[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 41 (Tuesday, March 16, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E449]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  HONORING JULIE SELCHERT, LISA STRANGE, JERRY ASHWELL AND KATHY PLANK

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. RON KIND

                              of wisconsin

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, March 16, 1999

  Mr. KIND. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a local hero 
from western Wisconsin. I want to honor Julie Selchert, Lisa Strange, 
Jerry Ashwell and Kathy Plank who took courageous action to aid another 
citizen.
  For the past three years the Eau Claire Fire Fighters Local Union 
487, in conjunction with the Eau Claire Fire Department, have 
recognized area residents who acted bravely in emergency situations. 
The recipients of the Citizen Community Involvement Awards are citizens 
who put the safety and well being of their neighbors ahead of other 
concerns in a time of need.
  Julie Selchert, Lisa Strange, Jerry Ashwell and Kathy Plank are a few 
of those extraordinary citizens. It was around 6:15 p.m. on August 24, 
1998 at The Regis Hair Salon in the London Square Mall in Eau Claire, 
Wisconsin when there was a small explosion, seriously injuring a salon 
employee. The woman had gone into the dispensary room to gather 
products to refill the retail display shelves in the salon. She reached 
for a can of hair spray but missed and it fell to the floor. As it fell 
the nozzle broke and the contents of the bottle spilled onto the floor. 
The dispensary room filled with the flammable gas. As the woman bent 
over to pick up the bottle there was an explosion and the contents were 
ignited by a gas dryer that was in use. At the sudden noise Lisa 
Strange ran to the room followed by Kathy Plank who told Jerry Ashwell 
to dial 911. Julie Selchert, Kathy's client, began to tear off the 
woman's burning clothes. Lisa grabbed the fire extinguisher and began 
putting out the fire while Julie attempted to calm the woman down. With 
this group working together they were able to help the woman and 
greatly reduce her injuries.
  On behalf of all the citizens of western Wisconsin I ask that the 
United States House of Representatives recognize Julie Selchert, Lisa 
Strange, Jerry Ashwell and Kathy Plank for their courage and thank them 
for being concerned and giving community citizens