.  He resigned from the Executive Board to serve as the interim fire chief for Collinsville after the retirement of former chief Jim Twyman.

He has also been the District Three Vice-President for the Associated Fire Fighters of Illinois for the last six years, serving many local affiliates throughout central and southern Illinois.

We certainly wish the best for Chief Welle as he begins his new position.  We at Local 2625 thank him for all his hard work and quality representation as the leader of our affiliate over the years.

Congratulations, Rick!

St. Louis city firefighters are in a fight for their future and they need your help.  The city is crying poor when in fact they are not as poor as they say.  According to the FY2010 budget (http://stlouis.missouri.org/government/budget10/) the FY2010 budget is 967.2 million up from FY2009’s budget of 961.0 million.  Where is the missing money?  Why cut the fire department?

Firefighters have always come when called, have always been there for any person who needed help.  Now we need your help, we need you to be there for us.

Please contact any or all of the following Aldermen and tell them to vote NO on the new pay bill, you don’t need to live in the city or in any ward to express your support for firefighters.  Please email or call, one, two, three or all of the Aldermen.   A simple message is all you need, tell them: (feel free to copy and paste this)

SUPPORT FIREFIGHTERS AND WE WILL SUPPORT YOU, VOTE NO ON THE PAY BILL!

Once you have done this pass this message along on facebook or twitter.

Thanks for your help and support we really are counting on you!

Call any Alderman at 622-3287

President Lewis E. Reed -- This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Ward 1 Charles Quincy Troupe – This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
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Ward 15 Jennifer Florida -- This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
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Ward 21 Antonio D French -- This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
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Ward 28 Lyda Krewson -- This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

On March 30, Homewood, Illinois firefighter Brian Carey, aka "Boo", lost his life in the line of duty at a house fire while trying to rescue 87-year-old WWII veteran Wendell Elias.

In his honor, his brother firefighters and friends have arranged a memorial ride to Colorado Springs for the annual IAFF Memorial Service on September 11.  Brian's name will be added to the memorial, along with all IAFF members who died in the line of duty over the last year.

The ride begins in Homewood on September 9, with arrival in Colorado Springs planned for the next day.  The ride will travel on I-55 and I-70 through the St. Louis Metro region, making it convenient for our area firefighters to join in.

Vist www.RideForBoo.org for more information.

IAFF's link for travel & lodging info