Lt. Michael Ritchie of the Wood County Deputy Sheriff’s Association helped recently to honor the Wood County 2025 Telecommunicator of the Year Curtis Thomas during an awards presentation to the dispatchers at the Wood County 911 Center during National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week. (Photo provided)

PARKERSBURG – Local emergency telecommunicators were honored recently for the work they do as the first point of contact during emergencies.

Last week, April 12-18 was recognized as National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week in Wood County.

Officials honored local telecommunicators recently with awards and a BBQ meal at the Wood County 911 Center Monday, April 13. Del. Scot Heckert (R-Wood) also came out to the Wood County 911 Center and presented Recognition of Service awards to the dispatchers. Wood County Commission President Blair Couch was also present.

In 2025, there were 90,315 calls for service at the Wood County 911 Center. The average number of calls for service per day was 247. There were 43,846 911 calls received with an average of 120 911 calls a day, officials said.

“Emergencies can occur at any time that require law enforcement, fire or emergency medical services,” according to a proclamation recently passed by the Wood County Commission. “When an emergency occurs, the prompt response of law enforcement officers, firefighters and EMS providers is critical to the protection of life and preservation of property.”

The safety of local law enforcement officers, firefighters and EMS providers depends on the quality and accuracy of information obtained by emergency telecommunicators from those who contact the Wood County 911 Center, officials said.

The Wood County 911 Center has 24 emergency dispatchers/telecommunicators, Wood County 911 Director Dale McEwuen said.

On honoring his people, McEwuen said they have to have quick thinkers and people who can organize information quickly to pass along important information to first responders responding to an emergency.

“We need quick thinkers and people who can understand situations immediately,” he said. “They need to understand and use the equipment quickly to get calls answered quickly and get first responders dispatched out.”

The National Standards for emergency call answering is 10 seconds. Wood County’s percentage for answering 911 calls under 10 seconds is 95.53 percent.

Those honored at the Wood County 911 Center included:

Years of Service Pins

3 years- Angela Smith & Levi Sprouse

5 years – Ethan Spencer

20 years – Sara Stalnaker

2025 Telecommunicator Awards

Most 911 calls answered

Tristen Robinette – 3,814

Honorable Mention

Ethan Spencer – 2,617

Best Percentage of 911 Calls Under 10 seconds

(Minimum 1,500 calls)

Anna Richards 99.10 – 1,550 calls

Honorable Mention

Patience Randolph 98.74 – 1,745 calls

Tristen Robinette – 3,814 calls

Zachary Burrell 98.51 – 2,081 calls

Best Shift Percentage under 10 seconds

Supervisor Barbara Kuhl – 95.46

Honorable Mention

Supervisor Randy Rather – 94.21

2025 Telecommunicator of the Year

Curtis Thomas