THE FIREHOUSE SCENEis a publication of the

Harlem-Roscoe Fire Protection District

The Firehouse Scene - Page 12www.harlemroscoefire.com

April 2017 Chief Don Shoevlin Editor Sheryl Drost

Garage Fire Pages 6

Truck FirePages 7

Photo by Sheryl Drost

Station FunniesBy Sheryl Drost

“Let the Chief engineer the truck”, they said.

“It will be OK” they said!

Peek-a-boo Marty!

Jazzy has it covered

They never outgrow being a daddy’s girl!

Daddy Please????Smile, your on Carol’s Camera!

Scholarship AwardedBy Rob Lukowski

The past two years, the Harlem-Roscoe Firefighter’s Association awarded an area high school senior with $10,000 for their college education. This year’s winner is Hsing-Hao Louh. He was picked out of 30 applicants. All were required to fill out an application, submit a resume and several letters of recommendation before undergoing an interview process with the association’s board.

Louh is a senior at Hononegah High School and was a very impressive applicant. He maintained a 4.98 GPA all while volunteering in the community and being involved in sports.

“It’s really exciting,” says Louh. “It feels great. It’s a huge privilege and they’ve provided me a great opportunity to continue my education to the best of my abilities and I’ll definitely study for myself, my future and them as well.”

Louh may attend Georgia Institute of Technology but is still waiting to hear from Duke and Berkeley. He wants to study bio-medical engineering.

Please join us this year on June 30, 2017 at our annual golf play day at Macktown Golf Course to help raise funds for helping our area youth succeed in their futures!

Obtain more information and register at: www.harlemroscoegolf.com .

RORO 2017By Carol Donovan

More photos taken at RORO can be viewed on our Facebook page

Thank you to everyone that stopped and visited with us at this years RORO!

Marcia Soppe Josh Hoffland May 11 - 50th May 13th - 30th

From the Chief’s DeskBy Fire Chief Don Shoevlin

Another successful dinner was held. The men and woman of the department along with all the volunteers did another exceptional job. Of course, its success would not have happened without your support. Thank you to everyone who attended whether it was dining with us, picking it up at carry

out or having it delivered. We enjoy whole-heartedly giving back to our communities. The preliminary numbers I was told is that we served around 1350 meals.

With the warmer temperatures begins several outdoor cleanup projects. Remember, there are burning ordinances either passed by the village or the county. If you are uncertain, I urge you to call our office at 623-7867 on Monday – Friday. When burning, please be cautious. Even though the ground is wet, the top growth is dry and burns quickly. A small breeze can spread the fire very quickly. If it is windy, I suggest that you reconsider and wait. The wind can take a small controlled fire and quickly make it a large uncontrollable one.

We should be taking delivery of our new ambulance by the end of this month. This ambulance is replacing one in our fleet. There will be more information and pictures in next month’s newsletter.

In last month’s newsletter, Lt Sarver wrote a most inspiring article on “How do you do it” It did pertain to being a firefighter and the fire service brotherhood. Well said Lieutenant!

Did you know that of all the fire departments in Illinois, over 70% are volunteer? Did you know the opportunities that present themselves when you volunteer, not only short term but long term?

Whether we are helping individuals or families who have suffered a devastating loss, providing care and comfort to those sick or injured, teaching prevention to all ages, like Lt. Sarver said in his article, it’s through the efforts of ordinary people and becoming a team, that we can do extraordinary things. Everyone in our community needs someone who cares and is willing to step up and help our neighbors when they are in need. Volunteering allows us to give something back to our community.

Today, there are many demands on our time, and firefighting or emergency services require specialized training. There are many reasons not to volunteer. Your fire department was built by volunteers who were willing to give back. Today, with the demand for our services ever growing, we still maintain to operate with those from the community who volunteer to become a firefighter/EMT.

