BENTON COUNTY — Thanks to the efforts of State Senator Cecile Bledsoe, three volunteer fire departments and one city in northeast Benton County received grants.

“We’re really excited about this,” Rob Taylor, fire chief of the Northeast Benton County Volunteer Fire Department, said of the $50,000 grant his department received. It was the largest of the grants allocated, Bledsoe said.

“NEBCO received the largest grant of anyone,” Bledsoe said, adding that half of her money went to the NorthWest Arkansas Community College.

Avoca Volunteer Fire Department, Little Flock Volunteer Fire Department and the city of Gateway were also recipients of the money which is from the General Improvement funds and was allocated through the Arkansas Department of Rural Services.

“We’re so excited about being able to help NEBCO VolunteerFire Department. They do a great job. They work so hard to provide a service. It’s our pleasure to be able to help them,” Bledsoe said.

Money was also given from the House of Representatives.

State Representative Duncan Baird said: “The NEBCO Fire Department is incredibly important to the city and community. We are happy to be able to help in any way we can.”

Taylor said Pete Rathmellwrites the grants for NEBCO and had applied for the GIF grant. He said the money will be used to purchase a new fire truck.

The Avoca and Little Flock volunteer fire departments each received $10,000.

The city of Gateway received $12,000, which will be used to construct an arch at the city park, according to Mayor Lida Schnitzer.

T.J. McGuire and Associates are the architects who are designing the arch, Schnitzer said, adding that Renard Bray is donating the stones.

Avoca Fire Chief Frankie Elliott said he plans to use the grant to purchase a thermal imaging camera.

News, Pages 1 on 04/14/2010