Fiscal Court Recognizes Firefighter Justin Railey For Saving Child From Ice
The Harrodsburg Herald/Robert Moore
David Baer and Thaddeus Baer present Firefighter Justin Railey of the Mercer County Fire Protection District with an oar. Railey used an oar to rescue two-year-old Thaddeus from a frozen pond in January.
Robert Moore
Herald Staff
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The Mercer County Fiscal Court has recognized a local firefighter who helped save a child from the ice in January.
At their regular meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 11, the fiscal court recognized Firefighter Justin Railey of the Mercer County Fire Protection District for his quick thinking back in January, when two-year-old Thaddeus Baer was stuck on ice in the middle of a local pond after sledding too far.
Railey crawled to the middle of the pond and used an oar to pull him out.
On Tuesday, Railey was presented with a certificate of appreciation by Magistrate Susan Barrington. Railey was also presented with an oar by Davie Baer, the father of Thaddeus Baer, in case he needed it for another rescue.
It was a snowy day to recognize a winter rescue, with the area under a winter storm warning remains in effect until 7 a.m. Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service.
“We were a little bit busy this morning,” Mercer Sheriff Ernie Kelty told the fiscal court Tuesday, with numerous drivers slipping off the road. Kelty said he had to call in deputies to handle accidents, with about 15 incidents within one hour.
Judge-Executive Sarah Steele said county road crews had been out plowing since 5 a.m.