If you have a sense of civic pride, if you want to see immediate results of a job well done, if you have the heart and spirit to make your community a better place to live, consider volunteering with the Harlem-Roscoe Fire Department. To start the process, just stop by Fire Station One at 10544 Main St. in Roscoe and pick up an application.

Your continuous and generous support is greatly appreciated. If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to call me, this is your fire department. Don’t forget to keep up on the progress of your fire department by visiting our website, harlemroscoefire.com, and don’t forget our Facebook page. Go ahead and friend us. It remains an honor to me to represent this fire department, the members and our communities locally and throughout the state.

Spring DinnerBy Sheryl Drost

The Harlem-Roscoe Firefighter’s Association would like to thank everyone that dined at our 59th Annual Spring Dinner Fundraiser that was held on March 8th. I had to laugh though, when I asked several patrons if they liked the change in menu. Their response was no, we liked the Coon & Ham dinners better! For those that don’t know, the original Spring Dinner menu featured racoon and ham. And, that they remembered that menu, just goes to show you how long they have been coming to our dinners!! We thank you, but I thnk we will stick with the current menu!

Spring Dinner Snapshots by Sheryl Drost & Marcia Soppe (Check out our Facebook page for all the photos taken at the dinner!)

The Firehouse Scene - Page 2 The Firehouse Scene - Page 11 www.harlemroscoefire.comwww.harlemroscoefire.com

The Firehouse Scene

The Firehouse Scene is a monthly newsletter produced by the Harlem-Roscoe Fire Prot. Dist.

Editor-in-Chief - Don ShoevlinEditor & Layout - Sheryl Drost

The Firehouse Scene is available at Station One - 10544 Main Street in Roscoe and on the department’s website after the second Sunday each month: You can now sign up on the home page of our website to receive the newsletter by email.

www.harlemroscoefire.comE-mail submissions to Sheryl: hrfdsdrost@gmail.com

Birthdays!

April 2017

3rd Nate Sarver7th Chris Witcik8th Ron Canode10th Colleen Bloyer22nd David Fleetwood24th Paul Stanphill25th Ryan Sarver

May 2017

11th Marcia Soppe ‘50th’13th Josh Hoffland ‘30th’18th Austin Richards20th John Bunger23rd Rob Lukowski31st Jordan Stark ‘30th’

Tis the SeasonPhotos by Sheryl Drost

Spring is here and burning season is upon us. If you don’t know the burning rules for where you live, feel free to give us a call at 815-623-7867. Firefighters have already been chasing field fires due to out of control burning so PLEASE, burn responsibly!

On March 20, a burn pile got out of control into a wooded area off Stateline Rd. Above firefighter Tim Schrader uses an Indian Back Pack to extinguish the fire.

Stove FirePhoto by Carol Donovan

Firefighters extinguished a oven fire on Greglynn St. on March 26. Damage was contained to the appliance.

False Alarm Photo by Carol Donovan

Deputy Chiefs’ WhistleBy Deputy Chief John Bergeron

Start Seeing Motorcycles

With summer approaching and warm weather soon upon us, the number of motorcyclists sharing the roads with motor vehicles will be increasing.

Inclement weather, road conditions, traffic congestion and limitations of protective gear, make motorcycle riders susceptible to serious or life threatening injuries, regardless of their experience or skill level. We can all help make this summer safe and enjoyable by practicing safe driving habits and staying focused on the road.

Motorcycles represent only 3% of all vehicle registrations in the state. Therefore, motorcyclists are among the most vulnerable vehicle types on the road and can be easily overlooked by motorists.

Tips• Remember that motorists often have trouble seeing motorcycles and reacting in time.

• Make sure your headlight works and is on day and night.• Use reflective strips on your clothing and on your motorcycle.• Be aware of the blind spots cars and trucks have. • Flash your brake light when you are slowing down and before stopping.

• If a motorist doesn’t see you, don’t be afraid to use your horn. Dress for safety.

