By KATHY PAULSEN
Staff Writer
The Ellendale Fire Department held an all-you-can-eat fish fry Saturday, March 10th at the Ellendale Community Building. Many of the firemen sported dark navy blue shirts, which had an American Flag on the right sleeve, a gold star and the year 1904, the year the Ellendale Fire Department was formed, on the left sleeve, and their fire department badges over their hearts.
The firemen set up the community building with tables and chairs for approximately 120 people and supporters of the event started arriving around 5. Shawn Larson greeted people as they arrived.
The Ellendale Fire Department consists of 19 members. Jeremy Reese, who first came on the department 16 years ago and will be marking his first anniversary as fire chief in April; Mark Lee, who joined the department 17 years ago is assistant chief; Jeff Johnson, secretary; and Kaylee Reese, department administrator.
The four newest members of the department, Logan Busho, Terry Mikesell, Rich Mueller and Don Rhoades, are undergoing Riverland’s Fire Fighters I and Fire Fighters ll training. The firemen attend classes two nights a week for four months. The remainder of the department consists of Waylon Busho, Josh Dale, Garry Dummer, Pat Krueger, Roger Larson, Shawn Larson, Al Lee, Steve Louks, Nick Misgen, Dale Nelson and Ben Schlaak.
Three members of the Ellendale Fire Department also serve on the Ellendale Ambulance, Krueger, Louks and Schlaak.
The fish fry will provide funds for the Ellendale Firemen's Relief Association which will help provide funds for new pagers required by the State of Minnesota. The department will soon be receiving their new pagers. Fire departments will be mandated by the federal government, by the year 2014, to carry 800 mhz radio systems which will proved twice as many channels as they have previously had, as well as will be operable anywhere in the state. The new paging system will include the installation of new antennas all over Minnesota. Local fire departments, emergency medical service and law enforcement personnel will be able to switch over to a separate channel in the event of a fire or emergency, which will free up the main channels for other emergencies. It was noted that Geneva and the rest of the fire departments in Freeborn County have already purchased the new pagers and they are already operational.
The Ellendale Fire Department extends a big thank you to all of the local people who turned out to support the "first-ever" fish fry. It was estimated that 220 people attended and $2,300 was donated to help the firemen.
