WELLMAN

Wellman’s volunteer firefighters, assisted by their families, hosted another successful drive-thru tenderloin meal on Saturday, April 13. Their largest crowd to date followed directions through the downtown streets until they arrived at the fire station, where the volunteer family grilled tenderloins, fried french fries, and served up 1224 meals with after-dinner mints and a smile.

The $28,000 raised will go toward new bunker gear.

“We started grilling at 3:15 p.m.,” Trevor Owens said as he turned tenderloins on the grill in the parking lot. “Usually we say we’re going to start at 4, and people start lining up at 3:30. We try to make sure once they start pulling up, we’ve got food ready so we can get going through the line.”

The department purchased their own grill about three years ago, and the men appreciate its larger size. “When you choose your side, you have to choose wisely,” Owens said as smoke clouded around him. The shifting breeze meant staying out of the haze entirely was impossible.

Inside the station, ladies shuffled hot french fries into cartons, which then got a bun from 65-year Wellman Fire veteran Jim Millice, a generous tenderloin, a Pearson’s Mint Patty, and after-dinner mints. A five-year-old girl helping out for the first time distributed food-service trays for the fast-paced line.

Back outside, the line of vehicles was steady, leaving no time for chit-chat with a reporter as the firefighters took orders for meals. Lori Owens kept track of the number of cars and occasionally noted the counties where they came from: Washington, Iowa, Johnson, and others.

The department thanks Brenneman Pork, Prairie Pork, the BAYER Corp., and Home Gas for their huge donations of products, as well as all the people that attended the meal on the warm and sunny evening.