The promotions of five employees re-cently were approved by the Mehlville Fire Protection District’s Board of Directors.

Board members interviewed and voted unanimously Dec. 21 to promote paramedics Nancy Gartner and Doug Weck to lieutenant.

The new lieutenants fill vacancies created by retirements that occurred in 2004.

Board members interviewed and voted unanimously Dec. 22 to promote firefighters John Schindler, Dennis Maag and Ste-ven Stoltz to captain. The new captains were promoted to fill vacancies created by retirements that occurred in 2004.

Gartner, an 11-year veteran of the district, is a certified paramedic instructor.

She also is certified as an instructor in advanced cardiac life support and pediatric advanced life support. Gartner also has served as coordinator for the district’s child safety seat installation program.

Weck, also an 11-year veteran, holds a bachelor’s degree in biology and is certified as an instructor in advanced cardiac life support and pediatric advanced life support.

He also is a cardiopulmonary resuscitation instructor and child safety seat inspector for the district. Weck served as a member of the Fire District Advisory Commit-tee For Tomorrow’s Emergency Services, or FACTS.

Schindler, a 22-year veteran of the district, holds a bachelor’s degree in fire service management and is certified as an emergency medical technician and a hazardous materials technician. He is a current member of the St. Louis County Haz-Mat Team and serves as personal protective equipment manager for the district.

Schindler was presented the Outstanding Community Service Award by the South County Chamber of Commerce in 2003.

He also has served as Mehlville Local 1889 chairman for the annual Fill the Boot campaign for the Muscular Dystrophy Association and Fill the Helmet for the Burn Foundation and Summer Camp.

Maag, a 14-year veteran of the district, holds a bachelor’s degree in fire service administration. He has served as a member of the district’s apparatus committee since 1991 and was instrumental in the development of the district’s current apparatus re-placement plan.

Maag is involved with the district’s Web site and provided information for the recent FACTS presentations.

Stoltz, a 14-year veteran of the district, holds an associate’s degree in fire service technology. He is a two-time recipient of the lifesaving Phoenix Award and received a unit citation for his efforts during the Cliff Cave rescue in 1993.

He has served as chairman of the district’s safety committee since 1996.