Portage Fire Chief Clayton Simonson said he was aware that his emotions tend to show during events like the one he attended Wednesday at City Hall, but he gave a speech with only one pause as he took the podium to remark on his final week in charge of the department.
âIâve had a very rewarding career here,â Simonson said. âIâve just enjoyed my career.â
After 41 years with the Portage Fire Department and 16 years at the helm, Simonson is retiring. His final day will be Dec. 23.
Though the pandemic made the ceremony look a little different as a few officials gathered in the basement of the municipal building, donning masks and giving speeches to a camera streaming the proceeding live on social media rather than to a crowd of well-wishers, people still shared stories and laughs typical to a celebration that marks the end of an era.
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