• Wear a quality helmet and eye protection.• Wear bright clothing and a light-colored helmet.• Wear leather or other thick, protective clothing. • Choose long sleeves and pants, over-the-ankle boots, and gloves.• Remember – the only thing between you and the road is your protective gear.

• Constantly search the road for changing conditions. • Give yourself space and time to respond to other motorists’ actions.• Give other motorists time and space to respond to you. • Use lane positioning to be seen; ride in the part of a lane where you are most visible.

• Watch for turning vehicles. • Signal your next move in advance. • Avoid weaving between lanes.• Pretend you’re invisible, and ride extra defensively. • Don’t ride when you are tired or under the influence of alcohol or other drugs.

• Know and follow the rules of the road, and stick to the speed limit. Know your bike and how to use it:

• Get formal training and take refresher courses.• Practice. Develop your riding techniques before going into heavy traffic. Know how to handle your bike in conditions such as wet or sandy roads, high winds, and uneven surfaces. Remember: Give yourself space. People driving cars often just don’t see motorcycles. Even when drivers do see you, chances are they’ve never been on a motorcycle and can’t properly judge your speed.

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Accidents Photos by Sheryl Drost, Carol Donovan, and Duty Officer

03/13/17 West Lane 03/17/17 Forest Hills Rd.

03/14/17 McCurry Rd. 03/16/17 Elevator Rd. 03/23/17 Burden Rd.

03/16/17 Hwy 251 03/29/17 Metric Dr. & Rockton Rd.

03/18/17 West Lane Rd. 03/21/17 Burden Rd.

03/21/17 Burden Rd. 03/25/17 I-90

Firefighters responded to a fire alarm on West Lane on March 16. There was no fire.

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Bugle AlarmBy Justin Mayton

What Every Firefighter Should Know About Their Spouse – A Working Mom’s RebuttalBy Alison Lhttps://wifebehindthefire.com/every-firefighter-know-spouse-working-moms-rebuttal/

A few years ago, Fire Engineering published an article by Anne Gagliano titled, “What Every Firefighter’s Spouse Should Know.” The first time I read this article, when I was a brand new fire wife, I absorbed it eagerly. I heard about the divorce statistics. I heard about the suicides. I heard about the emotional and physical toll it could take on our loved ones. Naturally, a fire wife with as much life experience as Mrs. Gagliano should be an ideal role model for a new fire wife like me. I saved the link to her article and vowed to myself to read it often, to remind myself on the bad days what I need to do to make sure our family stays whole. This is my response to her article.

My husband and I were married for 7 years before he finally got the coveted call from the city he works for. This was his dream, and going through the civil service process was the only way he felt he would achieve it. It was a dream 5 years in the making. We had many ups and downs in our 7 years of marriage, so I was determined to become an ideal fire wife in order to keep things on the “up.” It wasn’t what I signed up for when we first got married (he was a carpenter then), but let’s face it, nothing ever is. If you adapt to change, you grow together, and your marriage stays intact.

The day my husband graduated from the Academy was the proudest day of my life. He worked so hard for this day, and I was so proud I could explode! I’m not a crier, but I bawled like a baby with our oldest 2 children by my side the day he marched in to the sound of the pipes and drums. I was so thankful the grueling Academy was over. During those 7 months, I was a working single mom Monday through Friday. My husband moved to a place within the geographic requirements for his job. We stayed behind and were happy to just be able to see him on weekends. I put in 40 work hours a week, over 800 miles on my car per week, and 4 hours a day commuting, all with two small children in tow. We worked on getting our house sold so we could relocate closer to my job and meet the residency requirements for his. Weekends were spent with the children and helping him study, and eventually were spent on packing our lives into boxes. The entire family was back together the week after he graduated, the same week he started his new job as a rookie firefighter.

