The Midway fire commission voted 3-1 not to return Stephen Demeter to his post as fire chief during an Aug. 12 board meeting.

Demeter, who had been with the department for four years, was released from his contract with a one-year severance package, allowing him ample time to search for another job, said Jacques Gorris, commission chairman. He had been on administrative leave since July 1.
“We wanted to honor his service to the department,” Gorris said of the severance package. “This way he can go off and do great things for another department.”
 

For more on this story, see the Aug. 21 issue of Navarre Press, or subscribe online.