June 12, 2005

Strawberry Festival a success

       The White River Township Fire Department's 13th annual Strawberry Festival was held on June 10th and 11th at the Pleasant Grove Elementary School.  The event is designed to raise community awareness of the the fire department as well as provide a few hours of fun and learning for the entire family.  The fire department sells various food items and of course its signature Strawberry Shortcakes to raise money to pay for the event itself along with the fireworks show that ends the weekend.  "We want the community to know their fire department" said James Engmark, Battalion Chief and Public Information Officer for the department.  "Our goal is to provide a family-friendly event while at the same time getting our public safety message out" he said. 

         Not unlike previous festivals, this year's event had several demonstrations and educational programs that were offered over the two days.  One of the crowd favorites is the First Water Competition where teams of firefighters from different departments compete against each other for the fastest time to connect three hoses, spray water, and knock a basketball off a pylon twenty feet away.  The event this year was won by a team from the Greenwood Fire Department.  Another crowd favorite is the Automobile Extrication Demonstration where the fire department uses the "Jaws of Life" and other equipment to simulate removing an entrapped victim from an automobile accident.  The event is completed when the victim is loaded into an awaiting LifeLine helicopter and "transported" to Methodist Hospital.  Other attractions included the Fire and Weather Safety House from the Greenwood Fire Department, Helicopter rides, a stage show from MC Axe and the Fire Crew, antique cars, various vendors and displays, a Blackhawk helicopter, and a live broadcast directly from the site on the Fox 59 television station.

         Also not unlike previous festivals, it got wet.  Within an hour of opening on Friday afternoon it was raining.  "We're certainly the cure for drought conditions", said Fire Chief Mike Tibbetts commenting on the festival's unusual attraction to storm clouds.   "After all, it has been 21 straight days without a drop of rain", he quipped.  Fortunately the rain ended within an hour and dried up for the rest of the two-day event.  "It was hot, but at least it was dry", he added.  With all things considered, the weekend was a huge success with the largest crowd yet to ever attend the event.  The fire department would like to sincerely thank all of this year's vendors, agencies, contributors, volunteers, and most of all, the patrons, who all helped make the event an overwhelming success.

         
 2005 Contributors

	Aldi Foods	Greenwood Fire Department	MC Axe & the Fire Crew
	Allied Appliances	Hix Wrecker Service	Nations Rent
	Bouncers R Us	Indiana National Guard	Pleasant Grove Elem. School
	Center Grove School Corp.	Koorsen's "Kasey" the Fire Dog	RSC Rentals
	Fox 59 Morning News	LifeLine helicopter and crew	Steak and Shake (SR 135)
	Graphics Unlimited	Mr. & Mrs. Richard Matthews
	Greenwood Aviation	Mark IV Environmental

 
           

           

           

           

           
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