New Lenox Fire Protection District makes hires, recognizes employees

NEW LENOX – The New Lenox Fire Protection District recently held a swearing-in ceremony during a Board of Trustees meeting to officially hire firefighter/paramedics as district employees.

Zach Cook and Joseph Schwinger were hired as a district firefighter/paramedics, according to a news release from the district. Cook has been a firefighter with New Lenox for two and a half years and a firefighter for six years. Schwinger has been in the fire service for three years.

The fire district also welcomed New Lenox resident Kevin Kolosh as a commissioner, replacing Anne Mathews, who recently retired. Kolosh is the commander of detectives for the Calumet City Police Department.

“We want to thank Anne Mathews for her service to our fire district the last few years. She put in countless hours to help us with our eligibility lists. We also want to welcome Kevin Kolosh as her replacement,” Chief Steve Engledow said in the release. “He will be a great addition to our Board of Commissioners.”

In June, the NLFPD announced these recognition awards:

• Lt. Eric Chellios was the 2015 Officer of the Year. He has worked with the New Lenox Fire District since March 2008.

• Brent Havener was given the honor of Firefighter of the Year. He has been a firefighter with New Lenox for nine years.

• Candidate of the Year went to Brandon Toth, who had worked his way through the district’s cadet program and began his service as a firefighter for New Lenox a year ago.

“These men have all worked extremely hard to get to where they are, and we couldn’t be more proud of them for their efforts,” Engledow said in the release. “We want to congratulate them on all they have done and thank them for helping us become stronger as a district.”