Grant helps shelter, fire dept.
Published 9:15 am Tuesday, July 3, 2018
- Officials with Cargill presented Clark County with a check for $5,000 Monday morning. The Clark County Fire Department will receive $4,100 for rescue equipment and the remaining $900 willpurchase food for the Clark County Animal Shelter. From left are Clark County Judge-Executive Henry Branham, Clark County firefighter Lon Gordon, Clark County Fire Chief Ernie Barnes, Cargill maintenance supervisor Brian Earlywine, Cargill office manager Heather Wills and Cargill plant manager Jeff Mayo. (Photo by Fred Petke)
The county fire department and animal shelter will benefit from a $5,000 grant presented Monday morning.
Representatives from Cargill, which purchased the former Southern States mill on Rockwell Road last year, said $4,100 of the funds will be used to purchase confined space rescue equipment for the Clark County Fire Department. The remaining $900 will purchase animal food for the Clark County Animal Shelter.
“Will it benefit us? Absolutely,” Cargill Plant Manager Jeff Mayo said. “But it will benefit the whole community.”
Clark County Fire Chief Ernie Barnes said the equipment was actually cut from the county’s fiscal year 2019 budget.
The equipment, which includes multi-purpose devices for ascending and descending in rope rescue situations, will make rope rescues much easier, Barnes said.
“We have a pretty good assortment of rope rescue gear,” Barnes said. “(Firefighter Lon Gordon) turned in a budget request for anchor devices and pulleys” but it was cut during the budget process.
“It fleshes out what we need. It’s perfect timing.”
Branham said the animal shelter always needs food for its animals and welcomed the contribution.
About Fred Petke
Fred Petke is a reporter for The Winchester Sun, the Jessamine Journal and the State Journal. His beats include cops, courts, fire, public records, city and county government and other news. To contact Fred, email fred.petke@bluegrassnewsmedia.com or call 859-759-0051.
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