HORACE MANN 5th GRADER TAKES RIDE AS JR. FIRE CHIEF

Horace Mann fifth-grader Sydney Wilhelmy may have been worried when a Lakewood fire truck stopped in front of his house on Thursday morning before school. But the worry surely soon turned to smiles as the city's newest Jr. Fire Chief found out he would be riding in the front seat of the rig on his way to school.

The special ride, which included a quick tour around the city before heading to school, was thanks to the winning essay Sydney wrote on fire prevention. The Lakewood Fire Department spent the week visiting the district elementary schools during the annual Fire Prevention Week. As part of the week's activities, fifth-graders are asked to write an essay on the year's theme, which was "Know Two Ways Out."

Sydney had the honor of reading his standout essay at the annual memorial for fallen firefighters held at the Madison Avenue fire station on Oct. 7. He was also honored at a school assembly on Oct. 9, along with honorary fire captain and fellow fifth-grader Taylor Kocian. But the cherry on top was the suprise truck ride, a new element that the fire department added this year to honor their junior chief.

It certainly was the ride-of-a-lifetime for Sydney, who was greeted like a rock star by his classmates when he stepped off the truck with smile as wide as West Clifton.