Three men who were seconds from death as they rescued a woman from a burning home.

Two men who ventured out onto treacherous ice to save plane-crash survivors.

A sheriff's deputy who commandeered earth-moving equipment to keep wild land fires from engulfing Grant County.

These citizen heroes and others were honored during the Oregon State Sheriffs' Association Annual Conference held in December at The Riverhouse Convention Center in Bend.

During the awards ceremony, Tillamook County Sheriff Todd Anderson was named Sheriff of the Year. Anderson began his service at the TCSO in 1986. He served as a patrol deputy, detective, detective sergeant, patrol sergeant, and jail commander before being elected sheriff in 2000.

Sheriff Anderson was honored for his unwavering dedication and work for the association and to the citizens of Oregon. He was recognized as a leader among Oregon's sheriffs as he is often looked to for guidance and advice.

An award of appreciation was given to former Marion County Sheriff Raul Ramirez (and outgoing OSSA President). Sheriff Ramirez has been instrumental in helping to develop a program to train newly elected sheriffs. Called the OSSA New Sheriffs' Institute, it is held each December during election years. The course of classes helps give new sheriffs a forum for learning as well as networking opportunities with other sheriffs prior to the start of their service.

Several President's Special Recognition awards (for outstanding service to the association) were given. Recipients included Klamath County Sheriff Tim Evinger, Polk County Sheriff Bob Wolfe, Hood River County Sheriff Joe Wampler, and Sergeant Tygh Thompson from the Washington County Sheriff's Office.

Additional awards were given during the convention. They are as follows:

AWARDS FOR VALOR are given for an act of heroism in which personal safety is disregarded. This year there were three recipients.

Just before 9 am on August 12, 2007, Dennis Morton and his wife Debi were driving near Prineville when they noticed a large amount of smoke coming from a manufactured home park. Seeing the smoke pouring out of space 17, he exited his car and ran towards the residence. Hearing from bystanders the woman who lived there had not come out of the unit, Morton ran into the home. Crawling under the dense smoke, ignoring searing heat, he began feeling his way through the home calling out to the victim.

About 12 ft into the residence, he located the woman and began moving his way to the entrance with the woman in tow.

In the meantime, two Crook County Sheriff's Deputies responding to the 911 call arrived on the scene. Deputy Barry Seguin ran inside the residence to help Morton. Once they cleared the front door, Emergency Services Commander Brandon Smith helped move the woman to the front yard a safe distance away and began the process of clearing the woman's airway to help start her breathing.

As the CPR was being given to the woman, flames engulfed the residence. Fire personnel on scene pointed out that even a 30-second delay might have resulted in instant death for all involved. Unfortunately, the woman, Oma Pratt did succumb to her injuries and died later at Legacy Emanuel Hospital Burn Center.

Three heroic citizens were honored with the LIFE SAVING AWARD which is given to an individual who performs an active, distinctive successful saving of a life of another person. There must have been a strong possibility the person would have died if the action had not been taken.

Last January, a 1958 Piper Tomahawk attempted an unsuccessful take-off near the Owyhee Reservoir. As the plane landed in the lake, two occupants began scrambling onto the wings. As the plane began to sink, they began to swim towards shore; however, about 30 feet from land they were stopped by thick ice and unable to get out of the water.

Two nearby men, Randy Fisk and Mark Miller, ran to the area and began to help the two people in the water. Grabbing a long stick and making his way on top of the ice, Randy Fisk could feel the ice shift and crack. Joined by Miller, both men crawled on their stomachs inching along until they were finally able to rescue the two people.

Another Life Saving Awards recipient was Richard Bose, a Washington County Jail employee. Bose was out to lunch with his elderly mother when he noticed another elderly woman choking nearby.

Bose saw the woman was unable to breath and applied the Heimlich maneuver in an attempt to clear her airway. Bose could not dislodge the obstruction and after several attempts the woman began to convulse due to a lack of oxygen. Bose then positioned the woman on her side, forced her mouth open, reached into her throat and removed the blockage saving the woman's life.

