Georgetown County Council recognized four outstanding individuals at its first meeting of the year on Jan. 14. They were: T.L. Staub, Employee of the Quarter; Pete Copeland, Manager of the Year; and Wil Keith and Jason Stukes, Volunteers of the Year.
T.L. Staub
T.L. Staub, Trails Coordinator for Georgetown County Parks and Recreation, was selected as Georgetown County’s Employee of the Quarter for the last quarter of 2024. Since joining the Parks and Recreation Department as a part-time staff member in the spring of 2023, Staub has done a tremendous amount to grow its trails initiative and has been a key player in helping the new GOAT (Georgetown Outdoor Adventure Trails) program. As with many of the department’s staff, his work is labor-intensive and he has to deal with heat, bugs and other pests as most of his work hours are spent out in the woods. He does all this with a smile and tremendous enthusiasm.
Staub’s main focus is on cutting and maintaining trails, and creating and growing trails programming through GOAT. This includes leading programs on our waterways and finding all sorts of ways to get people outdoors and enjoying nature. The GOAT program has gotten off to a great start, largely due to his dedication and hard work. A GOAT Facebook group now has more than 1,000 members who share information and photos from their outdoor adventures. GOAT “herd members” range in age from 7-74.
TL is working hard to make Georgetown healthier and get more residents active, while growing an appreciation for our county’s natural resources.
Pete Copeland
Pete Copeland, Battalion Chief at Midway Fire-Rescue was selected as Georgetown County Manager of the Year for 2024. An employee at Midway for nearly 25 years, Copeland is a longtime member of the department's Safety Committee. He has served as its chairman for the last five years and was instrumental in leading the charge for safety in 2024. The normal accident/illness investigations were performed promptly with a major goal of reducing injuries as priority. Copeland always provides feedback and solutions following the investigations.
Additionally, Copeland was responsible for leading the effort to develop and implement a new firefighter ability test to better evaluate whether a firefighter is able to perform essential job functions recommended by the NFPA. This was a long process and ultimately the county received recognition from the SCAC for the effort and its results. Copeland also assisted with development of a new policy pertaining to injured firefighters returning to full duty after being assigned to light duty. He recognized the need of a transition program to better ready these staff members for full duty in an attempt to reduce further injury. He developed and implemented a new committee, the Health and Wellness Committee, to focus more on firefighter fitness and mental wellness.
Copeland volunteered to take on all of this in addition to his regular duties. He brainstorms ideas and recruits the support needed to make them happen without being prompted and without seeking credit or recognition. The ideas he has implemented will benefit the department and its firefighters for many years to come
Jason Stukes
Jason Stukes, a Firefighter/EMT with Midway Fire-Rescue, was selected as Georgetown County's 2024 Employee Volunteer of the Year. The Employee Volunteer of the Year award is presented at the end of each year to recognize one county employee who also volunteers their time and service outside the course of their regular job.
Stukes volunteers with a program called the Emergency Volunteer Project (EVP). The purpose of this program is to provide firefighting assistance to the country of Israel wherever needed. Stukes has been deployed to Israel four times in the last 1.5 years and each time he serves for 2 weeks. He serves to help with staffing fire and EMS needs wherever the organization has a need in Israel. He does this voluntarily and uses shift trades or leave time when deployed. He receives no compensation from the project and it only covers the airfare and living expenses while he is there.
Father Wil Keith
Father Wil Keith of Midway Fire-Rescue was selected as the county's Volunteer of the Year for 2024. At the end of each year, Georgetown County recognizes a non-employee who volunteers for one of its departments and who has stood out above the rest in their commitment and service. Keith, known as "Father Wil," has served the department for 12 years as Fire Department Chaplain. He is always available to offer opening prayers for any event the department hosts or is involved in. He makes himself available to department members for any emotional or mental needs and ministers by presence. He is in the Firehouse several times each week just interacting with the staff. He intentionally arrives at difficult incidents to offer support. He is well versed in the needs of those hurting and understands the balance needed to involve fire department administration when necessary.
At a recent tragic drowning, a tourist lost her life. The tourist was a young adult. Without request, Father Wil arrived on the scene and immediately began emotional support to team members. Once he had spoken with the team, he then began focusing on the family members of the drowning victim. He went back to the place where they were staying and ensured their needs were met and that they had contact with their Pastor at home. He spent the remainder of the evening traveling back and forth between the Firehouses, spending more time with our team.
Father Wil never seeks accolades – he just wants to help others. He has a full-time job with his church and family, but still gives and gives to the community through Midway.
Georgetown County is grateful for all four of these individuals and their service.