Announcing 2012’s First Our Town, Our Heroes Finalists!
By: Stephanie Lewis
February 13, 2012 9:00 am CT
Today we are proud to announce the first round of finalists for the 2012 Our Town, Our Heroes program. Each has been nominated for exceptional and inspiring actions in his or her community, and all are truly making a difference in Illinois.
But there can only be one winner! Voting for this round of Our Town, Our Heroes ends on Monday, February 27 at 5:00 p.m. CST. At the end of the voting period, the hero with the most votes will be crowned the winner, receiving a one-week loan of a Chevrolet, Buick, GMC or Cadillac vehicle, as well as $500 in gift cards. The winning hero’s nominator, as well as the runner-up hero and nominator, will receive one-week vehicle loans as well.
Along with an extended two-week voting period and the runner-up prizes, new to the program this year is the ability to cast your vote once per day. Don’t forget to spread the word so your family and friends can vote for your favorite hero!
Read about the first round of finalists and cast your vote for the hero who inspires you most below.
Terron Edmonds from Chicago, nominated by Danny Lewis
Terron is a tireless worker for Alzheimer’s awareness. He is constantly hosting fundraisers to collect donations for this cause. Terron founded a non-profit in honor of his grandmother, Mae Ward, and has inspired countless volunteers involved in this cause by promoting and spreading the word about Alzheimer’s disease. Terron aims to make a difference and strives to help others in everything he does.
Gregg Heineman from Hawthorn Woods, nominated by Sally Heineman
My husband Gregg is a local hero because he dedicates so much of his time volunteering with the South Lake County Regional Citizens Emergency Response Team (CERT), helping local police and fire departments with emergencies, traffic and hazard issues, and community and public safety awareness events. His extensive CERT training enables him to respond to situations where extra help is needed. He is always willing to go the extra mile to help others, whether with CERT or not, even going out in snowstorms to help tow stranded motorists out of snow banks! In fact, he has equipped his Chevrolet Avalanche with towing equipment and lights so he has the most effective vehicle possible! He inspires our three children and me to always put others first, and I believe he is truly a hometown hero.
Mike Landacre from Decatur, nominated by Jordan Trump
Mike touches the lives of hundreds of people every year through coaching, support of local events and involvement in his church community. He is a true community builder. Mike can always be counted on to do the right thing and stand up for others to ensure they are treated with respect. He is a lifelong friend to everyone he meets and is always there for you. Mike teaches the youth he works with the importance of good character and hard work. Most importantly, he sets an example for them through his daily actions. Mike is heroic is everything he does!
Brian Moody from Tuscola, nominated by Rob Kleiss
Brian dedicates 90 percent of his time working to improve the city of Tuscola, yet still manages to find time for his wife and two wonderful little boys. Furthermore, he finds even more time to help his friends with home improvement and remodeling projects, such as putting on a new roof or painting a house. He has been a City Council member, is a volunteer fireman and an assistant coroner, heads up the farmer’s market in Downtown Tuscola, arranges the city’s Fourth of July activities, and is currently our front man for Tuscola Economic Development. I feel Brian deserves and is more than worthy of a title as a hometown hero. If there is something that needs to be done, such as volunteer work or a project leader, you will surely see Brian at the front of the line ready to do what he can to make it happen.
Sarah Vargo from Chicago, nominated by Estrella Rosenberg
Sarah gives her wonderful heart and energy to many local causes and charities. As the founder of Maven, Sarah uses her network and events she hosts to raise money and awareness for dozens of charities each year. Sarah has an extra special interest in One Hope United, a local charity whose mission is to protect children and strengthen families by providing safe homes. Sarah has helped One Hope and many more charities fundraise to carry out their missions and raise awareness to further their cause, making her a hero to each charity she helps. Each year, Sarah recognizes the “angels” of Chicago – those who work tirelessly for their causes; yet she doesn’t accept a shred of recognition for her own hard work. I’m proud to nominate Sarah and her beautiful heart!
Loading ...Remember you can vote once per day for your favorite hero. We actively monitor voting to ensure all votes abide by the Official Rules of Our Town, Our Heroes.
Voting for this round of Our Town, Our Heroes ends on Monday, February 27 at 5:00 p.m. CST, and we will announce the winning hero on Tuesday, February 28. Follow @DrivingMidwest for real-time updates about the program.
Tags: Brian Moody, Gregg Heineman, Mike Landacre, OTOH 2012, our heroes, our town, Sarah Vargo, Terron Edmonds
Go Sarah!
