Rutherford Weekly - Shelby NC
Issue link: http://www.epageflip.net/i/740661
The Rutherfordton Fire Department is currently raising funds to restore an original 1924 American LeFrance fire truck. The truck, which was purchased new by the department in 1924 at a cost of $13,000, was sold in the 1970s to John Auten, who used it to "drive kids around the block," said Rutherfordton Fire Chief Tommy Blanton. The department purchased the truck back from Auten with the plan to restore it for use in parades and other special events. "We have all of the parts for it - the main thing is to find somewhere to take it apart and put it into it's original form," Blanton said. "We're hoping to find local folks who can help with the restoration." The truck was in service until 1971, Blanton said, but couldn't be used to fight fires today because it doesn't meet the standards of today's trucks. "Today you can't have open seating or open cabs," he said. "Firefighters can't ride on the tailboards any more. This one has a piston pump, and today hoses are centrifugal." So far two raffles have been held to raise funds, and a portion of the money raised by the pink patch project will also be put aside for the restoration. Those who are interested in seeing the truck may visit the fire station. "We're staffed 24/7, so people are welcome to stop by and see it," Blanton said. Cheerleaders from RS Central and Chase High Schools recently joined forces to raise money during breast cancer awareness month. "They were very excited to take part in this," said Roxanne Loving, cheer coach for Chase High School. "With October being breast cancer awareness month, we wear pink bows and use pink pom poms and usually try to raise money for the American Cancer Society." The joint event, she continued, was even better because it allowed the schools and communities to come together for one cause. "Breast cancer awareness and prevention is a cause that's very near to many people, and most of us have experience with it even if it's through someone distant." For the RS Central cheerleaders, the cause hits a little closer to home, said Leah Robbins, cheer coach for the school. "Our previous JV coach has breast cancer, so its very near to our hearts," she said. Funds, she added, will be given to the RHI Legacy Foundation for use through the Rutherford Regional Mammography Center. During the game, which was held on Monday, Oct. 10, due to a weather reschedule, the cheerleaders sold a variety of pink items and pink lemonade as well as baked goods. To date, the fundraising effort raised $1,564. The Town of Rutherfordton and Rutherfordton Fire and Police Departments contributed to the event as well. OUR 24 th YEAR • ISSUE NO. 42 • October 20, 2016 RutherfordWeekly.com 828-248-1408 FREE FREE 7 th Annual Fall Festival & Car Show @ Orchard Park 957 Whitesides Rd., Spindale, NC 28160 Saturday, Oct. 22 11 AM - 6 PM Fundraiser for RS Central Athletic Dept. Inflatables • Food Music • Games Cornhole Tournament & Knocker Ball CAR SHOW INFO 828-286-3041 OR FALL FESTIVAL INFO: 828-429-3976 ©Community First Media Community First Media ©Community First Media Community First Media FOREST CITY FOREST CITY 720 S Church St. 720 S Church St. 828-245-7274 828-245-7274 CAROLEEN CAROLEEN Hwy. 221A Hwy. 221A 828-657-5353 828-657-5353 • MEDICARE-D OPEN ENROLLMENT--ONE ON ONE EVALUATIONS • BLOOD PRESSURE • BLOOD GLUCOSE CHECK • FLU SHOTS • SHINGLES AND PNEUMONIA VACCINES • BRING IN ALL YOUR MEDICINES FOR A ONE ON ONE DISCUSSION AND EVALUATION BY PHARMACIST Reserve The Date - OCT 27 TH Only FOREST CITY LOCATION • Only FOREST CITY LOCATION • 11am til 5pm DOOR PRIZES AND DOOR PRIZES AND REFRESHMENTS REFRESHMENTS WE PROUDLY SUPPORT BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH WE PROUDLY SUPPORT BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH Pink patches provide funds for awareness and restoration Rutherfordton Fire Department is raising money for breast cancer awareness with the Pink Patch Project, and is the first fire department in the nation to sign on to do so. Along with the Rutherfordton Police Department, members of the fire department are sporting pink patches with the department's logo and station number on it during the month of October. "We are putting them on to wear for any events we attend in October," said Rutherfordton Fire Chief Tommy Blanton. "There's such a connection with folks, because everyone knows someone who has been affected by breast cancer." The Pink Patch Project is a public awareness campaign designed to bring attention to breast cancer and support organizations doing research to fight the disease. According to the Pink Patch Project, approximately 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime. The pink patches worn by Rutherfordton police and fire department members can also be purchased by the public as well, Blanton said. Proceeds from the sale of the pink patches, as well as pink T-shirts, will benefit breast cancer awareness projects as well as the fire department's efforts to restore an original 1924 fire engine. (See sidebar.) The pink patches with Rutherfordton on them have been purchased from as far away as California, Blanton said. "Agencies will have a patch board and put up patches from different agencies on them," he said. "It's our plan to get one started here." Patches can be purchased for $5 each. T-shirts can be purchased for $15 each. To purchase, contact the fire department at 828-287-7367. Cheerleaders join together to raise money Articles By: Allison Flynn, Rutherford Weekly Articles By: Allison Flynn, Rutherford Weekly LOCAL LOCAL LOCAL BUY Restoring the fire engine Health department program offers free or low-cost mammograms to eligible women October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. It is recognized that breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among women in America, other than skin cancer. The Rutherford Polk McDowell (RPM) Health District offers FREE or low-cost mammograms to eligible women through our Breast and Cervical Cancer Control Program (BCCCP). The RPM Health District is encouraging women to take responsibility for their breast health and are urging them to have their screening mammogram performed. Mammography is the best available method to detect breast cancer in its earliest, most treatable stage–– an average of one to three years before a woman can feel a lump. Mammography also identifies cancers too small to be felt during a clinical breast examination. Breast Cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths for women in North Carolina. Each year over 6,000 North Carolina women will be diagnosed with breast cancer and over 1,000 will die from the disease. As we know, early detection is any woman's best protection against cancer. Although there is no sure way to prevent breast cancer, a woman might reduce her risk by changing those risk factors that can be changed. For example, women can avoid alcohol, exercise regularly, and maintain a healthy body weight. In addition, regular screening tests can help women and their doctors ensure they are healthy and increases the likelihood that their doctor will find breast cancer early, when it's most treatable. There is no better time than October, during National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, for women to talk with their health care providers about maintaining their breast health and seeking mammography. "Remember, early detection can save lives," said Nickie Day, BCCCP Coordinator and Public Health Nurse at the RPM Health District. For more information or to see if you qualify for this program, please call (828) 287-6100 or visit our website at www.rpmhd.org. Article Provided By: Rutherford Polk McDowell Health District Article Provided By: Rutherford Polk McDowell Health District Contributed photo. Contributed photo.