On July 1, Firefighter Jesse Applegate received recognition from the Parkertown Volunteer Fire Company for graduating from the Ocean County Fire Academy.

Applegate celebrated the birth of a new family member and finished the academy's firefighting training program. The graduation and the birth of his child, according to department officials, represented two important turning points in the same time frame.

The department honored Firefighter Applegate for his dedication to serving the Parkertown community and congratulated Jesse and his wife, Jessica, on their expanding family.