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36 Volume 39 Number News from the Heart of Idaho: Camas, Lincoln, and Gooding County
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Protecting Your Community The basic role of government is to provide protection of life and property. Providing for those services, however, is not always as simple as paying taxes. In small communities like Lincoln, Camas, and Gooding, fire protection is provided almost exclusively by volunteers. Sometimes those volunteers are compensated when they go out on a call, but that is a small reward for taking time off from a job, leaving family in the middle of the night, or taking the risks they take every time they fight a fire. Busy fire departments, like the Gooding City/Rural Fire Department, may have more than 250 calls per year, while smaller fire departments like Fairfield may have less than 20 calls per year. Big or small, all of these fire departments rely on volunteers who may or may not be available at a particular time. Reasons for this may be work or family related. They could be traveling, or they might be ill. What ever the reason, it is important that there are always other volunteers available. Yet, it is not enough to just have “warm bodies.� All of these volunteers need to be trained to use fire fighting equipment safely and efficiently. Unfortunately, it is this training that makes it hard to attract and keep volunteers. Brandon Covey, the Fire Chief in Gooding, says that about one volunteer in five stays with the department long term. Fire fighting seems exciting at first, but the hard (and sometimes boring) work of continued on page 7.....
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30 Plus Years - $300,000 For the last 18 years, Edith Silvey has been a solid fixture at the North Canyon Medical Center Thrift Store. Since 2000 she has also been the manager of the nonprofit business that helps provide equipment to enhance patient care at the Gooding hospital. Thanks in part to moving the store to it current location (330 Main Street) and being open 6 days-a-week, the NCMC Thrift Store has (this year) reached and exceeded a goal of $300,000 in contributions since the store first opened in 1981, and they have no intentions of stopping. The thirty-five members of NCMC Thrift Store Auxiliary all volunteer at least 2 days a month working at the store (some put in a lot more), and together they decide what sort of equipment to buy for the hospital. Over the years, they have purchased microscopes used in surgery, cooling blankets, and scanners. They have also provided special machines that help reduce
Mrs. Silvey and one of her favorite girls, Denise Rogers, at the NCMC Thrift Store
the pain of a colonoscopy and help patients medicate themselves. Yet, all of that would not be possible without the donations to the store and the individuals who regularly shop there. Not only do customers find great items to buy, they are helping provide top quality healthcare to Gooding and the surrounding areas. Much of the credit for the success of the NCMC Thrift Story belongs to Edith Silvey, but this Friday will be her last day as its manager. While she said it is sad to leave, she is also very proud of what the volunteer ladies do, and the overwelming support Just a few of the ladies that make it all possible. from the community.
Thousand Springs Festival ~ September 29 - 30