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Joe Maus honored another eight people in the community Wednesday afternoon at his two Albemarle car dealerships for his monthly “Hometown Heroes” event.

Each month two veterans, teachers, law enforcement officers and firefighters will be honored at both Joe Maus Chrysler Jeep Dodge and Joe Maus Ford. In December, one person from each category will also win an award for the year and be honored at Maus’ holiday party in Charlotte.

“We always wanted to be involved in the community,” Maus told the crowd at his Chrysler Jeep Dodge location.

For December, Maus honored former Badin Elementary teacher Nancy Deeck, Misenheimer police captain Rick Collins, Marine Corps veteran Hilton Butler and the late Chris Coone, who was a firefighter for about 10 years at the Norwood Central Rural Fire Department, at Joe Maus Ford.

“He was always the guy that went above and beyond,” said Chris’ brother Bradley Coone, who received the award on his behalf. He is a firefighter in Salisbury.

“It was truly a privilege for me to represent him today,” Coone added.

“It feels good to be appreciated,” said Deeck, who left Badin Elementary this year after teaching on-and-off at the school since 1990. “Everybody wants to be appreciated.”

She currently spends time traveling around to different elementary schools to talk with classes to support fifth-grade teachers in their science curriculum.

At the Jeep Dodge location, Maus honored East Albemarle Elementary curriculum coach Jennifer Stokes, Stanfield police lieutenant Jimmy Schneider, Army veteran Thomas “TommyD” Dougherty and Oakboro Volunteer firefighter Jim Cameron.

“It is a special honor,” Schneider said. “It’s a great thing that Jeep Dodge does for us. It’s nice to be honored.”

“It’s so exciting, I had no idea, (it’s) super fun,” Stokes said.