NAMED OFFICER OF THE YEAR was Fairfield Police Department's Assistant Chief of Police Houston Flowers who retired this week after 33 years of service. Pictured are: l-r, Houston Flowers and VFW Post Commander James Gunner. During Relay for Life University in Austin, Freestone County Relay for Life teams received special recognition as they took first place in per capita fundraising in the High Plains Division of the American Cancer Society, raising $9.17 per capita in 2008.

The top fundraising teams included Teague Elementary with $10,000 and Fairfield Junior High with $17,259.

Included in the High Plains Division are Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Texas, Hawaii and Guam with over 740 scheduled events.

Teague's Relay for Life event is scheduled for May 1. Director for the Teague Relay for Life team is Linda Stein.

Freestone County will hold its relay on May 15 and is headed by directors Francis Collier and Bettye Trask.

The Freestone County Relay for Life Committee will meet at the Fairfield Conference Center on Tuesday, Feb. 3, at 5:30 p.m.

VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTERS Andrew Baxter and Matt Foree were also recognized during the annual VFW banquet. Pictured are: l-r, Fairfield Fire Chief Bill Brown; VFW Ladies Auxiliary President Ginger Taylor; and honoree Matt Foree. RECOGNIZED AS Freestone County Deputy of the Year was Suzanne Thomas. Pictured are: l-r, Suzanne Thomas and VFW Ladies Auxiliary President Ginger Taylor.