Mill City, OR

Wordless Wednesday - Summertime Sunflower

Fools Gold

2008 Mill City Volunteer Fire Department Firemen's Benefit - Mill City, Oregon

It's that time of year again. The volunteer firemen of the MCVFD will be knocking on your door to sell tickets to the 64th Annual Firemen's Benefit and Bingo Night. This year's event will be held on Saturday, November 22, 2008 and Bingo starts at 5:30 PM sharp. Drawing tickets are available for $1.00. You will be entered to win several prizes including the Grand Prize drawing at the 1:00AM. Bingo cards are available for $.25 cents each and you can win a Turkey or a Picnic Ham if you win a B-I-N-G-O! Free Coffee is poured all night long and the event is now smoke-free.

This years prizes:

• (2) $100.00 Bills and (2) $50.00 Bills
• (5) Large Turkeys ($25.00 Value Each)
• (5) Lb. Hams ($30.00 Value Each)
• (5) Slabs of Bacon ($25.00 Value Each)
• (5) Gift Certificates ($25.00 Value Each)
• Winning Numbers will be printed in the Mill City Independent Press Newspaper immediately after the Benefit

The kitchen will be open to serve refreshments and locals know the Benefit wouldn't be complete without eating at least one burger topped with melted cheese, grilled onions and green peppers or a fabulous Oktoberfest sausage.

There is something for the whole family including the Kid's Games for the little ones. The kids games begin at approximately 6:30PM.

Mark your calendar for Saturday, November 22 and show your support for the volunteers! The funds raised by the volunteers go to support the local Boy Scout Troop, the Boy Scout building heating and maintenance, the 4th of July Fireworks and the purchase of Gifts for the Giving Tree.

Be generous when a volunteer knocks on your door, buy a handful of tickets and
support your local fire department.

Mill City Volunteer Fire Department

Established in 1937, the Mill City Volunteer Fire Department has a long history of being dedicated and productive members of Mill City and the entire Santiam Canyon. Leland Ohrt is the current fire chief and has held the position of chief for the since 1985 with a brief sabbatical in 1991. Chief Ohrt has been a member of the department for more than thirty years, having joined when he was in high school. The citizens of Mill City voted to make the chief a paid position and Leland was officially hired in 2000 as Mill City’s first full time fire chief. As fire chief, Chief Ohrt keeps the fire hall and all the equipment in excellent order. He has worked on several grants and so far, they have received close to $500,000.00 in grant money to help in the purchase of much needed equipment. Purchases in recent years include a new pumper truck and a new tanker. In my opinion, the residents of the Mill City Fire District are extremely fortunate to have a man like Chief Ohrt on staff. Much of what the Chief does, goes unnoticed by the general public.

In 1991, the construction of the fire hall was completed. It was purchased with monies obtained through a bond. One of the most amazing things the fire department accomplished was paying off this bond eight years early, saving over $75,000 in interest.

In 2007, the men and women of the Fire Department contributed over 5100 hours to the department. Each volunteer averaged approximately 142 hours of service for the year, with Chief Ohrt working 2214 administrative hours and 241 volunteer hours. They respond to first-aid and fire calls, miscellaneous calls and provide community assistance to groups such as the Boy Scouts. Other community projects include the yearly pick up of discarded Christmas Trees, safety information published in the local newspaper and they provide Red Cross First-Aid classes for those who would like to learn CPR and basic first aid. The volunteers meet every Tuesday evening for meetings and practice drills. The volunteers usually conduct one to two Burn to Learn drills a year to practice the newest rescue techniques and sharpen their firefighting skills.

In November, the weekend before Thanksgiving, the volunteers plan and put on the Fireman’s Benefit. My favorite part of the Benefit has to be the Double Cheese-“Gut-Bomb Burger” piled high with grilled onions and green peppers, bargain priced at only $2.00! Just one of these babies and believe me, you are good for a year, before you want another. During the Fireman's Benefit you can play BINGO and there is a area for Kid's Games. Bean Bag Toss and the Fish Pond are popular games with the kids. Both adults and kids enjoy playing BINGO and winners receive a Turkey or a Ham. Bingo cards are .25 each. There is also a raffle prize of $50.00 Bill drawn at Midnight and a $100.00 Bill drawn at 1:00 AM. Other prizes include Ham, Turkey, a case of canned goods or a huge slab of bacon. The proceeds of this fundraiser benefit many of the groups projects throughout the year. Most notable of these being the Fireworks on the Fourth of July at Kimmel Park.

