HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 06-03-2003 - 5bORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: June 3, 2003
Action Agee
Item No.
SUBJECT: Resolution of Commendation for Donna Torain and Teresa Daniels
DEPARTMENT: County Commissioners PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No
ATTACHMENT(S):
Resolution of Commendation
INFORMATION CONTACT:
Commissioner Steve Halkiotis
TELEPHONE NUMBERS:
Hillsborough 732-8181
Chapel Hill 968-4501
Durham 688-7331
Mebane 336-227-2031
PURPOSE: To consider a resolution officially commending Ms. Donna Torain and Ms. Teresa
Daniels for their courage and heroism in saving the life of Brandon Robbins, an Orange County
Schools student.
BACKGROUND: Donna Torain is a long-time Orange County resident and, for the past
fourteen years, has driven a special needs school bus for the Orange County Schools system.
Teresa Daniels has been a bus monitor for the Orange County Schools system for the past four
years.
On May 19, 2003, Ms. Torain was traveling on her morning bus route to pick up children on
Lebanon Road and had stopped at 7:10 a.m. to pick up Brandon Robbins, an Orange County
Schools student who is physically handicapped and in a wheelchair. When she stopped the
bus at his house, Brandon was rolling down the driveway calling out that he had heard gunshots
from his home.
Realizing that she and her bus monitor, Teresa Daniels, were the only ones in a position to
assist Brandon, and with total disregard for their own personal well-being, Ms. Torain and Ms.
Daniels lowered the handicap ramp and manually pulled Brandon to safety on the bus. As Ms.
Torain pulled the bus away with the handicap ramp still down, she called the Orange County
bus garage to alert them to call 911 about this emergency.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: There is no financial impact associated with approval of the resolution.
RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board. approve the resolution
commending Ms. Torain and Ms. Daniels for their heroic efforts and authorize the Chairto sign
the resolution.
2
Orange County Board of Commissioners
ResoCution of Commendation
for
Donna Lorain and7eresa Daniels
WHEREAS, Donna Torain is a long-time Orange County resident and, for the past fourteen years,
has driven a special needs school bus for the Orange County Schools system; and,
WHEREAS, Ms. Teresa Daniels has been a bus monitor for the Orange County Schools system for the
past four years; and,
WHEREAS, on May 19, 2003, Ms. Torain was traveling on her morning bus route to pick up children
on Lebanon Road and had stopped at 7:10 a.m. to pick up Brandon Robbins, an Orange
County Schools student who is physically handicapped and in a wheelchair, and when
she stopped the bus at his house, Brandon was rolling down the driveway calling out
that he had heard gunshots from his home; and,
WHEREAS, realizing that she and her bus monitor, Teresa Daniels, were. the only ones in a position
to assist Brandon, and with. total disregard for their own personal well-being, Ms. Torain
and Ms. Daniels lowered the handicap ramp and manually pulled Brandon to safety on
the bus; and,
WHEREAS, as Ms. Torain pulled the bus away with the handicap ramp still down, she called the
Orange County bus garage to alert them to ca11911 about this emergency; and,
WHEREAS, Ms. Torain and Ms. Daniels do not see themselves as heroes, but as citizens willing to
help someone else in need;
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Orange County Board of Commissioners officially
commends Donna Torain and Teresa Daniels for their courage and heroism in saving
the life of Brandon Robbins, and in the bravery they demonstrated through their faith,
humility and perseverance.
BE TT FURTHER RESOLVED that this resolution be presented to Ms. Donna Torain and Ms. Teresa
Daniels, with a copy sent to the press, to express our appreciation for their heroic efforts in this
extraordinary and dangerous situation in order to save the life of another human being, in this case
a student in Orange County.
This the 3rd day of June, 2003.
Margaret W. Brown, Chair
Orange County Board of Commissioners