By By ERIN VER BERKMOES / Niles Daily Star
NILES - The community came out in support of their local fire and law enforcement officers and the Niles Service League, in the first annual Niles Service League, Hometown Hero calendar contest.
Area residents were asked to vote for their favorite representative from the area fire and police departments which included the, Niles City Police and Fire Departments, Buchanan City Police and Fire Departments, Niles Township Fire Department, Howard Township Fire Department and the Cass County Sheriff's Department.
The top vote getter was Jason Pompey of the Cass County Sheriff's Department. Pompey received the top honor as he was able to raise $722.
Taking second was Lt. Scott Rieth of the Niles Fire Department and third place went to Larry Lamb, Niles City Fire Chief.
Fourth place went to Officer Amber Walter of the Niles City Police Department, with Joe Krop of the Howard Township Fire Department taking fifth.
Dave Caperon of the Buchanan City Police Department took sixth place, and Chad Baker of the Buchanan Fire Department took seventh.
Rounding out the final five places are Chad Mitchell and K-9 Rex of the Niles City Police Department in eighth; ninth place went to Jim Vella of the Niles Township Fire Department; Howard Township Fire Chief Ron Fazi took 10th place; Sgt. Harvey Burnett of the Buchanan City Police took 11th and Mike Baker of the Buchanan City Fire Department took 12th.
The calendars will officially go on sale at the Niles Service League booth at the Niles Apple Festival the weekend of Sept. 29-Oct. 2.
For anyone who isn't able to make it to the Apple Festival and would like to purchase a calendar they can contact Kellie Montgomery at 663-2210.