Councillors of the Vukovar-Srijem County Assembly adopted the proposal for the Decision on the Awarding of Awards for 2026 by a majority vote. The awards, prizes and certificates will be presented at a solemn session on 11 November in Vinkovci.
The county awards for 2026 will be given to Višnjica Sorčik for her exceptional and long-standing contribution in the fields of education, schooling and culture, and to Danijela Šota for her exceptional, long-standing and continuous contribution in the fields of culture, media and the promotion of traditional values.
The county prizes will go to Milan Draženović for his contribution to local self-government, culture, sport and humanitarian work; Renata Bradvica for her contribution to the development of technical culture and the encouragement of technical creativity and youth education; JVP Ilok for its contribution to the protection and rescue of people and property and the preservation of the environment; and the Vinkovci Auto Club on the occasion of its 100th anniversary of founding.
County certificates will be awarded to Katarina Krešić for her achievements in the fields of healthcare and social care; Zoran Mihalj and Dejan Kovač for their contribution to voluntary blood donation and the promotion of humanity and solidarity; Mario Kokaj for his contribution to humanitarian work and the promotion of solidarity; and the Trpinja Chess Club for its contribution to the development of chess, work with young people and sporting successes. Certificates will also be awarded posthumously to Ivica Šesto for his contribution to the development of football and the promotion of the sporting reputation of Vinkovci, and to Đura Đuki Kuveždić for his contribution to the cultural reputation of the Tovarnik Municipality and the Vukovar-Srijem County.
At the session, Krešimir Jelić, commander of the Vukovar-Srijem County Fire Brigade Association, stated that the year coming to a close had been demanding but successful for firefighters. He highlighted that the number of fires had increased slightly, and that through cooperation with the Austrian state of Tyrol, they had secured nine fire trucks. Over ten years of this cooperation, 87 fire trucks have been secured, which has raised the operational capability of the county's fire forces. Jelić added that they have 505 new members and that the county currently has 1,300 operational firefighters, an increase of 118.
Mario Adamović, head of the Department for Health and Social Care, announced the opening of a dental clinic in the Novo Selo Local Council in Vinkovci. He explained that the opening follows a petition by citizens and the expressed need of the Health Centre, and emphasised that the new clinic will ensure accessibility and better dental care for citizens. He noted that the county is well covered by family doctors, with 92 family medicine teams, of which 90 are covered, while dental clinic coverage is 100 per cent. The network of paediatricians and gynaecologists is also covered.
The councillors also adopted a Decision appointing Ahnetka Stjepanović as chairperson of the Committee for the Protection of Patients' Rights, replacing Melita Mijić, who has submitted an irrevocable resignation. A Decision was also adopted granting consent to the Josip Lovretić Primary School in Otok to transfer ownership rights of real estate to the City of Otok without compensation.
