By T. Scott Boatright
The Kiwanis of Ruston honored the 2020 local Police Officer, Firefighter and Teacher of the Year during the Ruston-Lincoln Chamber of Commerce’s 101st annual Awards Banquet held at the Lincoln Parish Library Events Center.
Lincoln Parish Sheriff’s Officer K9 deputy Tyler Ediminston, Ruston Fire Department firefighter Chance Hankins and A.E. Phillips sixth- and seventh-grade English teacher Kellye Ketchum were this year’s honorees.
Edmiston joined the LPSO in 2013 as a corrections deputy before being promoted to a patrol deputy in 2016,
In October of 2918 Edminston was promoted to a K-9 handler and partners with police dog Zino. Edminston was promoted to patrol sergeant on Dec. 30, 2019, serving as assistant supervisor on Patrol Team 3.
Edminston also serves as a member of the LPSO Special Response Team trained for active shooter response, domestic violence and multiple other essential law enforcement techniques.
Hankins joined the RFD in 2016 and attended the LSU Fire and Emergency Training Institute, graduating as class valedictorian and receiving certifications as a Firefighter I and II, hazardous materials awareness and operations, and fire driver/pump operations.
In 2017 Hankins completed training and received his national-registered certification as an advanced emergency medical technician and went on to receive his certification as a paramedic in 2020.
Other training Hankins has received includes rescue boat operations, swiftwater rescue, rope rescue, incident command center rapid intervention and handling mass casualties.
Ketchum graduated from Farmerville High School and Louisiana Tech University and spent one summer teaching English as a second language in Shanghai, China, as well as spending a year in Malawi, Africa, teaching fifth grade at the African Bible College Academy and organizing reading programs for remote orphanages.
After spending seven years homeschooling her own children, Ketchum is in her third year teaching at A,E. Phillips.
