Calendar of Local Heroes earns national award
Comet staff report

The Monticello Fire Dept.'s Calendar of Local Heroes that benefits the Hoosier Burn Camp held at Camp Tecumseh has earned national recognition. The calendar garnered a top media award from the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF).

Monticello's calendar beat out calendars from departments in Philadelphia, Cincinnati and Syracuse, and New York. The full-color calendar features portraits of the department's staff as photographed by a Monticello photographer.

Last year, the calendar sold 750 copies and raised more than $2,000 that was presented by the department to the Hoosier Burn Camp. The camp was established in 1997 and serves children who have been burned in Indiana or treated for burns at Indiana hospitals. Nearly 70 campers attend each year and the cost for each camper for the week of camp is about $1,000.

According to the IAFF, their media awards are given annually in multiple categories. Nearly 300 media entries were received this year by the IAFF.