OLIVE BRANCH FIRE STATION SHAPES UP

OLIVE BRANCH, Ill. -- The sixth-grade class at Egyptian School near here recently conducted a soda sale.

Net profits for the event was $70.

The students sent their proceeds to the Horseshoe Lake Branch Volunteer Fire Department.

Another Egyptian student chipped in $3.

A woman recently stopped one of the fire department volunteers in Olive Branch and handed him a dollar bill.

These funds and others are being used to build a new fire department building at Olive Branch.

"We've received donations small and large, from 50 cents to $600," said Chapen Tatum, the department's secretary-treasurer. "When we started this building campaign we needed $25,000 and lots of volunteer builders."

The campaign was started in early 1993, but was interrupted by the "Flood of 1993."

Funds dried up for a while, but the campaign is back on and construction of the building to house the department's four vehicles is under way.

The building is taking shape, Tatum said. The foundation, floor, walls and roof of the 40-x-80-foot building are intact, thanks to the work of a number of volunteers the past few weekends.

"This project is being realized from hard work and money contributions," Tatum said. "A lot of the voluntary firemen and their families have helped in the construction. All labor is being donated."

The volunteers took off for the Easter weekend but will return next weekend.

The fund campaign is still about $5,000 short.

The department has installed a thermometer and name board by the building.

"Names of people who contribute $25 or more are posted on the board," Tatum said.

The new building became necessary when a building the fire department formerly occupied was sold. The department, which was founded more than 10 years ago, has two regular pumper trucks, a tanker truck and pickup truck.

The two fire engines are currently stored in a building without heat, and the other two vehicles are stored in a separate building.

Tatum said the department needs to move into the new building before winter. It will be heated.

It is essential pumpers be kept in a heated building in winter, Tatum said, otherwise the pumps could freeze. The cold and moisture could also damage the fire hose.

The Horseshoe Lake Fire District includes a number of communities in the area, Olive Branch, Miller City, Cache, Hodges Park and Unity.

The district receives some tax dollars and grant money, but these revenues go to everyday expenses -- insurance costs, equipment and fuel.

The department has 17 volunteers and most attend fire training classes at their own expense.

John Brewer is fire chief, and Bill Caldwell is fire district secretary.

Donations may be submitted to the fire district, P. O. Box 262, Olive Branch, Ill., 52969.