Many ways to help the community

In rural communities, volunteers for the sheriff's office, the volunteer fire departments, local service clubs and special projects are vital to the safety, well being and sometimes even survival of its residents. Here in Topaz Ranch Estates, Holbrook Junction and Topaz Lake, we are lucky to have a tight web of people willing to give of their time and energy to help their neighbors, but the south county area is growing and growing fast.

We now have a new Douglas County Sheriff sub-station, based within the Med Direct Urgent Care building located directly across from the Highway 208 turn off at 1550 Highway 395 in the Holbrook Highlands. According to Sgt. Tom Mezzetta, the sub-station is in need of more volunteers to meet the needs of our residents.

Volunteers work a four-hour shift of their choosing, either 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. or 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Duties include answering telephones and sheriff's office inquires, bicycle licensing, dog licensing, burn permits, vacation checks, Operation ID, Christmas tree cutting permits and a host of other duties that are important and beneficial to our community.

"It is a way for folks to give back to the community they live in," Mezzetta said, "and we could really use the help."

For anyone interested in giving some time to the sheriff sub-station, contact Sgt. Tom Mezzetta at 782-9931.

Another way to serve your community is by volunteering at one of our two local volunteer fire departments; Topaz Ranch Estates Volunteer Fire Department, 1476 Albite Drive or Topaz Lake Volunteer Fire Department, 1990 Austin St., at Topaz Lake. Volunteers are needed for more than fighting fires and other emergency calls. Auxiliary volunteers are needed to help with the fundraising events, community awareness projects, fire department correspondence, answering phones, among the many duties needed to keep the department running at top efficiency. So, if you know you can't actively do the emergency work, there are still many things vital to the operation of volunteer fire departments, duties that would free others to take care of the emergency needs of the community. For anyone wanting more information about volunteering at one of our local departments, contact TREVFD Chief Coreen Hutchison at 266-4419 or TLVFD Chief Dave Thomas at 266-4864 or Assistant Chief Chuck Field at 266-3550.

Want to be part of the community and the first two options don't feel like they are right for you? For women, look into joining the Sagehens, a women's service organization that has been helping the community for 30 years. The Sagehens have organized fundraisers to benefit many worthy causes throughout the years in the south county. With proceeds generated from bake sales and craft shows, as well as their annual rummage sale, a big event every spring, they provide scholarship funds and monetary donations to local charities. This year's 30th Annual Rummage and Bake Sale will be at the TRE Community Park building at the end of Carter Way off Albite Drive in TRE this weekend, Saturday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. For more information about joining this fun group and doing something good for the community, call Micki Joye at 266-1025.

Another area organization doing good for the community is the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3630 and the Ladies Auxiliary VFW Post 3630. Any veteran who has served his country "in harm's way" is welcome to join. Women may join the Ladies Auxiliary if a parent, grandparent, brother or sister has served their country "in harm's way." The commander is Paul Longnecker and president of the Auxiliary is Dinah Vaughn. They will be having an installation of officers at Topaz Lodge 7 p.m., May 17. R.S.V.P. Daryl Mobley 266-3636. All VFW members are invited to attend. The post raises money through pancake breakfasts, buddy poppy sales and garage sales which they use to assist disadvantaged veterans in the area. The Auxiliary sponsors the patriotic essay and art contests every year providing scholarship money to the winners.

There are many ways to help the beautiful area we live in, get out and meet new people and the reward of knowing every minute you spend is time given to something worthwhile.

Other things happening this weekend:

This weekend The Topaz Community Open Bible Church will have its annual yard sale Saturday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, 9 a.m. to close at the T.R.E. Garage on Carter Way. Proceeds go to the building fund of Topaz Community Open Bible Church. Donation gladly accepted 266-0020 or 266-4129.

Until next week ... Keep on keepin' on.

n Jonni Hill can be reached through The Record-Courier at jhill@recordcourier.com or by calling 782-5121, ext. 213, or after hours at JHILL47@aol.com