SHORT TAKES:21 local heroes nominated for bravery awards

The American Red Cross announced this week that 21 local heroes with connections to Newport-Mesa were nominated for Bravo for Bravery awards, which will be given to 10 people for going above and beyond the call of duty in order to help someone in an emergency.

Costa Mesa Fire emergency medical technician-paramedics Scott Fenton and John Heunemann were nominated for their outstanding work with the department and a call last year when they helped someone severely injured in a traffic accident. But they didn’t stop at saving a man’s leg. When they heard he had lost an expensive piece of jewelry during the crash, Fenton and Heunemann went back to the scene, found the box and returned it to the man, Costa Mesa Deputy Chief Keith Jones said.

The nominees from Newport Beach are: Lifeguard Andrew Belden, Capt. Justin Carr, Lifeguard Brian Gray, Officer Brice Hardy, Lifeguard Greg Martin, Paramedic Steve Martin, Fire Capt. Mike Mullen, Lifeguard Mike Nichols, Officer Brandon Rodriguez, Firefighter Chad Spiker, Fire Engineer John Testa, Lifeguard Jeremy Thacker, Officer Justin Yee, Paramedic Erin Brown, Paramedic Bryan Carter, Paramedic Cameron Hutzler, Capt. Ty Lunde, Paramedic J.C. Nessa and good Samaritans Tom Tupman and Curtis Brodie.

— Amanda Pennington