CLINTON —
Clinton residents Bill and Lois Hall have been chosen to represent Iowa as citizen heroes as Iowa plays Nebraska in the second annual “Heroes Game” football contest on Friday.
To the couple, however, it’s their dogs that deserve the recognition.
For more than 15 years, the Halls have used their dogs for search and rescue missions in different communities through their nonprofit and served as reserve deputies with the Clinton County Sheriff’s Office. They currently own three trained dogs: Hawk, a 9-year-old German Shepherd; Deker, an 8-year-old Collie; and Strider, a 2-year-old German Shepherd.
Two of the Halls’ dogs, Hawk and Deker, are also therapy dogs. The Halls’ dogs have provided 25 years of service for therapy visits to local schools and hospitals. They also are active in the Clinton Police Department’s Citizen Police Academy.
“To call us heroes doesn’t seem to match up for us,” Bill said. “From our perspective, our dogs are the heroes. We made the conscious decision to do this for our community, they do it because we asked them to. We are honored.”
The Halls started working with seeing eye dogs when they lived in Delaware before coming to Clinton.
“It’s really the dogs that have brought us to what we do,” Lois said.
The Halls were nominated because they provide more than 1,500 hours a year volunteering their specially trained K-9’s through the search and rescue and therapy work.
Clinton County Sherriff Rick Lincoln during a press conference on Wednesday morning said he nominated the Halls because of the amount of time they give to helping the community.
“In addition to all the hours they volunteer to Clinton County, we realize all of the other activities they volunteer their time with in the community,” Lincoln said. “This is a perfect opportunity to show them some true appreciation not just from the Sherriff’s office but from everyone for all the hours they’re willing to donate for free.”
The Halls were one of 58 nominations from Iowa and Nebraska received by Hy-Vee stores and the Red Cross for two committees of Red Cross leaders to make the selection from.
“You guys have really exemplified what it means to be a local hero,” Executive Director of the Gateway Area Chapter of the Red Cross Amber Wood said, “You make a difference to us.”
Even after being praised, the Halls remained humble.
“We just do it because it’s the right thing to do,” Bill said.
The couple will be recognized on the field during the sold out Iowa versus Nebraska game Friday in Iowa City.
Features
Related Photos
-
Lois and Bill Hall, of Clinton, talk about their dogs, Deker and Hawk, during a press conference at the Gateway Area Chapter of the Red Cross on Wednesday. The Halls are being honored as citizen heroes during the Iowa versus Nebraska game on Friday in Iowa City. Katie Dahlstrom/Clinton Herald
Discussion
November 22, 2012
Clinton residents chosen as ‘heroes’
- Features
-
-
Okla. front pages capture tornado aftermath
View how several Oklahoma newspapers covered Monday's massive tornado in Moore. Please note that officials revised the death toll downward early Tuesday morning after some papers were printed, but it is expected to climb again as recovery efforts continue.
-
Striding for awareness
CAMANCHE -- Organizers for the third annual Strides for Clinton County Autism Family Walk and 5K run agreed that Saturday's turnout was better than last year. "It's getting bigger every year," Lori Bigwood, one of the organizers for the event, said.
-
Nancy Holt
CAMANCHE -- Nancy Holt, 65, of Camanche, had a port placed in her chest this week to facilitate weekly plasma infusions. She said this is the best way to treat Alpha-1. For the past few years, Nancy's health has been declining. At the same time, her
-
Students honored at ceremony
CLINTON -- Seventy-four students from Clinton High School's class of 2013 were honored Thursday during the 27th annual senior honors convocation. The class of 2013 has taken more Advanced Placement tests and has earned some of the highest scores on
-
Group eyes bandshell improvement
CLINTON -- A group of Clinton volunteers wants to transform the Riverview bandshell from an unkempt structure to an attractive venue for community events. Members of Vision 8, a Clinton-based nonprofit organization working together to improve the ima
-
Cool Streak Snapped
CLINTON -- It didn't take long for the Gateway-area to bust out of a recent cool streak that extended through the weekend. In fact, the swing temperature was record-breaking. Tuesday's high of 93 degrees broke a record high from 1932. The temperature
-
Bidding farewell
CLINTON -- For the first time in 55 years, Mark Kapusinski will not have a first day of school to anticipate. The Clinton vocal music teacher is retiring after 29 years with the Clinton School District. His wife Nancy also is retiring. With 22 years
-
Growing Together
CLINTON -- Apartment dwellers and those with small yards can still rent plots in Clinton's community garden. The community garden, located at the corner of 13th Avenue North and North 14th Street, was tilled Wednesday for the planting season. Kelli
-
A road block to businesses?
Camanche Avenue is expected to open Clinton to a bevy of new business and economic activity, but some business owners along the torn-up highway say the construction that started last April has nearly led them to close.
-
In the water's wake: Library works to be fully operational after recent flood damage
CLINTON — In the three weeks since the Clinton Public Library basement was flooded, city and library staff have been working to repair the damage, but the fixes are far from being complete and the Root Cellar remains closed.
- More Features Headlines
-
