Woman awarded after saving boy from drowning

Honor stems from July 2019 incident at Mosquito Lake park

SALEM -- Look out for each other, be kind, be respectful -- humbling words from a humble Carnegie Hero.

Yet Salem resident Melinda Wilms still doesn't think of herself as a hero.

When she spoke briefly in council chambers after receiving the Carnegie Medal on what was made Melinda Wilms Day in her hometown, her focus remained on the boy she saved from drowning on July 29, 2019, at Mosquito Lake. She still thinks about him and said she hopes he has a good life.

That's what she wants for everybody -- kindness, respect and altruism.

And according to Carnegie Hero Fund Commission President and Secretary Eric Zahren, that's the definition of a hero.

He personally has awarded the Carnegie Medal to heroes from every walk of life, race and background for several years now.

"What they have in common is they made that moral choice," he said.

The Carnegie Medal isn't a life-saving award or a lifetime achievement award, he said. The stories of the heroes, many who died while trying to save a stranger, are all life-and-death situations.

"We honor and recognize the moral choice that is made by the rescuer," Zahren said.

The commission gives awards to 10 percent of the nominees and of those who are honored as Carnegie Heroes, 20 percent are recognized posthumously.

Wilms was with her sister Tricia and her nephews at the lake when several kids were playing with a soccer ball and a 12-year-old boy who chased the ball into deeper water started struggling.

Christine Beheler, a stay-at-home mom from Niles, had brought the children to the lake and swam out to the boy, who was panicking and submerged her as she tried to help. Mark Krempasky, a Warren police sergeant, and Wilms responded, and Wilms was able to extend a pool noodle to the boy and talk to him, towing him to shore. Krempasky tried to help Beheler, who perished. Both Beheler and Krempasky were honored as Carnegie Heroes for their efforts that day.

"I'm grateful we were there. My sister responded very quickly," Tricia said.

U.S. Rep. Bill Johnson, R-Marietta, presented Wilms a proclamation, telling her "your character serves as an example to many."

"Today, we honor a true local hero," he said.

Salem Mayor John Berlin also read from a proclamation declaring Monday as Melinda Wilms Day, noting she's a Salem product, a graduate of Salem High School who served as a lifeguard at Centennial Pool and also during college.

"After several years of living out of state, we are very pleased to have her back home in Salem," he said.

Wilms serves as a special education teacher and intervention specialist with Akron City Schools. She actually skipped the first day back to school for teachers to receive the award.

When the students return to school, she'll have something special for show and tell. She also receives a monetary award as part of the honor, which she said earlier this year that she'll donate.