BERRIEN COUNTY DEPUTIES RECEIVE LIFESAVING AWARDS

By DEBRA HAIGHT
BCR Correspondent
ST. JOSEPH – Berrien County Commissioners honored county employees at their weekly meeting last week. In addition, another longtime county employee has a new position and title.
Berrien County Sheriff Chuck Heit presented lifesaving awards to deputies at last week’s Committee of the Whole meeting. Two of the three receiving awards were at the presentation, Deputies Brian Root and Dominic Forestier. Deputy Matt Grimm was not in attendance.
Root was honored for his quick action and remarkable composure on Jan. 21 in Niles. He was the first to respond to a residential fire of a two-story home and was able to rescue a young girl who was hesitant about climbing down a ladder after three other family members had escaped. Root placed the child over his shoulder and climbed down the ladder.
Forestieri was honored for his actions on March 22. He was stopped at a traffic light and witnessed a crash in front of him. The driver rushed out of the car and said her baby wasn’t breathing. He called an ambulance, started CPR and drove the toddler to the hospital. The child’s condition improved at the hospital and made a full recovery.
Grimm was recognized for his actions on July 26 as he responded to an in-progress domestic violence incident in Bainbridge Township. He began a dialogue with the suspect who was on the roof and threatening suicide. Other officers got the girlfriend and a child out of the house and Grimm was able to resolve the situation peacefully after an hour.
“I want to recognize the outstanding work of all three officers and thank them for their service,” Heit said. “I’m grateful for the ability to recognize the deputies for their great work. I also am appreciative of the Commissioners’ support and the public’s support.”
In other news, Commissioners approved a resolution honoring Lora Freehling at their Board of Commissioners meeting also last week. She was honored recently as the Michigan Register of Deeds of the Year at the Michigan Association of Registers of Deeds 110th annual state conference Sept. 15-18 on Mackinac Island.
“I do appreciate this,” Freehling told commissioners. “It doesn’t happen without cooperation and help from everyone. I appreciate the office’s past and current co-workers and the support of the county board.”
“It was a complete shock to hear my name called,” she said. “I’m very honored to receive this prestigious award and humbled when I think of all the other deserving Registers. I enjoy serving, and will continue to serve the residents of Berrien County to my highest ability.”
The Register of Deeds county office was established by Michigan’s first constitution written in 1835. The ROD is the official recording office for real-estate-related documents. The Register is the custodian of all historical and current transactional property records.
Freehling was appointed Berrien County’s ROD in 2018 at the time of the passing of then-Register Lori Jarvis. Freehling joined MARD in 2018 and has served as secretary of the association since 2022. She is currently a member of the MARD Publications Committee, Standardization and Review Committee, and the Legislative Committee.
She is the third Berrien County ROD to receive this award. Bernice Trethaway was named MARD’s very first Register of the Year in 1991. Lori Jarvis was named ROY in 2009 and in 2016.
Freehling comes from a family farming heritage in Weesaw and Lake Townships, and comes from a family line of public servants. She is the daughter of former State Representative Carl F. Gnodtke.
County Commissioner Robert Harrison read the resolution honoring Freehling. The resolution noted that it is no surprise that she would receive the state recognition given “her dedication, passion, and leadership in all that she does.”
The resolution also noted Freehling’s efforts in providing leadership, cooperation with all units of government, sound fiscal management and planning, thus promoting the health, well-being and prosperity for current and future generations.
“Be it further resolved that Lora’s life, actions and contributions reflect most favorably upon herself, her family, the Berrien County Register of Deeds office, the County of Berrien, the State of Michigan, and the United States of America,” the resolution concluded.
The other county employee honored last week was Don Trail who has been named the new Building and Grounds Superintendent for the county.
Trail will direct operations of the County’s Building & Grounds Department, which provides maintenance, landscaping, construction, custodial and other services for the county’s various operations.  He supervises 27 full time and 11 part time staff members and oversees the day-to-day maintenance projects for the county.  Trail is also responsible for managing nearly $15 million of deferred maintenance projects that are set to occur.
“On behalf of county leadership, we are very pleased that Don has agreed to lead the Building & Grounds Department.  He is thoughtful, thorough, and committed to public service,” County Administrator Brian Dissette said.
Trail brings more than 20 years of experience to his new position. He began his public service career in law enforcement in 1990.  He then worked for the Berrien County Friend of the Court, where he served for a total of 21 years, before taking a position with the Berrien County Public Defender’s Office.