Locals named heroes by American Red Cross

Nine-year-old James Gilchrist and 67-year-old Jim Dahmen were honored as Hometown Heroes by the American Red Cross Inland Northwest Chapter at an awards banquet last Thursday, Nov. 10.

James Gilchrist of Colfax was named Youth Humanitarian Hero for rescuing his father, David, in a combine accident last harvest.

The young man heard his father calling for help after the header broke free from the combine he was working on and pinned David to the ground.

James answered the call, grabbed a hydraulic jack and chains and pulled the header off his father. He promptly dialed 911 and called his mother, Sue.

David underwent multiple surgeries for injuries sustained in the accident, but is now recovering and was at the awards ceremony with his son. David was nominated for the award by his grandfather, Gerald Gilchrist.

Dahmen, a Colton-area farmer, was named Fire Safety Hero in recognition of his fifty years as a volunteer firefighter with the Colton Fire Department, which later merged with Whitman County Rural Fire District 14.

Dahmen has served as chief since 1972, earning a $100 salary for overseeing protection efforts of 25 volunteers from Colton and Uniontown. The department protects a 155-square-mile area, mostly consisting of farmland.

One of the longest-tenured fire chiefs in the Inland Empire, Dahmen told the Red Cross he has no plans to step aside anytime soon.

Jim was nominated by Brenda Dahmen.

The awards banquet, held at the Northern Quest Casino in Airway Heights, was the ninth luncheon the Red Cross has held.

Each of the 15 award recipients were presented by Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers flags that had flown over the United States Capitol Building.