Burning to Learn at Old Mill Property
Oregon Department of Forestry firefighters, above, burn tall grass on the Old Mill Property north of 24th Avenue Wednesday, Sept. 17. At left, Sweet Home wildland fire crew member Ian Gonzalez loads a rogue hoe tool onto teammate Dalton Keifer’s back as they prepare for the training exercise, which included some 40 firefighters from ODF and Sweet Home Fire and Ambulance District. Sweet Home wildland crew chief Christian Whitfield said they were able to conduct multiple exercises in fire suppression and controlling fuel reduction burns as they burned close to 11 acres of grass.
Cheffrey donation to SHFAD
Jeff Gainer, center left, owner of Cheffry’s Gourmet Grub, presents a donation check to members ofthe Sweet Home Fire and Ambulance District staff from proceeds during the National Night Out event on Aug. 19. The $1,307 gift will go to the department’s Volunteer Association, said Ryan Paul, center right, recruitment and retention coordinator for the district.
Back in Old South Bend Stomping Grounds
The New Era went with Allen Hall and daughter Courtney Hankins on a trip to South Bend, Wash., to visit where Allen was born and grew up. Allen had been wanting to take his daughter to his birth place for quite some time and finally made it happen this summer. They also visited the cemetery where Allen’s grandparents, Courtney’s great-grandparents were buried in Menlo, Wash., before returning home.