New Sublette fire leadership named

SUBLETTE – The Sublette Fire Department will have familiar faces in new positions after its longtime chief retired Wednesday.

Kevin Schultz, 54, of Sublette, takes over as chief after the retirement of Doug Erbes.

Schultz has been with the department 32 1/2 years, and also works full time as Dixon Public Schools director of buildings and grounds .

The Compton native has been assistant chief for 21 years, and figured the time was right to take on the job.

“Now I’m at a point in my life where I can actually take on the extra responsibility and the extra time to do the job right,” Schultz said.

Erbes retired after 31 years with the department, the last 14 as chief.

“It’s big shoes to fill,” Schultz said. “Doug was a great leader, and did a fabulous job for our department.”

Nick Dinges, a 23-year veteran of the department, now is an assistant chief after spending the last 6 as a lieutenant. Dinges will work in operations and emergency medical services, and another assistant chief, Brian Dallam, will handle fire reporting and training.

Kyle Kellen was promoted to captain. Kellen has worked for the department for 19 years and is a Lee County Sheriff’s deputy and college resource officer at Sauk Valley Community College. His father, Kevin, was chief for 10 years; his uncle, Bob, had the role for 28 years.

Schultz plans to make it to 40 years, he said “and maybe retire after that.”