Go Vargo Go!! So proud to be called your friend, love you and good luck!! =)
Team Terron is in the building!!!
I voted for @sarahvargo in the Our Town, Our Heroes Finalists, vote for her as well!!! http://drivingthemidwest.com/2012otoh1/
Woooo Go Gregg! Definitely a Town Hero
Stargo! You are the best… Go Stargo I love you! Sending you warm energy
Gregg, I salute your fine work with CERT and in your selfless acts of kindness and in helping your fellow man. The in life its people like you that inspire greatness in others. You deserve this!
Terron is not only a hero he is a super hero!!
Terron represent!!
Terron is the most dedicated, honest, hard working man I have ever met. His dedication to Alzheimer's is amazing and unrelentless. No one else deserves this more!!!
While everyone has some very worthwhile causes, Gregg has done more than an excellent job for South Lake County Regional Community Emergency Response Team (CERT).
C'mon Gregg….let's go our brothers and sisters on the fire, police departments!
GO SARAH!!!
Terron till the end!!
Do it BIG Sarah!!!!!!!!!!!!!, http://www.facebook.com/kayquarii
CONGRATS ON THE NOMINATION SARAH!!! Love you and all that you do! You have my
Vote
Thank you! Please keep voting for me daily
Thank you! Please keep voting for me daily and tell your friends!
Thank you girl! Please keep voting for me daily and tell your friends!
Thanks girl! Please keep voting for me daily! Tell your friends and thank you for your love and support! xoxo
Gregg, my brother, has been a pillar in our immediate and extended family. I have been so proud of his efforts in getting the training to allow him to help others in emergencies as well as volunteering his time to support the local serivces at community events. He has willingly sacrificed his personal time to offer this support during weekends, holidays….basically on call 24/7. Even if he doesn't win this, I'm happy to see he's getting the recognition for his tireless efforts.
Thank you Tressa!
Keep voting for me!!
Thank you! Hopefully I have your VOTESSSS….you can vote once each day! xoxo
Thank you so much! Keep voting for me daily! I need your support, Kayo!!!!
Please vote for Sarah! She deserves it!
Thanks Carney!!! Keep voting, miss you tons!!
You got my vote Sarah! You're the best!
Mike Landacre is the man! The [H]ardest dude around!
Mikey Mikey – He's Our Man!!!
What a Great Pillar of our Community!!! His work with the youth of Macon County goes above and beyond!!!
Vote for Terron
You're on the move!! GO
Let’s go team Terron!!
Mike is a hero in our community!
Terron!!!!!!!!!
Go Gregg! You deserve this, everyone in Hawthorn Woods knows you do!
Gregg is a treasure.
Team Terron Edmonds all the way!
Vote for my daddy!!! He deserves this more than any person I know! He dedicates his time to everybody and never complains! He's always willing to help and is the most generous, kind-hearted person I know. Vote for GREGG!!!!
I am honored to be chosen as a finalist! I have to say great work to Gregg, Terron, Mike and Brian! Honored to be in a group of great people like you! Much love
Go Sarah! Love you girl! Muah!
Terron!
Vote for Terron!!!
TEAM LANDACRE
Go Sarah!!!!
Go Mike Go!!!
Good Luck Sarah! You have such compassion for all the hard workers in Chicago!
Lets Go #TeamSupport day 3 of voting for the beautiful @SarahVargo. Please vote for Sarah! She deserves it!
Go Terron!!!! You’re amazing and you absolutely deserve this!!!!
Keep up all the great work, very much needed and appreciated.
Good Luck Sarah!
YAY Gregg…..what is not mentioned about this "hometown hero" is that his (and his amazing wife) are also huge advocates for the animals. They have adopted all of their dogs and many of them were "special needs" such as seniors, or getting ready to be killed because of a medical condition. This is when Gregg's heart truly shines through. We love Gregg and Sally for their devotion to the shelter animals and to their family. Gregg truly defines the words, "hometown hero". He is a hero to us at Ralphie's Place.
Team Terron is coming!
Kickin ass Terron! Terron he is so hot right now terron!
Sarah all the way!!!
I would like to wish all the nominees the best in all their endeavors 2/27 and beyond, I keep seeing superlatives like, "best," "most deserving," "hardest worker," and "hero." I can only speak for myself when I say, I'm only as good as the support group that surrounds me. You guys are the best. #teamterron is nowhere without you guys. Continue to vote, and continue spreading the word to friends and family. I can say this without hesitation, my support group is an endless, tireless number of college, work, and everyday friends, as well as a patience family that went through incredible hardships before I decided to start my foundation. Love you all.
