DEMOREST, Ga. – White County Emergency Medical Services has been awarded the 2026 EMS Service of the Year Award. The agency was recognized at the recent Region 2 EMS Awards Ceremony at Piedmont University in Demorest.
The White County team was recognized for its clinical excellence, community outreach, and regional education efforts. Its accomplishments include earning an American Heart Association Mission: Lifeline EMS achievement award, maintaining a prehospital blood program, offering community safety courses, and supporting training partnerships throughout Northeast Georgia.
Emergency Medical Services professionals from across North Georgia gathered at Piedmont for the ceremony. The annual event recognizes excellence in emergency pre-hospital care throughout the 13-county region, which includes Banks, Dawson, Forsyth, Franklin, Habersham, Hall, Hart, Lumpkin, Rabun, Stephens, Towns, Union, and White counties.
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Dr. Gary Kempler “Trauma Call of the Year” Award — Lindsay Haynes and Katrina Mauldin, Habersham County Emergency Services: Haynes and Mauldin were recognized for treating and rapidly evacuating a critically injured stabbing victim while working in a volatile scene with an ongoing threat nearby. Their courage, teamwork, and advanced trauma care contributed to the patient’s stabilization and survival.
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Dr. David Westfall “Medical Call of the Year” Award — Joshua Eaton, Jayden Magante, Cameron Lucas and Steven Ellis, Habersham County Emergency Services: The Station 9 crew was honored for its response when a walk-in patient rapidly deteriorated and suffered cardiac arrest at the station. The crew successfully restored the patient’s pulse and continued advanced care during transport. The patient arrived at the hospital alert and was discharged several days later.
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Dr. Everett Roseberry “Pediatric Call of the Year” Award — Michael Ayers and Lukas Nunns, Franklin County EMS: Ayers and Nunns were recognized for their response to a serious head-on collision involving multiple patients, including two critically injured children. Their rapid triage, treatment and coordination of air and ground transportation contributed to both pediatric patients making full recoveries.
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Randall W. Townley “Pioneer” Award — James “Jimmy” Yon, Habersham County Emergency Services: Yon was honored for his decades of dedicated service to Habersham County and Tallulah Falls. His reliability, behind-the-scenes support and commitment to coworkers and the community have made a lasting impact on emergency services in the area.
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Chief Danny Bowman “Leadership” Award — Brandon Gibson, Franklin County EMS: Gibson was recognized for leading several initiatives that have strengthened patient care, including evidence-based standing orders, prehospital blood administration, expanded provider education and a comprehensive quality improvement program. He also serves as chair of the Region 2 EMS for Children Committee and contributes to other regional initiatives.
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Samuel L. Stone “Educator of the Year” Award — Jake Murray, Franklin County EMS: Murray was honored for his dedication to educating and developing current and future EMS professionals. In addition to serving as the lead paramedic instructor at North Georgia Technical College, he has developed creative training opportunities and helped improve credentialing and quality assurance efforts within Franklin County EMS.
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Gina Ayers “EMT of the Year” Award — Carson Cranford, Forsyth County Fire Department: Cranford was recognized for his commitment to patient care, professional growth and service to others. As an Advanced EMT, Fire Apparatus Operator and member of the Technical Rescue Team, he consistently demonstrates clinical excellence, leadership and a willingness to advocate for patient and responder safety.
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Kirby Butler “Paramedic of the Year” Award — John Moore, Hart County EMS: Moore was honored for his clinical excellence, compassion and positive influence on patients and coworkers. After being diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia in March 2026, he remained committed to supporting others throughout his treatment and has since entered remission and returned to work.
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