PLAINS – Last Saturday night was the 7th Annual Fireman’s Ball, which was held in the VFW banquet hall. Chairs and tables filled the entire hall. In front of the tables and chairs there was a large line of auction items that were going to be auctioned off after the dinner.

The cost to enter was $10 for a single ticket or $15 for a couple. Tickets were given out at the door, which were for door prizes that would be called out during the auction. Along with the auction items, there was a raffle for a Ruger American Rifle and a Ruger 10-22 Take Down. The cost for a raffle ticket was $10.

Bill Kosel of the Plains Volunteer Fire Department who organized the event said, “Tonight is to benefit the fire department. It supplements what we get to work with on the job.” He then explained, “We are city, so we have a limited budget, so this supplements us to help get all the stuff we need to be safe and well equipped.”

Dinner was served at 6:00pm. The firemen and volunteers carried the food out and watched to make sure the pitchers of water on the tables never ran out. First there was a salad, and then the main course consisted of a large plate of pork, a baked potato, corn and a large dinner roll. Cupcakes were served for dessert.

Kosel said, “McGowans donated a part of the cost of the food and gave us a good deal on the rest.” He then said that the food services from the Clark Fork Valley Hospital also made a donation towards the food for the night.

At 7:30pm the auction began. The large table of auction items included things that ranged from gift certificates, yard equipment, and a grill, to gift baskets and flowers. “Almost everyone in the Plains Volunteer Fire Department donated something and some local individuals,” said Kosel, remarking on how much was donated to the auction.

From 9:30pm to 1:30am the band, “Dark Horse Band,” performed up on the stage in the hall. Kosel said that the VFW covered half the cost of the band.

Susan and Keith Caldwell, who sat and enjoyed the dinner and the other festivities, described why they came to the ball. “We’re steady with this, we’ve been here before. We live in Plains and do our best,” Susan Caldwell said, describing her support for the volunteer fire department.

The supporters of the fire department stayed late into the evening as the band played. Only when the music stopped did the event finally wind down.