A new home, a new job, a new school for our oldest. It took some adjustment on my part because after 7 months of being a single mom and shouldering the entire responsibility for our two children, I had my partner back! Things got rough at times, because it was an adjustment for him as well. He wasn’t used to taking kids to school, doing homework, making meals, and caring for kids on his off days. I re-read Mrs. Gagliano’s article again and again. I noticed something though. I was beginning to resent

her statements. Yes, it is good to know about the health statistics. Everything else in regards to home life and family, communication, and what a firefighter “needs” on his days off and what should be expected of the spouse, began to rub me wrong.

A career firefighter will spend one third of their working lives at the station. Wildland firefighters can spend anywhere between a few days and seven months away from home. Volunteer firefighters drop what they’re doing whenever the pager goes off to rush to where they are needed. What does this mean? The wives (or husbands on occasion) and any children, are left behind. The uncertainty and frustration we face can be daunting.

On the days our firefighters work, we do the job of two at home. We spend those hours doing everything related to home and family ourselves. We cook, clean, shuttle kids to practice, lessons and games. We help with homework, science projects, do the shopping, take kids for haircuts, and try to coordinate extended family

gatherings. We often also work full time jobs. We get the kids up in the morning, get them dressed and off to school, daycare, or the sitters. We often get ourselves to work, shift out of “mommy mode” and into “dedicated employee” mode. We put in our time at work, shift back into mommy mode, then we go pick our kids up. We battle the feelings of guilt because the kids were with the sitter for 12 hours that day, or because they had to be a latchkey kid for the day, or because we missed a baseball game. We get home, make dinner, do homework, make sure they are clean and put them to bed. Then with whatever energy may be left, we try to clean up from

dinner, maybe do a load of laundry, and give any pets attention. Then we go to bed, alone, and try to get a decent sleep just to do it all again the next day. Our nights can be interrupted with wet beds, bad dreams, and coughing fits. Then there are the special days on weekends or holidays where there may not be a job to contend with, but we have to explain to children where daddy is, why he’s not there, and when he’s coming home. We have to make the green bean casserole, gather up the party gifts, and get on the road to some family function, all without our partner. For the volunteers, those wives have to deal with husbands leaving at the drop of a hat, with zero notice and no information of when their firefighter may return home. That often means plans are ruined, activities are postponed, a daughter with a dance recital is disappointed. There always has to be a contingency plan to do things solo, just in case the firefighter gets called away. To top it all off, we worry and we miss our firefighters. We might not say it, and we may not always show it in order to appear strong for them. They do not need to deal with the guilt of leaving disappointed families behind, they need to be able to focus at their job and know that we will be waiting for them at the end of their shift. As a result, we battle feelings of abandonment, resentment, and frustration.

We understand that after a rough night, our firefighter needs rest and extra sleep. We know they need to keep up on their exercise. We know they experience horrors that we can never fully understand. We know their brotherhood offers them things that we cannot. We

Lightning Safety Tips: 1. Postpone outdoor activities if thunderstorms are imminent. Lightning can travel 5-10 miles away from the thunderstorm

and strike the ground with blue sky overhead. The storm doesn’t have to be overhead in order for you to be struck. 2. Move to a sturdy shelter or vehicle. Do not take shelter in a small shed, under isolated trees, or in a convertible-top

vehicle. Stay away from tall objects such as trees or towers or poles. 3. If in your vehicle when lightning strikes – don’t touch a metal surface. You are safer in a vehicle than being outdoors. 4. Remember that utility lines or pipes can carry the electrical current underground or through a building. Avoid electrical appliances,

and use telephones or computers only in an emergency. 5. If you feel your hair standing on end – get down into a baseball catcher’s position and plug your ears with your finger tips so if

lightning does hit it will not blow your ear drums out. Do not lie flat! 6. 30/30 rule – if the time between lighting and thunder is 30 seconds or less, go to a safe shelter. Stay there until 30 minutes after the

last rumble of thunder. Web site: http://www.lightningsafety.noaa.gov Flash Flood/Flood Safety Tips:

1. Nearly half of all fatalities in a flash flood involve a person driving a vehicle. Do not drive into a flooded area – Turn Around Don’t Drown! It takes only 2 feet of water to float away most cars. It’s amazing how powerful we feel when we get behind the wheel – don’t do it!

