By DAVID HULSE

PITTSBURGH - The Carnegie Hero Commission is investigating the heroism of Barryville canoe livery employee toward the award of a Carnegie Medal.

On July 1 of this year, as reported exclusively in The River Reporter, Cedar Rapids Outfitters employee James "J.J." Hanson spotted a floundering canoeist who had spilled in Cedar Rapids and swam out into the rapids more than 100 yards to rescue an already unconscious 21 year-old Junior Padilla. With the assistance of a passing family in a raft, fellow livery employee Chris Ferarri and onshore emergency medical volunteers Padilla's life was saved.

Commission spokesman Jeff Dooley said the commission employs a newspaper clipping service and looks at about 900 incident reports of individual heroism annually. They award about 100 medals, divided among presentations done five times a year. The medal carries a $3,500 cash award with it.

"That's cool," the 19 year old Hanson said upon hearing of the possible award. He said the money would help out a lot with college expenses. Hanson is a sophomore at Wilkes University in Wilkes-Barre, where he majors in political science and international relations. "A lot of people laugh when they hear it, but I want to be a politician," he added.

Dooley said he had already made inquiries of the National Park Service regarding the incident and is seeking additional witness accounts. Of Hansen's actions Dooley said, "His actions would appear to merit consideration for the award and we are considering it."

After a 1904 coal miner disaster in Pittsburgh, steel maker and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie endowed a $5 million trust to recognize civilian heroes and provide for their families. Since then the fund has paid out more than $24 million in cash awards.

Over the Heroes Fund's 96-year history some 8,400 of the bronze awards have been granted, drawn from more than 74,000 nominations. About 20 percent of the awards are made posthumously.

The commission is asking that persons who witnessed the July 1 incident at Cedar Rapids contact them at 800/447-8900, or through the e-mail service on the commission website at www.carnegiehero.org.