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The Oregon Pacific Chapter of the American Red Cross honored eight community members as Everyday Heroes at a dinner Thursday night. The honorees are, from left, Douglas County Sheriff's Deputy Lee Bartholomew, Oregon State Police Trooper Aaron Baimbridge, Emily Standish, Red Cross Chapter Executive Director Chris Pryor, Chris Shoopman, Sutherlin Police Officer Troy Mills, Jackie Barnett and Steve Rolston, who accepted the award on behalf of Sherm and Wanda Olsrud.
WINSTON — They are a high school senior, a fashion show organizer, a pair of grocery store owners, a father, an animal control officer, a state trooper and a local police officer.
And they're also all considered ordinary people who have done extraordinary things, whether volunteering with kids groups, rescuing a drowning woman or raising money for cancer survivors. All eight were honored as American Red Cross Everyday Heroes at a Thursday night awards dinner in Winston.
Douglas County residents nominated community members and local volunteers selected the winners. This was the first Everyday Heroes event in Roseburg.
Sutherlin Police Officer Troy Mills and Oregon State Police Trooper Aaron Baimbridge were given Professional Hero Awards.
Last March, the pair responded to a call of a stabbing at the home of Craig and Lindi Riley. When they arrived, they discovered fires in the house, carport and parts of lawn. Mills and Baimbridge followed a trail of blood into the burning house and found Craig Riley severely injured. Through billowing smoke, the pair led the man out of the home and to safety. Lindi Riley's body was later found in the home, and murder charges have been filed against the couple's adopted son, Gabriel Riley.
“You don't know if you're going to be going in there for the last time or if you're going to be able to save someone,” Mills said in a video recounting the event.
Sutherlin Police Chief Tom Boggs nominated the two officers for the award. As he handed both men their plaques and medals Thursday night, the dozens of people in attendance rose to their feet and applauded the officers.
“They went in and went above and beyond,” Boggs said. “To serve and protect is a little more than words to them.”
Another law enforcement officer was honored for his commitment to helping animals and educating the community about responsible pet ownership. Douglas County Sheriff's Deputy Lee Bartholomew was named the Red Cross' Animal Hero.
Bartholomew supports local groups such as the Umpqua Valley Chapter of the Humane Society and the SPCA. Recently he worked with Saving Grace Animal Shelter — the group that nominated him — to find a dog for a disabled person on a fixed income and in need of a companion.
“Deputy Bartholomew is one of the everyday heroes whose work oftentimes goes overlooked,” said Chris Pryor, executive director of the Oregon Pacific Chapter of the Red Cross.
Chris Shoopman was honored as the Adult Life-Saving Hero for pulling his mother-in-law out of the North Umpqua River last August after she had fallen out of her raft and hit her head on a rock.
As Shoopman swam to shore with his mother-in-law lying on his chest, he provided rescue breathing. He was able to get the woman to shore where bystanders performed CPR until emergency responders could arrive.
“I don't think of myself as a hero at all,” Shoopman said in a video about the incident. “... I really just got to give God all the credit.”
Jackie Barnett was named Adult Compassion Hero for her many years of raising money for cancer survivors. Barnett is a member of Douglas County Cancer Services and heads the annual Tea and Fashion Show that benefits breast cancer survivors. In the nine years of the event, attendance has grown from about 80 people the first year to more than 500 attendees last October, she said.
“Being nominated as an Everyday Hero is an extreme honor,” she said in a video. “... I'm very proud to have been nominated.”
Glide High School senior Emily Standish was honored as the Youth Compassion Hero for her countless volunteer hours in elementary school classrooms, high school leadership events and sports camps for kids.
“I was really surprised,” the 18-year-old said. “... I just did it because I thought it was the right think to do.”
The Community Partner Hero award was given to Sherm and Wanda Olsrud, owners of Sherm's Thunderbird Market, for their hundreds of positive contributions to communities throughout Southern Oregon.
Steve Rolston, manager of the Roseburg Sherm's store, accepted the honor on behalf of the couple.
And they're also all considered ordinary people who have done extraordinary things, whether volunteering with kids groups, rescuing a drowning woman or raising money for cancer survivors. All eight were honored as American Red Cross Everyday Heroes at a Thursday night awards dinner in Winston.
Douglas County residents nominated community members and local volunteers selected the winners. This was the first Everyday Heroes event in Roseburg.
Sutherlin Police Officer Troy Mills and Oregon State Police Trooper Aaron Baimbridge were given Professional Hero Awards.
Last March, the pair responded to a call of a stabbing at the home of Craig and Lindi Riley. When they arrived, they discovered fires in the house, carport and parts of lawn. Mills and Baimbridge followed a trail of blood into the burning house and found Craig Riley severely injured. Through billowing smoke, the pair led the man out of the home and to safety. Lindi Riley's body was later found in the home, and murder charges have been filed against the couple's adopted son, Gabriel Riley.
“You don't know if you're going to be going in there for the last time or if you're going to be able to save someone,” Mills said in a video recounting the event.
Sutherlin Police Chief Tom Boggs nominated the two officers for the award. As he handed both men their plaques and medals Thursday night, the dozens of people in attendance rose to their feet and applauded the officers.
“They went in and went above and beyond,” Boggs said. “To serve and protect is a little more than words to them.”
Another law enforcement officer was honored for his commitment to helping animals and educating the community about responsible pet ownership. Douglas County Sheriff's Deputy Lee Bartholomew was named the Red Cross' Animal Hero.
Bartholomew supports local groups such as the Umpqua Valley Chapter of the Humane Society and the SPCA. Recently he worked with Saving Grace Animal Shelter — the group that nominated him — to find a dog for a disabled person on a fixed income and in need of a companion.
“Deputy Bartholomew is one of the everyday heroes whose work oftentimes goes overlooked,” said Chris Pryor, executive director of the Oregon Pacific Chapter of the Red Cross.
Chris Shoopman was honored as the Adult Life-Saving Hero for pulling his mother-in-law out of the North Umpqua River last August after she had fallen out of her raft and hit her head on a rock.
As Shoopman swam to shore with his mother-in-law lying on his chest, he provided rescue breathing. He was able to get the woman to shore where bystanders performed CPR until emergency responders could arrive.
“I don't think of myself as a hero at all,” Shoopman said in a video about the incident. “... I really just got to give God all the credit.”
Jackie Barnett was named Adult Compassion Hero for her many years of raising money for cancer survivors. Barnett is a member of Douglas County Cancer Services and heads the annual Tea and Fashion Show that benefits breast cancer survivors. In the nine years of the event, attendance has grown from about 80 people the first year to more than 500 attendees last October, she said.
“Being nominated as an Everyday Hero is an extreme honor,” she said in a video. “... I'm very proud to have been nominated.”
Glide High School senior Emily Standish was honored as the Youth Compassion Hero for her countless volunteer hours in elementary school classrooms, high school leadership events and sports camps for kids.
“I was really surprised,” the 18-year-old said. “... I just did it because I thought it was the right think to do.”
The Community Partner Hero award was given to Sherm and Wanda Olsrud, owners of Sherm's Thunderbird Market, for their hundreds of positive contributions to communities throughout Southern Oregon.
Steve Rolston, manager of the Roseburg Sherm's store, accepted the honor on behalf of the couple.
• You can reach reporter Marissa Harshman at 957-4202 or by e-mail at mharshman@nrtoday.com.
