Two Midland Power Cooperative linemen were recognized in a surprise presentation by a member who credits the pair for saving her life.
Early on the morning of June 11, Penny LaMar, 76, was taking her dogs out when she slipped and fell outside her home northwest of Boone, fracturing her femur.
LaMar, who is also diabetic, was unable to get up and found herself lying on her back in the mud. With her blood sugar dropping, her mobile phone still inside, and her husband away on a fishing trip, she began to fear for her life.
For three hours, LaMar lay immobilized as her blood sugar continued to fall into a critical range. A recently retired physician assistant, LaMar recognized that without help, she’d likely die.
That's when Midland Power Cooperative linemen Justin Schmidt and Gerod Schafer spotted her while responding to an outage at a neighboring home. The two quickly sprang into action, calling 911 and helping to stabilize and comfort LaMar until emergency responders arrived.
To thank them for their compassion and quick thinking, LaMar presented the linemen with special awards during the cooperative's August safety meeting.
“Justin and Gerod’s actions that morning reinforced that our mission is more than just providing power, it’s about improving lives,” said Midland Power CEO Bill McKim. “They saw someone in need of help and didn’t hesitate to act. We’re incredibly proud of the compassion and professionalism they showed when Penny needed it most.”
The presentation was covered by several local media outlets, including KCCI 8 News, Raccoon Valley Radio, and the Ames Tribune.
