Saturday social in Latham benefits community all year
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[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.
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.
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column] |
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] |