FPS staff report
April 14, 2009
 A Carroll County man was among The Muskingum Lakes Chapter of the American Red Cross 2009 Hometown Heroes.
The quick response of Joe Sabol, a great-grandfather of Carrollton, saved the lives of his granddaughter and great-grandchildren when a gunman burst into her Carrollton home in June 2008. That afternoon, while participating in their community’s garage sale, Sabol’s granddaughter went inside the house with her two small children. Soon after, a man carrying a shotgun entered the house through a door connected to the garage. The perpetrator, Jason Haught, aimed the shotgun at Sabol’s granddaughter and then grabbed her. When she screamed, he told her to stop or he would take the children. The gunman threw the granddaughter against a wall, and again she yelled for help. Unbeknownst to Haught, Sabol was sitting in the family room nearby. Sabol was able to move quietly and swiftly behind Haught to take the gun from him. Haught then fled from the house into the adjacent woods. Law enforcement conducted a 30-minute search to apprehend Haught. Sabol’s quick, brave feat, along with the speedy response of the police, brought an explosive situation under control as well as a criminal to justice.
Sabol was one of twelve heroes who received awards in front of family members, friends, and other members of the community at the Hometown Heroes’ Dinner April 3 at The Tuscarawas County Senior Center-Myron Phillips Hall.
Other Hometown Heroes for 2009 include: Tuscarawas County Hero, Miranda Liggett of Strasburg; Life Saving Heroes, Bryan Androsky and Amanda Zortman of New Philadelphia and Dan Burrier and Melissa Zortman of Dover; Workplace Hero, Bobby Cooper of New Philadelphia and Roger Thornton of Dennison; Health Care Hero, Erin Kerns of Navarre and Harrison County Hero, Tabatha Dunlap of Jewett.
Serving Carroll, Harrison and Tuscarawas counties, the Muskingum Lakes Chapter is a humanitarian organization, led by volunteers, that provides relief to victims of disasters and helps people prevent, prepare for, and respond to emergencies. For more information on Red Cross visit www.mlcredcross.org. |
