Four Lee County Deputies honored by Illinois Sheriff’s Association

DIXON – The Illinois Sheriff’s Association has honored four Lee County Sheriff’s Deputies for saving the life of a three year old boy who got lost in freezing weather in 2021. Chief Deputy Derek Ranken, Deputy Nathan Hollinger, Deputy Joe Presley, and former Deputy Kolton Morgan shared the Deputies of the Year award for their actions in the community of Harmon. Around 1 AM on December 22nd, 2021, the deputies helped search for the child who reportedly wandered out of his home wearing only a diaper in 17 degree weather. An hour and a half later Deputy Morgan found the child naked and with the help of the other deputies, attempted to warm the child and take him directly to a hospital in Dixon. While enroute, Deputy Hollinger performed CPR twice on the child. The child continued to receive emergency life saving treatment at the hospital and eventually was transported by helicopter to a Peoria hospital for further treatment.