Community Engagement at Alpena
At Alpena, community involvement and support for local events are central to our mission. Over the past few months, our teams have had the privilege of contributing to several significant local initiatives, highlighting their commitment to the community of Alpena.
Presque Isle Quarry 5k Donation
Our team at the Alpena Finish Grind proudly donated $2,500 to the Presque Isle Quarry 5k, an event that has been running strong for ten years. Scheduled for Saturday, August 10, this annual event raises between $30,000 to $40,000 each year, with all proceeds going to the cancer center in Alpena. This year’s run was especially meaningful as it honors employees and loved ones affected by cancer. We are honored to support such a cause that touches the lives of many in our community.
Alpena Appreciation Dinner and Emergency Response Collaboration
On Thursday July 25, the Alpena Cement rescue team hosted a countywide inter-departmental dinner to mark the successful completion of the first year of cooperative agency training and response coordination. The Alpena rescue team began the joint response coordination program with the Michigan State Police Department, the Alpena City Police Department, including city emergency services dispatch, The Alpena City Fire Department, The Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center Fire Department (operating jointly with the US Armed Forces,) and United States Homeland Security.
Alpena’s rescue team, led by Chief Kees Sharp and Assistant Chief Victor Zaborney, worked in conjunction with Alpena County area emergency response teams to facilitate the development of response plans, education, and practice for critical emergencies, both at the cement plant site and in the region at large.
Training development and drills conducted at Alpena Cement included high angle rescue, confined space rescue, material engulfment rescue, and heavy equipment crash. The multi-agency work is a critical factor in ensuring any area disaster, on both our work sites and in the greater community, receives emergency services in a coordinated, planned, and rehearsed manner by all responding agencies.
The Alpena Cement campus is the ideal location for training and drill efforts. The cement manufacturing structures, equipment, and port allow the respective teams the unique opportunity to fully rig up and experience a potential disaster response at height, in deep water, and with heavy mobile equipment.
The Alpena Cement rescue team hosted the all-agency dinner to celebrate the achievements that make all participating rescue teams stronger in both individual and large-scale disaster response.
In addition to Sharp and Zaborney, the Alpena rescue team’s members include Captain Matthew Rowe, Secretary Greg Kamyszek, Training Coordinator David Scott, Zachary Adrian, Jay Betz, Devin Cripps-Bennett, Mark Haugerud, Lee Kubbe, Adam Nensewitz, Chris Rheule, John Smith, Josh Spragg, Andrew Waite, Chase Weinkauf.
With the conclusion of the first year, the joint agency heads deemed the work a success and look forward to ongoing collaboration to the benefit of all area citizens.
