Pulaski County FRSST

03/28/2026

💪🏽Physical Wellness - First Responder Wellness Week💪🏽

Physical wellness isn’t about having the fastest mile time or the cleanest diet. It’s about sustainability.

It’s about taking care of the body that carries you through every call, every shift, every long night.

This job is hard on your body. Long hours, unpredictable meals, interrupted sleep, heavy gear, constant stress. But physical wellness doesn’t have to be extreme to matter. It’s the small choices that help you hold the line.

- Getting enough sleep when you can.
- Drinking water instead of another energy drink.
- Getting some kind of movement in, even if it’s not a full workout.
- Letting your body rest instead of pushing through.
- Paying attention when something hurts…and not ignoring it for months.
- Stretching out the tension you’ve been carrying all shift.

It’s not about perfection, it’s about consistency.
And it’s not just about what you are doing to help yourself perform better now. It’s about how you’re still able to show up years from now.

Take care of your body. You need it for the long haul.

❓What small ways do you take care of your body?

03/26/2026

🧠Mental Wellness – First Responder Wellness Week🧠

Mental wellness isn’t just about getting through the shift. It’s about what happens before and after it, too.

The job asks a lot - mentally, emotionally, physically - and over time, if you’re not careful, it starts to take more than it gives.

The small things? They matter more than we give them credit for.

- Getting consistent, quality sleep (even when your schedule fights you).
- Stepping outside and letting your brain breathe for a minute.
- Doing something that has nothing to do with the job (no radio, no uniform, no expectations).
- Laughing with people who know you beyond the badge.
- Talking to someone - whether it’s a friend, family member, your crew, or someone who just gets it.

These aren’t luxuries...they're necessary maintenance, and they can make the difference between carrying the weight of the job alone and actually working through the things that's are weighing on you.

You don’t have to be at a breaking point to take care of your mental health. In fact, the goal is to never get there.

Take care of your mind the same way you take care of your gear - on purpose, consistently, and before something breaks.

👉 What have you done to take care of your mental health lately?

03/25/2026

🚨 FIRST RESPONDER RESILIENCY GALA 🚨
IMPACT STATEMENT & THANK YOUS

Over the past month, we’ve taken the time to finalize everything from our First Responder Resiliency Gala - and we’re proud to share what this incredible community made possible.

Because of you, we raised over $15,000 to support the wellness of our local first responders.

More than the number, it represents something bigger - a community that shows up, stands behind its responders, and reminds them they are not alone when the uniform comes off.

One of the most powerful parts of this event was the support from our local businesses and organizations.

Over 50 businesses contributed to our event through sponsorships, silent auction items, providing baskets, services, gift cards, and more. That generosity speaks volumes about who we are as a community.

♥️LIFELINE SPONSORS♥️
- Uranus, MO
- Sutcliffe Heating, Cooling and Geothermal
- 1*Wellness
- VFW Post 3168
- Waynesville Rural Fire Protection District
- Bow & Barrel Sportsman Center

🛡️SHIELD SPONSORS🛡️
- Blu Phoenix Support
- Missouri Patriot Paws
- American Legion Post 240

🫂ALLY SPONSORS🫂
- Seeger Toyota
- Lone Oak Printing
- Collective Ink
- Nature’s Cure Boutique
- Waynesville Memorial Chapel

⭐️SUPPORTER SPONSORS⭐️
- Warehouse 66
- Napa Auto Parts
- Walker Real Estate
- Maries County Bank
- The Shop at Stumpy Acres
- Riverside Boutique

✨SERVICES✨
Shots by Trent - Photography
Humboldt 1854 - Venue
Weber Events - Plates, Cups & Cutlery
Vidies Catering - Food & Beverages

🧺SILENT AUCTION DONORS🧺
Piney River Taproom
Just Because
Plants & Pages Shop
Lions Den
Downtown Service Station
Steel Fire Massage Therapy
Pampered Paws
DadBod Cookie Company
W4 Artisanry
O'Reilly Autoparts
Freddy's El Cabrito
Big O Tires
Twin Hands Car Wash
Wobbly Wheels Design
Wal-Mart
Cracker Barrel
Bow & Barrel
Club Car Wash
Clean Car Wash
Route 66 Taco Company
Daniel Kallman - Blood Brothers
Bogeys & Beer
Aldi Stoe #81
Auto Zone
Fort Wood Hotels
Rustic Treasures
Ruby Tuesday
Patriot Wood Design
Nature's Cure Boutique
Dixon Pilot
Gasconade Hills Resort
Carolyn Moos - Former WNBA Player, Certified Trainer/Yoga Instructor
R2C - Radio Controlled Racing Co.
Branson Scenic Raleway
St. Louis Cardinals
First Watch
13 Fifty Apparel
Guardian Angel Device
Pulaski Country FRSST
Gillian Combs
Better Together Hair & Tattoo
Rocky Top Pets
Warehouse 66
Dogwood Ridge Wood Shop
Whiskers Barber Shop
Town & Country - Richland

With special gratitude to our featured speakers:
🎤 Sheriff Steven Hogan - Shannon County Sheriff's Office
🎤 Katlyn Wachter - Owner of 1* Wellness & Surviving Spouse of fallen Rolla PD Corporal Andrew Wachter

To every sponsor, donor, and supporter - thank you for being part of our mission. Your support allows us to continue showing up for those who serve our communities every day. Your contributions help carry the weight of the badge.