GO GREGG!!! Without you our team wouldn’t be the same, thank you for everything you do!
Go Terron!
"Go Vargo! Jimmy Jam Sent Me
"Go Vargo! Jimmy Jam Sent Me."
Go Vargo! Jimmy Jam Sent Me.
vote for BRIAN!!
Go Vargo. Jimmy Jam sent me.
"Go Vargo! Jimmy Jam Sent Me."
Go Vargo! Jimmy Jam Sent Me."
Go Vargo! Jimmy Jam Sent Me.
Terron all the way!!!
Go Vargo! Jimmy Jam sent me
"Go Vargo! Jimmy Jam Sent Me."
” GO Vargo! Jimmy Jam sent me “
sarah…
Go Vargo! Jimmy Jam Sent Me!
Go Sarah….
Awesome job TERRON!! Keep up the votes everyone!!
Ok day #5 of voting for my girl @SarahVargo Let’s Go Vote!!!
GO VARGO!!!!
Go Mike Go!!!!
Mike landacre is the best husband ever and deserves your vote. He cares for so much for his community.
Go get em T'Rock Steady!!!
Go Gregg!
Mike's always cheering us on as we cross the finish line. Now it's our turn to cheer him on. Go Mike and thank you!
Good luck Gregg, and thank you for rescuing me on icy streets two winters in a row.
TERRON!!! TERRON!! TEAM TERRON!
team Sarah Cargo always! You are already a winner in my eyes! Keep doing for those that can’t or don’t have the voice or means to do for themselves.
You go Gregg. You are definitely my HERO. Your tireless work & dedication for our CERT team certainly makes you stand out. Although all your efforts are silent, we all here them loud & clear. We would not be the AWESOME team we are without you. So, from the bottom of my heart, Thank You !!!!!
Yup Yup !! Go Terron
Congrats to all for the great work you all do! Greg works tirelessly not only as an individual volunteer as Sally has stated, but he also takes on so much extra workload to lead the CERT team which enables all the members to be organized, prepared, and responsive!
The CERT team is called on for many emergencies providing traffic control, first aid, and other critical roles allowing police, fire, and EMS to focus on other pressing issues.
How come Landacre will have a 500+ vote surge one day and have a 60 vote surge another?
What is his charitable work exactly? Who is voting for him?
Terron
WHAT IS HAPPENING???!!! are you guys checking for cheating???!!!! brian moody go from under a 1000 votes to over 3000 votes in a matter of hours! Check the votes.
Go mike landacre. You are my hero!
TERRON!!!
My brother-in-law Gregg consistently gives his time and skills to others… CERT, coaching youth sports and family members. He is a great help to all who know him. His way is to give; he lives his life that way. I feel very lucky that my little sister gets to share a life with such a man.
It seems like all of these great people have some shady things going on in order to have such drastic changes in their daily votes. I wonder who is moderating all of this?
Funny how Terron has always had a pretty great honest lead and all of a sudden these 2 other "great guys" have passed him up by hundreds of votes in just hours. That's okay, Terron….you are one of the best people ever and if you don't win….that's okay….because you didn't win honestly…..so much better than winning DIShonestly! Love you, Terron! You are our hero!
Wow, i must congratulate Brian Moody for receiving 2,700 votes from friday night through saturday morning! Awesome voter turnout… if only those same 2,700 individual people voted every day, you’d have a commanding lead… friend
Let's go Team Terron!!!
I would like to thank all of my friends, family and fellow CERT members for your votes and kind words. I don't do this volunteer work for the recognition but to give back to my community. I joined my first CERT team after 9/11, and it has enabled me to meet many wonderful people. Our team has grown a lot over the last few years both in members and in training. I am proud to serve side by side with my teammates and to help support the members of the police and fire service. Thank you all again, and a special congratulations to my fellow nominees.
Haven't been able to vote for 2 days now…don't know why. Regardless of the outcome, my husband is a true hero and I am so very proud of all that he does. Love you, baby!
Thank you for commenting. We have been blown away by the hero finalists who have rallied their communities to cast votes here on DrivingtheMidwest.com. Please be assured our team monitors voting and trends around the clock to ensure every vote abides by our Official Rules (http://drivingthemidwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/OTOH-Rules-final-2012.pdf).
I hope the awarded "Hero*" won the honest way. 2700 votes in less than 1 day? Right, maybe if you're Scott Baio.