Published on November 5, 2008

Pictured above in the front row, left to right, are: Gail Fortin, Annette Lapierre, Sydney Lapierre, and Olivia Lapierre. In the second row are Emile “Bill” Lapierre, Devon Lapierre, April Lapierre, Karen Lapierre, Dustin Lapierre, Debbie Lapierre, Heather Lapierre, and Mindy Pickel. In the back row are: Bob Wesoja, Tim Cota, Sheriff Kirk Martin, Orleans Fire Chief Nate Peart, Jesse Palmer, Robin Beaton, Mark Tinker, and Barry Burnham. Photo by Bethany M. Dunbar

Annette Lapierre was honored by emergency workers from the Orleans fire department and ambulance squad and Orleans County Sheriff Kirk Martin on Thursday, October 30, for 38 years of service as the emergency dispatcher.  She was presented with a plaque for her dedicated service.

With her were family members who described growing up in the Lapierre household and how the six kids and grandchildren had better get out of the way when that red phone rang because it had to be answered quickly.

One weekend a year Mrs. Lapierre and her husband, Emile, would go to the state fire convention.  Their daughter Karen said she kept a special suitcase under her bed for that weekend, and if she got new clothes she would put them into the suitcase to save for that trip.

Mr. Lapierre, retired fire chief for the Orleans department, recalls the day he first saw his future bride.  He was riding with the milk truck driver when he was just a little boy and he noticed a little curly-haired girl at one of the farms.

“I was interested in trucks,” he said.  That didn’t change, really, but he became interested in the little

Emile “Bill” Lapierre and Annette Lapierre look over a plaque just presented to Mrs. Lapierre in gratitude for dispatching services for the past 38 years. At left is Gail Fortin, and at right is Sydney Lapierre.

curly-haired girl as well.