Jeff Hawes receives Meritorious Award at Governor's Lifesaving Awards Ceremony at the Iowa State Fair ...

Jeff Hawes of Waukon (far right in photo) was presented with a Meritorious Service Award during the Governor's Lifesaving Awards and Outstanding Service Awards Ceremony held at the Susan Knapp Amphitheater on the Iowa State Fairgrounds during the opening day of the Iowa State Fair in Des Moines Thursday, August 10. The Meritorious Award is presented to those individuals who have rendered expeditious service in a time of emergency, and Hawes received the award for the role he played in rescuing a West Union man, Les Keune, after he fell through the ice while ice fishing on the Mississippi River near New Albin in February of 2016. It was Keune, himself, who nominated Hawes for the honor. Hawes has said that he was just fortunate enough to be in the right place at the right time for the rescue, as he was just pulling up to the Army Road boat landing near New Albin with his hovercraft and offered the vehicle and his assistance to the New Albin Fire Department in getting to the scene of the rescue much quicker than what the department's regular equipment would have required, a time difference credited with saving Keune's life after he had been in the cold February water for what is estimated to be a half hour. Pictured above, left to right, at the award presentation are Iowa Lt. Governor Adam Gregg, Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds and Jeff Hawes of Waukon. Photo courtesy of Iowa State Fair/Steve Pope.