New Hampton Woman Among Four People Honored by Governor for Lifesaving Efforts
A New Hampton woman is among four Iowans honored for their heroic efforts during The Governor’s Lifesaving Awards on Wednesday (12.03) in Des Moines.
During the ceremony, Governor Kim Reynolds said, “Courage is what transforms ordinary people into heroes and that’s what makes today so special because the people we’re honoring would never think of themselves that way. They will tell you they just did what anyone would have done, but we know that not everyone runs toward danger.”
Meagan Murray, a letter carrier from New Hampton, was the first to be recognized, with Iowa Public Safety Commissioner Stephen Bayens recounting Murray’s efforts to rescue an 85-year-old woman from a burning home in New Hampton on September 30, 2024.
Other honorees included Kyle Peterson of Spirit Lake, who ran half a mile across ice on East Okoboji Lake to rescue a couple who’d been tossed from their U-T-V into open water in January.
Michael Edwards of Clinton helped rescue a friend who was cutting a new fishing hole in a Jackson County lake when the ice buckled and the man slid into the water.
John Wonio helped rescue a neighbor from her burning home in December 2024 after he rushed through the front door and found the unconscious woman…and dragged her to safety.”
