An estimated 400 people attended Enola's Independence Day celebration and Enola Area Volunteer Fire Department fundraiser Saturday evening at the town's Haze Matthews Park. That's not a bad turnout, considering that the town has a population of 184, Mayor Rick Goodnight said.
But the Enola area VFD's 20 active volunteer firemen serve an area of over 100 square miles, Enola Area VFD assistant chief Bobby Shock said, and the community's Independence Day celebration has become one of the more widely-celebrated events in rural Faulkner County.
Shock wrote a grant proposal that, it was recently announced, netted the VFD $53,000 in FEMA grant proceeds earmarked for new turnout gear and four new S.C.B.A. (self contained breathing apparatus) units.
"Not to seem ungrateful, because we certainly are, but we've always had hand-down turnout gear from other departments," Shock said. "This is the first time we'll have brand-new equipment."
The grant proceeds cannot be used for other operational costs, such as fleet and station maintenance, Shock explained, which is why local fundraising events are of great importance for rural volunteer fire departments. Encouragingly, he said, several people made substantial monetary commitments on top of what was dropped in the donation jar.
Of great importance to the annual celebration is the customary fish fry. This year, 195 pounds of catfish, bought from the Mayflower Fish Market by the VFD at what volunteer firemen said was a very charitable price, was prepared.
Shock added that 2007's celebration was cut short by a structure fire from which many volunteer firemen returned "too worn-out to eat." Happily, Friday and Saturday's rains mitigated the risk of fire for the 2008 Independence Day weekend.
The Snow White Angel Band volunteered their old-time gospel music services throughout the event. The park's playground and basketball court were full of youngsters throughout, and the evening ended with what many spectators said they consider one of the finest rural fireworks displays in the county, also arranged by the VFD.
Sheriff Karl Byrd was in attendance, as was District 47 Rep. Andy Hawkins. Joe White, who is campaigning for the District 30 Senatorial seat against incumbent Gilbert Baker (R-Conway), was also there. White said it was encouraging to see rural communities such as those in the Mount Vernon/Enola area come together to for fellowship and to support rural volunteer fire departments.
Goodnight agreed:
"I think we're real lucky to have a real loving, close community; that really helps a small town like this," he said. "You can go to anyone here and ask for help and they'll give it to you, and I think that's how all of America should be."
(Staff writer Joe Lamb can be reached by e-mail at joe.lamb@thecabin.net or by phone at 505-1238. Send us your news at www.thecabin.net/submit)