And to our fellow first responders - we see you, we appreciate you, and we are proud to stand beside you.

03/24/2026

🚨 Pulaski FRSST | First Responder Wellness Week 🚨

We’re a day late…but we’re showing up anyway. Because if there’s one thing we know in this line of work - it’s that perfection isn’t the goal. Showing up is.

This week, we’re focusing on something that often gets pushed to the bottom of the list: YOU.

First responders spend their lives taking care of everyone else - running toward chaos, carrying heavy calls, holding the line for their communities, and often doing it all without ever slowing down long enough to check in with themselves.

But here’s the truth:
You can’t pour from an empty cup.
And burnout doesn’t announce itself…it builds quietly.

So over the next 6 days, we’re going to take a few minutes each day to focus on a different pillar of wellness:

🧠 Mental
💪 Physical
🫶 Emotional
👨‍👩‍👧 Family
🤝 Friends
✨ Spiritual (whatever that means to you)

No lectures. No unrealistic expectations. Just real, practical reminders that taking care of yourself is not weakness, it’s survival.

Whether it’s getting a little more sleep, talking to someone you trust, stepping outside for fresh air, or just taking a breath between calls…it all counts.

This week isn’t about being perfect, it’s about being intentional. Stay with us this week as we break it down - one day, one step, one reminder at a time.

Because you matter too.

03/20/2026

Show your support

03/17/2026

“I am broken” doesn’t have to be the end of the story.
Broken doesn’t mean alone.
Let us stand beside you while you find your way forward.

03/17/2026

Today, Pulaski County is grieving.

We have lost two men who dedicated their lives to serving others - Lieutenant Marcus “Rob” Robison, retired U.S. Army MP and Jail Administrator for the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Office, and Eric Price, retired Richland Police Chief and retired Hazelgreen Fire Chief.

This loss is felt deeply across our first responder community. These are not just colleagues, we are mourning friends, mentors, and members of our own.

There are no perfect words for days like this. Only the weight of the loss, the memories they leave behind, and the impact they had on so many lives. Grief in this profession runs deep, and it looks different for everyone. However it shows up - quietly, heavily, or all at once - it is real, and it matters.

We honor Rob and Eric for their service, their leadership, and the way they showed up for others - day in and day out, without hesitation.

Rest easy, gentlemen.
We’ve got it from here.

03/15/2026

03/15/2026

Father God, we come before You with broken hearts. In this darkest valley, we seek Your peace and comfort. Surround this grieving community with Your loving arms and grant them the strength to face the coming days.

03/13/2026

Looks like a fun time for a great cause!

03/09/2026

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: 3/9/2026
Contact: Brenna Page, Public Information Officer & Clayton W. Gregory, APIO

Pulaski County First Responder Stress Support Team Hosts 1st Annual First Responder Resiliency Gala

WAYNESVILLE, MO – The Pulaski County First Responder Stress Support Team (FRSST) hosted its first annual First Responder Resiliency Gala on Saturday, February 28, 2026, at Humboldt 1854 in Crocker, Missouri.

The purpose of the event was to foster unity, gratitude, and support for the men and women who serve and protect our communities each day. Proceeds from the event will help facilitate resiliency training for team members, expand peer support efforts, and provide access to vital wellness resources for local first responders.

The Pulaski County FRSST would like to recognize Corporal Lisa Valverde of the Richland Police Department, who served as the evening’s emcee. In addition to her role as emcee, Corporal Valverde was instrumental in organizing the event, coordinating sponsors, and assisting with the overall planning and ex*****on of the gala.

The keynote speaker for the evening was Mrs. Kaitlyn Wachter. Mrs. Wachter brings a unique and powerful perspective to the topic of resiliency. She is a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, owner of 1Wellness, and the surviving spouse of fallen Rolla Police Department Corporal Andrew Wachter. Her remarks highlighted the importance of resilience, peer support, and the need for continued mental health resources within the first responder community.

The guest speaker for the evening was Sheriff Steven Hogan of the Shannon County Sheriff’s Office. Sheriff Hogan has served the region as a first responder for more than 20 years and was elected and sworn in as Sheriff of Shannon County, Missouri, in January 2025. Sheriff Hogan highlighted the importance of peer support.

During the event, Secretary Lisa Valverde and Vice President Lara Page were recognized for their dedicated service since the founding of the Pulaski County FRSST.

Additionally, Honey, a certified therapy dog with the Alliance of Therapy Dogs, was recognized by Kelly Brownfield with Missouri Patriot Paws. Honey holds the AKC Canine Good Citizen certification under her registered name, Honey’s FRSST Golden Support, and is trained to perform ADA-recognized tasks, providing valuable emotional support within the first responder community.

The team also recognized Carrie Webber for providing the legal guidance and expertise necessary to help establish the Pulaski County FRSST as a nonprofit organization. Her dedication, patience, and professional support throughout the entire process, including filings, consultations, phone calls, and correspondence—were generously provided on a pro-bono basis.

The Pulaski County FRSST team would also like to thank Firefighter Trenton Rogers for taking photos throughout the evening. Take a look at the snapshots below!

The Pulaski County FRSST would like to extend its sincere appreciation to everyone who attended and supported the event. Your support not only strengthens our organization but also demonstrates a commitment to the well-being of the entire first responder community. We are truly grateful for your continued encouragement and partnership.

03/09/2026