By Tim Evans
Index Reporter
Summer celebrations continue in the area with Atalissa Days next on the slate Friday and Saturday, June 21-22, hosted by the volunteers of the Atalissa Fire Department, where all the activities are centered.
The annual community celebration is held as a fundraiser for the department to help purchase necessary fire and rescue equipment – like the Polaris side-by-side four wheeler ATV the department recently received that will have a rescue skid, capable of hauling a victim from an isolated wooded or field area where an ambulance can’t go.
According to chief Mike Smock, the Joseph and Edward Ryan Trust Foundation, based in West Liberty, awarded the department with a $20,000 grant that helped the department upgrade from a 2003 model they plan to sell.
Used for timber fires and field fires, which Smock said is a high percentage of their emergency calls, the vehicle will carry an 80-gallon water tank and pump with a siphon to obtain more water if needed as well as a fold-down cot to transport an injured person. The entire cost is near $29,000, so the 18-member group will be working hard selling food and beverages during the celebration to make up the difference, hoping as well to raise other money for needed supplies, training and equipment.
“We can’t say enough how appreciative we are of the Ryan Trust,” Smock said, noting it’s not the first time the foundation has helped fund department projects, playing a major role in a new warming/cooling/storm safety shelter the department built over a year ago.
Although most of the events are being held throughout the day on Saturday, the two-day festival kicks off Friday evening at he fire station on Cherry Street with karaoke and a dance led by disc jockey Cody Dusenberry from 7-11 p.m., with food and drinks available. The Prata fireworks will be held that evening at dusk, as an alternative date should there be signs of inclement weather for Saturday night.
Saturday’s activities open at 8 a.m. with a burrito breakfast at the fire station and a car show put together by Mike Smith of Muscatine will take place from 9 a.m.-2 p.m.
Smith said as many as 80 cars have come to the sixth annual show that welcomes all types of vehicles for a $15 fee, all donated to the fire department. He said classic cars, hot rods, show cars, trucks, motorcycles and even youth vehicles are welcome. “We had a kid one year enter his motorized truck,” Smith said, noting even a youngster with a bicycle could enter.
Awards will be given for best of show and DJ’s choice, as the top 30 vehicles will get honored.
A corn hole tournament managed by fireman Jeremy Wehmeyer will begin at 11 a.m. with registration opening at 10 a.m.
Lunch, which will include grilled sandwiches, begins a 10 a.m.
The annual West Liberty Lions Club kid’s tractor pulling contest begins at 3 p.m.
The annual parade, featuring star community volunteers Randy and Amy Windus as grand marshals, will begin at 4:30 p.m., with the line-up beginning at the Nutrien Ag Center on the southeast edge of town. The parade will eventually run past the fire station down Cherry Street.
The big fundraiser for the firemen is a “reasonably priced” grilled ribeye steak dinner with all the sides that begins at 6 p.m. at the fire station, followed by a live auction at 6 p.m. featuring items donated from all over the area including gift certificates, gift baskets, farm supplies, services and more. Anyone wishing to donate an item for the auction should contact Smock or any Atalissa first responder.
A live six-piece Iowa band, The Jammers, starts a 8 p.m. and will play a mix of 50’s, 60’s and 70’s music to midnight although taking a break for the 32-minute fireworks show at dusk put on by Alfredo Plata and family.
“It’ll be a fun time and a lot of work,” says Smock, noting he’s trying to delegate more duties. He said help is always needed from the community and anyone willing to pitch in is welcome.