A couple from Ladysmith were the winners in the Rescue Truck Fundraising Raffle the Mesachie Lake Fire Department organized this fall.
Patti Churchill and Darrell Arneson took home a watercolour painting done by Mesachie Lake artist Herb Wittrin, and donated by the artist for the raffle. The $6,500 raised by the raffle goes toward operating costs for the rescue truck. It also allows them to apply for more funds through the Gaming grants they are eligible for as a non-profit organization.
Fire Chief Gary Eve welcomed Churchill and Arneson at the fire hall Dec. 16 when they came to pick up their painting, and showed them the rescue truck that the funds were raised for.
The multi-purpose vehicle was bought with funds previously raised by gaming grants. The Mesachie Lake volunteer firefighters are proud to have this rescue truck which allows them to respond to incidents, not necessarily fire-related in their community.
About half Mesachie Lake firefighters are also qualified First-Response Emergency rescuers as well.