News Detail

Two Franklin County 911 Dispatchers Honored With ‘Stork Awards’

Emergency Services

August 29, 2025

Franklin County Commissioner Chairman Dean Horst (left) and Assistant County Administrator John Thierwechter (right) presented Payden Miller and Sherry Cochran with their Emergency Health Services Federation stork awards on Aug. 27. Fellow telecommunicators Derek Hawbaker and Kaleb Longe joined Miller and Cochran for their recognition.

CHAMBERSBURG, Pa. – The Franklin County Commissioners joined the Emergency Health Services Federation (EHSF) in recognizing Franklin County Department of Emergency Services 911 telecommunicators Sherry Cochran and Payden Miller for their roles in the recent births of two new Franklin County residents.

Also known as a “stork award,” the EHSF Prehospital Delivery Commendation is presented to certified emergency medical service (EMS) providers who assisted in the delivery of a baby in the field. To be eligible for this award, EMS personnel must deliver a baby before arriving at a hospital and must have participated in assisting with patient care during the birth.

On May 14, Cochran answered a 911 call for a Greencastle Borough woman in active labor. Through her quick response and by using various forms of training and protocol instructions, Cochran promptly dispatched appropriate EMS resources to the caller’s location and successfully instructed the caller through a prehospital delivery of a baby boy.

Similarly, Miller answered a 911 call for a woman in active labor in Chambersburg Borough on June 20 and, like Cochran, was able to walk the caller through the successful prehospital delivery of a baby girl. The prehospital deliveries were the first for both Cochran and Miller.

“Anytime you can welcome a new life into the world is a joyous occasion, and for two of our telecommunicators to play an essential role in delivering these babies is something to celebrate,” said Franklin County Commissioner Chairman Dean Horst. “Being a 911 dispatcher is far from an easy job, but moments like this make the job worthwhile.”

The EHSF congratulated Cochran and Miller on their special efforts and for being an integral part of advancing prehospital care in south central Pennsylvania.