East Central Reporter

State Representative Adam Niemerg expressed his gratitude in a Facebook post on January 10, stating, "We are proud of you!" He was thanking Kolton Kidd for his service in the Honor Guard at former President Jimmy Carter’s funeral on January 9.

"Thank you, Kolton Kidd, for your service to our country," said Adam M Niemerg, State Representative for 102nd District (R), according to Facebook. "We are proud of you!"

According to Niemerg's Facebook post, he shared a link to a report by WCIA dated January 9 about Kolton Kidd. Kidd, who hails from Montrose and graduated from Dieterich High School in 2023, served in the Honor Guard during the funeral of former President Jimmy Carter. The report also mentioned that Kidd participated as a member of the "Casket Guard" in Georgia earlier that week. Additionally, it noted that Kidd would be involved in the upcoming presidential inauguration, though specific details of his role were not provided.

Screenshot of State Rep. Adam Niemerg's Jan. 10 Facebook post | State Representative Adam Niemerg's Facebook page

Jimmy Carter, the 39th president of the United States, was commemorated with a state funeral in Washington, D.C., attended by all living former presidents including Joe Biden, Donald Trump, Barack Obama, and George W. Bush. The Associated Press reported that Biden was among the first to endorse Carter's presidential campaign in 1976. Carter passed away on December 29 at age 100 in Plains, Georgia. His wife Rosalynn had died earlier in 2023.

Dieterich Community Schools announced that Kolton Kidd was chosen as one of three individuals from his Basic Training class to serve in the Honor Guard. He is the son of Jason and Amber Kidd and grandson of Kenny and Karen Bushur from rural Montrose and Jeff and Kathy Kidd from Ramsey.

Niemerg, elected for the first time in 2020, describes himself as a "fiscal conservative focused on reducing taxes, fighting for limited government, and advocating for pension reform," according to his official biography. He works as a senior claims adjuster with Country Financial and holds a bachelor's degree from Eastern Illinois University.