Firefighters thank store volunteers

The Whitehall Volunteer Fire Department took time last week to thank a local organization whose recent donation helped significantly with a recent remodel at the fire hall.

The department hosted a dinner Thursday as a thanks to the Volunteers of The Country Store who donated $18,000 in January.

The department used the donation, along with $10,000 raised at the annual Frontier Days fundraiser, to complete extensive work on the conference room. The money was also used to build more storage areas at the facility.

Fire Chief Jeremy said it is very important to have everything organized and the renovation made the fire house a lot more functional. He said the donation made by the Country Store volunteers was very gracious, and very helpful for a community the size of Whitehall. Ward added without the donation, it would be very hard on an individual or organization to find this type of funding.

Assistant Fire Chief Joe Granvold said the upgrade has boosted the moral of the department and should help with getting more people to volunteer. He was thankful for the donation and said without volunteers you don't have a community.

Representing the Volunteers of the Country Store, Vera Jensen said it is wonderful to be able to make the donation and it helps the entire city. She added it was also wonderful the department hosted the dinner and the volunteers feel very appreciative. Ward said Granvold spearheaded the remodel, and Jon Flynn along with several fire department volunteers did the work.