Fort Oglethorpe Fire & Rescue Announces Promotions FORT OGLETHORPE, GA – Thursday, May 10, 2007 – Thursday nights are drill nights in Fort Oglethorpe and one Thursday night a month is set aside for firefighters to meet, break bread, and discuss items of note within the department.  Tonight, “eatin’night” was held at the Cedar Hill Baptist Church on Dyer Bridge Road and was a very special occasion for several firefighters.  Tonight was promotions night. The night began with opening remarks by Assistant Chief Clay Ellis, a prayer by the department Chaplain Neal Brown and the pledge of allegiance to the flag.  This was immediately followed by a delicious lasagna dinner prepared by Patty Davis, wife of Fire Marshal/Assistant Chief Glenn Davis. With dinner finished, Chief of the Department Bruce Ballew began the promotional ceremony.  Chief Ballew reminded everyone that it takes hard work and dedication to get promoted within the Fort Oglethorpe Fire & Rescue Department.  He said that those who have earned the promotions have worked long and hard to get them and that they are richly deserved.   Promoted to Private were: Brandon Cruse Bo Hammontree Ashley Jennings David Petty Thomas Smith Drew Tapley Scott Van Fossen Promoted to Corporal were: Wesley Alexander Sean Little Jason Williams Two more promotions were then announced.  Sgt. Tom Lowrance was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant and Captain Doug Flury to Battalion Chief.  Chief Ballew spoke at length about each of these two men.  He noted how hard they had worked both as volunteers for the department and also as members of the paid full time staff.   With these promotions over it was time to turn attention to the three remaining ones as Rebecca Jackson, Patrick Mathis and Ashley Salter were given their black helmets and promoted from recruit to Rookie.  A slide show was presented for the audience showing the recruits as they performed various tasks during the rookie school. After all of the promotions were finished, all members of the department lined up to congratulate the newly promoted firefighters.  The three new rookies then presented gold axes to Lt. Mark Snyder and Lt. Keith Plott in appreciation for what they had done for them during rookie school.   After closing remarks the night was completed by a prayer from the Chaplain.