The public is invited to Monday's farewell open house and reception in honor of Gary Shepherd, who is retiring as chief of the Rapid City Department of Fire & Emergency Services.

Monday, Jan. 7, is Shepherd's last day on the job, and the department has planned an open house and reception for him that day at Station One, 10 Main St. (the department's headquarters), from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Shepherd steps down after a 32-year career as a firefighter, including nine as Rapid City's fire chief.

To give the city time to find a new chief, Shepherd announced his retirement in September.

The city has named Mark Rohlfing the new chief. He is a 25-year veteran of the Omaha Fire Department in Nebraska. He was sworn in Dec. 17 and has been working alongside Shepherd for the past few weeks.

The Rapid City fire department currently employs more than 130 men and women in three divisions.