The Bethlehem Fire Department recognized the promotions of three long-time veterans and six new hires at a ceremony in Town Hall Feb. 20. Receiving promotions were 21-year veteran Kenneth Jones Jr. to Assistant Chief 'C' Shift; 17-year veteran Craig Hoffert to Training Captain; and 13-year veteran Michael Reich to Lieutenant 'A' Shift.

Fire Chief George Barkanic performed double duty, welcoming the new hires to "a good and honorable and rewarding career," as well as pinning a firefighter's badge on his daughter Mary Alice Maguire, one of the six new firefighters sworn in by Mayor John Callahan. Barkanic said the experience was "amazing."

Joining Maguire, only the second female firefighter ever hired in Bethlehem, in the new class were John Spatig Jr., whose father is Lt. John Spatig Sr., a 28-year veteran of the department; Devin Derrico, whose father Rick is a 19-year Bethlehem firefighter; and Andrew Garger, Jeremy Finan and Michael Lebrun. Garger later withdrew from the class.

The five firefighters remaining will attend the Allentown Fire Academy for training. Their hiring brings the fire department staffing up to 113 and a federal grant is covering the costs for some of the new firefighters.