Saturday social in Latham benefits community all year
Send a link to a friend
[July 16, 2013]
LATHAM -- A gorgeous Saturday
afternoon brought a large crowd to the 64th annual ice cream social
hosted by the Latham Fire Department. According to Chief Kenny
Crosier, "the fundraiser is a community event meant to bring the 400
residents of Latham together."
|
In addition to cake and ice cream, the daylong event included
antique tractor and car shows, activities for kids, and live
entertainment. While the tax base of the Latham Fire Protection
District pays for the 3-year-old fire department building and the
trucks, the department raises money at the ice cream social to pay
for community events it sponsors.
"The money raised at the ice cream social goes right back into
the village," Crosier said. "The fire department sponsors a
communitywide Halloween party for the kids and brings Santa to the
firehouse during the Christmas holiday so that the village children
can visit with him. We also sponsor baseball and softball teams."
In addition, the fire department provides bags of candy at
Christmas for kids and shut-ins.
[to top of second column] |
The Latham Fire Protection District encompasses 56 square miles
in two counties, Macon and Logan. Besides taking care of its own
area, the department offers mutual aid to other communities. The
Latham Fire Department was one of the first companies from outside
Lincoln to be called upon to fight the recent fire at the Oasis.
Make no mistake, the all-volunteer force from Latham, comprising
24 active volunteer firefighters and eight auxiliary volunteers, is
a professional and well-trained organization, with two firefighting
exercises each month and two rescue practices every month.
"Our calls are equally split between structural fires and rescue
or medical calls," Crosier said.
[By
CURT FOX] |