Two DISTINGUISHED AWARDS were given for service ?above and beyond? that which is normally expected resulting in a noteworthy accomplishment.

When thunderstorms ignited several fires in northern Grant County this past summer, Grant County Sheriff's Deputy Todd N. McKinley's extraordinary efforts helped save several residences.

Responding to the fire, McKinley came across and 18-wheel semi close to flames. Moving the trailer to safety, McKinley noticed the fire was burning uncontrollably and feared other equipment, buildings and people were in trouble.

McKinley, a deputy and volunteer fire fighter for the City of Mt. Vernon, commandeered a bulldozer and used it to create a fire line around numerous residences.

He then saw a residence with burning siding from floating embers. He removed the siding and extinguished the rest of the fire with a firefighting tool he carries in his patrol vehicle.

Just one month later, Deputy McKinley again saved a residence when another fire broke out near John Day. The wild fire began encroaching on the border of the Malheur National Forest when McKinley once again commandeered another privately owned bulldozer to create fire breaks. His lines held and the wilderness was saved.

Michael L. Craig was also given the award for his volunteer service to the citizens of Wheeler County. Though he has a full time job, Craig volunteers his time to various local organizations such as the city council, the local bluegrass festival, coaching Little League, and assisting the Wheeler County Sheriff's Office.

Craig has evacuated residents in harm's way, extricated trapped victims, acted as medic on joint law-enforcement agency operations, and is one of the first volunteers to respond to a fire or ambulance call.

The MERITORIOUS ACHIEVEMENT AWARD is a noteworthy achievement brought about by special effort or unusual service, beyond what would be expected.

This year it was given to several Search and Rescue groups for outstanding professionalism, bravery and dedication: the U.S. Coast Guard Group Air Station in Astoria; the U.S. Coast Guard Group Air Station in North Bend; the Oregon Army National Guard C Company, 7th Battalion, 158th Aviation Regiment; and C Company, 1-112 Aviation Regiment; the Oregon Army National Guard 113th Aviation Battalion, Detachment 1, D Company; and to the 304th Rescue Squadron.

Most of these groups provide critical search and rescue support to many sheriff's offices in Oregon including air, sea and land support.

Oregon Sheriffs' Civil Command Council Awards

In appreciation for outstanding services as the 2007 President of the Oregon Sheriffs' Civil Command Council: Chief Civil Deputy Christie Meister, Lincoln County Sheriff's Office

Civil Manager of the Year: Civil Technician Rebecca Brown, Deschutes County Sheriff's Office

Civil Deputy of the Year: Deputy Bill Jordan, Marion County Sheriff's Office

Civil Support Staff of the Year: Civil Administrative Asst. Barbara Perry, Umatilla County Sheriff's Office (posthumously)

The Barb Perry Award for Civil Support Staff of the Year: Civil Records Deputy Susan Raney, Jackson County Sheriff's Office

Enforcement Command Council Awards

In appreciation for outstanding services as the 2007 President of the Oregon Sheriffs' Enforcement Command Council: Undersheriff Greg Olson (Ret.), Marion County Sheriff's Office

Enforcement Commander of the Year: Capt. John Naab, Clackamas County Sheriff's Office

Enforcement Supervisor of the Year: Sgt. Ned Walls, Multnomah County Sheriff's Office

Enforcement Deputy of the Year: Deputy Deke Demars, Deschutes County Sheriff's Office

Jail Command Council Awards

In appreciation for outstanding services as the 2007 President of the Oregon Sheriffs' Jail Command Council: Captain Raimond Adgers, Multnomah County Sheriff's Office

Jail Commander of the Year: Lt. Jamie Russell, Lincoln County Sheriff's Office

Jail Supervisor of the Year: Sgt. Shawn Spevacek, Benton County Sheriff's Office

Jail Volunteer of the Year: Peggy West, Group Meditation Coordinator, Multnomah County Sheriff's Office

OSSA Appreciation Award

In appreciation for outstanding services as the 2006-2007 President of the Oregon Sheriffs' Search and Rescue Advisory Council: Deputy John Gibson, Clackamas County Sheriff's Office.