Engine 41 of the Prospect Volunteer Fire Department (PVFD) with a crew of Captain James Boettcher, Property Sergeant Shawn Thompson, and firefighters James Redford and Ellen Allen visited Friday morning with the Fuqua Lower School K-first grade classes and in the afternoon with Mrs. Capati’s first grade class at Prince Edward Elementary School. 

About 60 young students listened and watched with interest as the firefighters explained their equipment, letting them get up close and personal with the uniforms and the fire truck. 

Representatives of PVFD have spoken to the schools before, mostly when asked.  Captain Boettcher said, “It is tough for us to get the time due to work schedules.”

Boettcher continued, “We work to educate the students on fire safety. We teach them about smoke detectors, how they work and that the batteries need to be changed twice a year. We also teach about having an escape plan out of their house. Always have two ways out and a meeting place once out of the house. They should never go back in once out of the house.”

“They learned that they need to know their name and address so they would be able to call 911 if necessary,” Boettcher said. “We talked about what to do if they were not able to get out of the house. What to look for and to yell for help if they see a firefighter.”

The crew showed them what a fully geared up firefighter looks like and told them not to be afraid of them because they are there to help. They did a break down of every piece of equipment that the personnel wear to help them understand why they have it on. 

Then they moved outside to show them the truck and to explain what it does and all the tools that are on it.  There they let them try on some of the gear and sit in the seats of the fire engine.

October 4 – 10 was National Fire Prevention Week with this year’s theme being “Hear the Beep Where You Sleep: Every Bedroom Needs a Working Smoke Alarm.” Boettcher concluded, “We really enjoy doing this for the students and teachers. I wish we could do more.”

Community Communiqué

The artist reception at the Pamplin Depot on Oct. 23 for Amy Eason has been postponed to a later date. 

The Glenn Memorial Baptist Church Senior Adult Ministry will host its senior meal on Friday, Oct. 23, at 6 p.m.  Bring a covered dish and friend to enjoy good food and musical inspiration with Queta Watson.

Farm Use String Band will provide a Harvest Dance at the Pamplin Depot Freight Room on Halloween, Oct. 31, from 6-8:30 p.m. with dinner beginning at 6 p.m. The meal is $5. There is no November dance due to a scheduling conflict.

Prospect UMC is hosting their monthly Cowboy Church on Oct. 31. A trail ride will begin at 2 p.m. with meal at 6 p.m. Cowboy Church around the campfire by Pastor George Schaefer will begin at 7 p.m. Call (434) 203-0232, (434) 352-4273 for information. A horse is not needed for chuck wagon and Cowboy Church. Everyone is welcome.

The Prospect Volunteer Fire Department’s 55th Annual Harvest Sale will be Saturday, Nov. 7. Donations and consignments are being accepted until the date. Please call 547-8830 or 574-6625 for more information or to have donated items picked up.

Winners of the Prospect Historical Society fund raising raffle were: laptop Tom Walker; $50 gas card, Shawn Stockton; $25 cash, Margie McCord.

Linda Campbell and her mother Elsie Wilson went to Columbus, Miss., last week and visited with Elsie’s aunt and Linda’s great aunt Dot Hill.

For their Oct. 7 meeting, the Pray and Stitch Group of Prospect UMC met with Mary Sone at her home in Gladstone. Those present were Cary Reed, Betty Coleman, Eileen Fiscus, Mary Sone, Kitty Miller and Dot Campbell. Following the meeting, they enjoyed a delicious lunch with Mary in her home.

Julian and Edwina Covington attended the annual Farm Bureau membership meeting and dinner last Friday.

The Prospect United Methodist Church congregation enjoyed a luncheon last Sunday.

Hilda Allen and Lois Johnson attended the Appomattox Railroad Festival last Sunday afternoon.

Please keep the following people in your thoughts and prayers: Nancy Dickerson,  Martha Whitehead, Kenneth Brisentine, Dorothy Womack, Betty Jean Bolt and Gary Fiscus.

Sympathy is extended to the family and friends of Hazel Jones Reynolds, Hilda Mae Croner and Johnny Henderson Caldwell.

“Halloween was confusing. All my life my parents said, ‘Never take candy from strangers.’ And then they dressed me up and said, ‘Go beg for it.’  I didn’t know what to do! I’d knock on people’s door and go, ‘Trick or Treat.’ ‘No thank you.’” – Rita Rudner

If you have any news, call Edwina Covington (574-6576).

EDWINA COVINGTON is a retired teacher and columnist for Elam. Her email is ecovington@centurylink.net.