Saturday social in Latham benefits community all year

[July 16, 2013]  LATHAM -- A gorgeous Saturday afternoon brought a large crowd to the 64th annual ice cream social hosted by the Latham Fire Department. According to Chief Kenny Crosier, "the fundraiser is a community event meant to bring the 400 residents of Latham together."

In addition to cake and ice cream, the daylong event included antique tractor and car shows, activities for kids, and live entertainment.

While the tax base of the Latham Fire Protection District pays for the 3-year-old fire department building and the trucks, the department raises money at the ice cream social to pay for community events it sponsors.

"The money raised at the ice cream social goes right back into the village," Crosier said. "The fire department sponsors a communitywide Halloween party for the kids and brings Santa to the firehouse during the Christmas holiday so that the village children can visit with him. We also sponsor baseball and softball teams."

In addition, the fire department provides bags of candy at Christmas for kids and shut-ins.

The Latham Fire Protection District encompasses 56 square miles in two counties, Macon and Logan. Besides taking care of its own area, the department offers mutual aid to other communities. The Latham Fire Department was one of the first companies from outside Lincoln to be called upon to fight the recent fire at the Oasis.

Make no mistake, the all-volunteer force from Latham, comprising 24 active volunteer firefighters and eight auxiliary volunteers, is a professional and well-trained organization, with two firefighting exercises each month and two rescue practices every month.

"Our calls are equally split between structural fires and rescue or medical calls," Crosier said.

[By CURT FOX]