May 28, 1981

Money coming out of the frying pan

       You might say money is coming out of the frying pan into some fire departments’ bank accounts in these days of reduced budgets.  Although the weekend’s rainy weather did not cooperate fully, the White River Township Volunteer Fire Department fish fry and carnival will end up making money for the department, according to spokeswoman Pat McDaniel.  She said until all the bills for the fish fry—held over the sporadically wet Memorial Day weekend—are in and paid, officials will not know exactly how much money was raised during the annual event. But first estimates place profits at between $4,000 and $5,000, she said.  “Friday night they were lined up as far as we could see outside of the tent,” Mrs. McDaniel said. Business was steady all day Saturday in spite of intermittent rain, she added, but slowed down considerably Sunday when a lot of families probably were entertaining at home or were attending the Indianapolis 500.  She said the turnout was important not only for the money that was raised but because it showed the community is interested in its fire department. “The people came out and stood in the rain to support us,” Mrs. McDaniel said. A lot of those people also stayed to help out with the fry, she added.  This year for the first time, the fish fry included a carnival with rides and a midway and booths manned by members of community and service organizations.  The profits will help the department in its continuing battle for dollars. This year, the department’s operating budget is $63,500 from all sources.  Included in that is $26,500 from the four- cent township firefighting tax, $9,000 in federal revenue sharing funds from the trustee, an estimated $18,000 in donations and about $10,000 in proceeds from fish fries.  Bargersville, which serves the township jointly with the White River department, has a budget of about $58,000 this year.  Under their contracts with White River Township Trustee Robert Kelso, both fire departments serve the entire township. For practical purposes, the two departments have divided the township in half along Stones Crossing Road, with each department assuming primary responsibility for its closer geographical area.  White River covers the unincorporated areas north of Stones Crossing Road and Bargersville covers areas to the south.  Because Greenwood extends into the northeastern portion of the township, White River covers slightly less area than Bargersville. But because the area north of Stones Crossing is more densely populated, White River provides protection for more homes in the township than does Bargersville.  The White River department made 415 fire and rescue runs in 1981.  According to Bargersville Fire Chief Tug Sutton, his department’s 1982 budget includes about $48,000 in money from tax- based sources and an estimated $10,000 from contributions and fund raising efforts.  Sutton said his department—which provides coverage for portions of Franklin and Union Townships and for the town of Bargersville, will receive $35,500 in White River Township firefighting taxes and federal revenue sharing revenue—the same as White River Fire—plus about $6,000 from Franklin Township and about $7,000 from Union Township for contracted fire services.
In addition, Bargersville firefighters hope to raise about $10,000 in contributions and from fish fries this year to make up the $58,000 total, he said. Bargersville last year responded to 340 fire and rescue calls, Sutton said.  (Reprinted with permission from the Daily Journal)

 

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