Fire is no laughing matter, but the folks in Hanley found much to chuckle about Oct. 26 at the Hanley/Rosedale Fire Department’s steak supper and comedy night.
The event featured comedian Dez Reed who gave people a case of the giggles.
It was all for a good cause: to raise money to build a new fire hall in Hanley.
The new building is needed because the fire department has outgrown its current facility, which was built in 1977.
The current fire hall has two bay doors, making it a tight squeeze for the Hanley/Rosedale Fire Department’s three trucks, says Hanley administrator Darice Carlson.
When the vehicles are in the hall, it doesn’t give much room for the volunteer firefighters to move around.
The Town of Hanley has dedicated a parcel of land to build the new fire hall and has allocated $13,500 from its 2013 budget.
The new building will have three main bay doors with a fourth additional bay, giving the fire department much more room to store equipment as well as incorporating a training room in the facility.
The steak and comedy night raised $5,000 towards the new hall, adding to the current $12,800 that’s been raised so far. This total includes donations from Millsap Fuel Distributors, $1,000; Brightwater Blackstrap Wildlife Federation, $2,000; Thall’s Service, $2,500 and the Hanley and District Ag Society, $5,000.
If they continue adding to the fund, Carlson said they hope to build the new fire hall starting in June 2014.
The steak supper was well supported with the community selling 134 tickets for the event that included a silent auction and 50/50 draw.
Carlson gives credit to Darren Grindheim for organizing and overseeing the steak night as well as all the volunteers who helped out.
As well as a new hall, the fire department is also looking for new volunteers. More members are always needed. If anyone wants more information, they may contact Fire Chief Les Kroeger, Darren Grindheim, emergency measures co-ordinator, or the town office.