One of the best things about this fire department is it’s family time. Leland knows the members spend a lot of personal time dedicated to the department and he feels it is important to get the group and their families together. Several times each each year the department plans activities for the volunteers and their families. These special events include the family picnic in August, Kid’s Christmas Party with very special guest; Santa Claus, Game Night and the Annual Awards Dinner.

At the Annual Awards Dinner, the district presents its honors to the Fireman of the Year, Rookie of the Year, and the Darwin Award. The Darwin Award is given to the Firefighter, who through the course of the year, pulled the department’s stupidest stunt. The Darwin Award is a wooden plaque mounted with a charred and melted fire department pager. And yes, the owner of the pager lost it in a burn to learn fire. My brother Chris has been honored with the Darwin twice, with back to back wins.

The Mill City Volunteer Fire Department is always looking for new members. If you would like to join this organization, please contact Chief Leland Ohrt at 503-897-2390 or MCRFPD2@wbcable.net.

Pull up a chair and enjoy the parade.

The Grand Parade began with the American Legion Color Guard presentation of the flag.

Quickly followed by the Grand Marshal; Josephine Reid and the Mill City Mayor; Tim Kirsch.

The Freres Lumber Company entered a three-log load log truck.

Dan and Sandy Phelps and family, former Mill City residents, grace the parade with their magnificent stage coach and team of Clydesdale horses.

Our parade wouldn’t be complete without the Santiam Shrine Club entry and the little motorized bathtubs. Check out the spray of gravel from this one! I didn’t think it would peel out but it did!

The parade was short but well organized.

There is nothing like the start of the fireworks Mill City. The whoomp of the first cake out of the mortar and the echo throughout the canyon from the explosion is spine chilling. The Mill City Fire Department provided a wonderful display of fireworks this year. Way to go fellas!

2008 Mill City Fourth of July Celebration

This year's theme is Canyon Pride and as usual the kick off event for the festivities is the Annual Queen's Coronation. The Santiam High School Auditorium will be the location of the Coronation, Saturday June 28th, at 3:00 pm. The 2008 Queen's court includes, Cilla Davidson, Taylor Gonzales and Teryn Thomas. One of these lucky girls will be crowned Queen and will proudly reign over the rest of the events. New to this year's coronation is a "Mr. Mill City" contest to be held during the time the judges' scores are tallied.

Grand Marshal of this year's parade is Mrs. Josephine Reid, wife of the late Dr. John Reid. The Reid's have a made Mill City home for well over 50 years and have a long history of giving generously to the community.

Calendar of Events:

Sunday, June 29th

Location: Kimmel Park

Mutt Show - $1.00 entry fee
Registration at Noon, Show starts at 1:00pm
All dogs must be on a leash!

"Dog-atories"

Best Costume Mutt Ugly Most Colorful Portliest Pooch
Best Trick Mutt/Owner look alike Frisbee Champ

Special Awards: Tiniest Dog, Oldest Dog, Largest Dog, Farthest Traveled

Mutt of the Year: Will ride in the Grand Parade

July 3, 2008

Street Dance, 8 pm - 11pm at the Mill City Middle School Covered area

Music DJ by Chad Dowling Productions

No Fireworks allowed at the dance! Security will be enforced and violators will be asked to leave!

July 4, 2008

Lions Club Breakfast, 7:00am - 11:00am at the Santiam High School Commons! Great Menu!

$6.00 adults and $4.00 for 12 and under

Festival Grounds:
Vendors will be on the grounds at Allen Field. Call Josh Weathers at 503-385-5313 for information on participating and pricing.

Grand Parade: $5.00 per entry, Kids 12 and under enter free, Final registration at 11:00am at Kimmel Park, Judging at 11:00am sharp! For more information or a release and registration form for the parade contact 503-769-8608.

Parade begins at NOON

Fireworks! Fireworks! Fireworks! The best part of the celebration! The Mill City Fire Department undoubtedly has a show stopping display of fireworks to dazzle the crowd. Donate generously to the Firefighters as they "pass the can!"

If you are in the Santiam Canyon area for the Fourth of July, be sure to visit Mill City for an Old Fashioned Fourth of July Celebration! I love Oregon! Let me show you why.

If you are thinking of buying or selling in Mill City, Gates or any of the surrounding cities, please call me at 800-423-7740 x1910.

Now more than ever experience counts!

Leslie Stewart, Realtor, CRS, eCertified
Licensed Broker in the State of Oregon

1155 First St, Stayton Oregon 97383 503-769-3449 www.BrendaAndSandy.com