The West Roane County Volunteer Fire Department has launched their August appeal. Please consider a generous tax-deductible donation by mail to WRCVFD, P.O. Box 417, Rockwood, TN 37854, or online at WestRoane.com (Link...).

Our neighbors in this all-volunteer IRS 501(c)(3) nonprofit not only fight our fires but also provide our emergency medical services. Last year they helped 430 individuals with medical emergencies and fires.

That's a lot of calls. This is in addition to training, meetings, paperwork, grant writing, maintenance, and community activities such as smoke alarm installation. That is a lot of volunteering.

West Roane County VFD remains a real bargain for property owners here; costs would go up considerably were we to be forced to move to paid fire and emergency medical protection, whether tax-supported or private.

West Roane VFD received only $40,000 of its funding last year from the county. Without your donations, they cannot continue functioning.

Reminder postcards were mailed by volunteers this week. Please consider giving now even if you haven't given in a while. Even a little bit helps. If you can't give, please consider volunteering. Help West Roane help everyone.

-- OneTahiti