Out of hundreds of nominations, a local firefighter has made it to the top five candidates in the “Crown Your Hero” contest honoring hometown heroes.

The announcement was made at Tuesday night’s Troy City Council meeting.

Lt. Curtis Shaver was nominated by a fellow firefighter for his bravery and the Crown Royal contest judges in charge of the competition seem to second that nod.

“He has been an inspiration to all of us,” said Fire Chief Thomas Outlaw. “We are very proud for Curtis.”

Outlaw explained that, although many people would never notice, Shaver does his job minus one limb. His determination to remain a firefighter is one of the reasons Shaver is a Troy hometown hero, the chief said.

“He never faltered from his desire to be in this line of work,” Outlaw said.

A production crew will be in Troy Wednesday to document some of Shaver’s workday. The video will be placed online and the winner of the contest will be determined by public vote.

As part of the prize package if Shaver were to win, this year’s Brickyard 400 in Indianapolis would be named the Crown Royal Presents the Curtis Shaver Brickyard 400.

“To hear that someone I work with, one of my peers, thinks that much of me, it’s an honor,” Shaver said.

The city council echoed statements by Outlaw.

“Curtis, you represent us very well every day,” said councilmember Jason Reeves. “You really are a hometown hero.”

Also at the meeting, the council voted to approve to vacate a portion of an alley so the First United Methodist Church can construct a family life center; to consider clear-cutting land at Industrial Park South so it is readily accessible to show potential industry interested in Troy; and to award a $33,362 contract to Wise Office Supply for furniture to be placed in the new library.

Troy Mayor Jimmy Lunsford also announced that April sales tax revenue numbers were up more than $85,000 from April 2011.