NW NEBRASKA FIRES
DAWES-SIOUX FIRE FUND NEARING $65,000
By FIRE FUND NEWS RELEASE
Aug 8, 2006 - 5:41:00 PM

The Dawes – Sioux Fire Fund is now at $64,935. Some of the major contributors include:

First National Bank of Chadron - $10,000
First National Bank of North Platte - $10,000
Security First Bank - $10,000
Nebraska Farm Bureau Federation - $5,000

Others have made considerable donations to the fund. Fundraising efforts in Sheridan County have raised $7,600, and Kinder-Morgan, Inc. has pledged $1,000. Most donations have come from individuals and businesses throughout the region.

On Sunday, the Omaha World-Herald reported that the Peter Kiewit Foundation had announced a $450,000 donation for volunteer fire departments that assisted with fire fighting efforts. Chadron, Harrison and Valentine will each receive $25,000, and Crawford will receive $15,000.

In-kind donations continue to arrive at Crawford Livestock.

“Initial needs assessments have been completed in Dawes County, and efforts are underway in Sioux County to contact victims there. In Dawes County, the needs assessment team found two individuals with immediate needs, and we’re dealing with that. We anticipate the number to be somewhat higher in Sioux County since there was more private land burned there than in Dawes County”, said Don Blausey, spokesperson for the Dawes – Sioux Fire Fund.

Blausey added that there were a total of 48 victims contacted by the assessment team, and the major needs identified in Dawes County include hay and fence materials, as well as some water supply issues. Blausey said, “We want to get together with Sioux County representatives as quickly as possible so we can identify the most immediate needs there. We believe the immediate needs will most likely be the same as in Dawes County, but possibly on a larger scale”.

Donations of hay or other livestock feed and fence materials can be delivered to the Crawford Livestock Market, West Beach Street, in Crawford. Anyone wishing to donate in-kind gifts is asked to call in advance. To contact the Crawford Livestock Market, please call toll-free 866-665-2220 or (308) 665-2220.

Donations of money can be delivered to any financial institution in Dawes or Sioux Counties, or mailed to the Dawes – Sioux Fire Fund, P.O. Box 1125, Chadron, Nebraska, 69337.


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