2. It takes only 6 inches of fast-moving water to sweep a person off their feet – don’t walk through a flooded area! 3. If you are camping in a river valley, move to higher ground if thunderstorms with heavy rains are in the area. Do not

attempt to drive away. 4. Don’t operate electrical tools in flooded areas. 5. Most flash flood deaths occur in the middle of the night when it is more difficult to see rising water levels judge the

depth of water covering road surfaces. Web sites: http://www.weather.gov/os/brochures.shtml (to find the “Flash Floods and Floods…The Awesome Power” brochure) http://www.srh.noaa.gov/srh/tadd/ (for information on Turn Around Don’t Drown - TADD) Severe Thunderstorm Straight-line Winds:

1. Don’t underestimate the power of strong thunderstorm winds known as straight-line winds – they can reach speeds of 100 to 150 mph. Hurricane-force winds start at 74 mph. Wisconsin does experience these kinds of winds!

2. If a severe thunderstorm warning contains hurricane-force wind speeds seek shelter immediately (as you would for a tornado situation).

3. Stay away from windows and go to the basement or interior room/hallway. Do not use electrical appliances. 4. Be aware that tall trees near a building can be uprooted by straight-line winds – that tree can come crashing through

the roof of a home and crush a person to death. 5. Powerful straight-line winds can overturn a vehicle or even make a person air-borne when they get up over 100 mph! 6. One type of a straight-line wind event is a downburst, which is a small area of rapidly descending rain-cooled air and rain beneath a

thunderstorm. A downburst can cause damage equivalent to a strong tornado! Web site: http://www.spc.noaa.gov/misc/AbtDerechos/derechofacts.htm (information on strong straight-line wind events) Large Hail:

1. Although it is rare, people have been killed by large hail stones after sustaining head injuries. Additionally, several people are injured by large hail stones each year in the U.S.

2. Some thunderstorms can produce large hail stones that can reach the size of baseballs, softballs, or even as big as computer compact discs (CD) or DVDs! These large hail stones can fall at speeds over 100 mph! – that’s why they are dangerous! The largest hail stone in Wisconsin was over 7 inches in diameter!

3. If a severe storm is producing large hail stones, seek a sturdy shelter and stay away from windows that can easily be smashed.

4. If you are in your vehicle before the hail storm starts, get out of it and go to a sturdy shelter. Glass windows in vehicles can easily be smashed by the hail stones. If you can’t get out of your vehicle, then come to a stop and cover your head with your arms and hands.

Additional Web Sites: PDF-printable brochures on a variety of weather-related issues are available at: http://www.weather.gov/os/brochures.shtml Wisconsin Emergency Management homepage: http://www.emergencymanagement.wi.gov Basic and advanced storm spotter slide sets (Part I and II) can be found on Storm Spotter’s Page http://www.crh.noaa.gov/mkx/?n=spotters Wisconsin severe weather graphics and bean counts: http://www.crh.noaa.gov/mkx/climate-severe.php National severe weather hazard statistics: http://www.nws.noaa.gov/om/hazstats.shtml Preparedness and Safety Tips: http://www.crh.noaa.gov/mkx/edu.php http://www.fema.gov/kids/ Storm Prediction Center’s web site address: http://www.spc.noaa.gov Glossary for storm spotters: http://www.srh.noaa.gov/oun/severewx/glossary.php Link to other NWS sites: http://www.weather.gov/organization.php National Climatic Data Center – Ashville, NC – http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov Midwestern Climatic Center – http://mcc.swsuiuc.edu Wisconsin State Climatology Office: http://ww.aos.wisc.edu/~sco Wisconsin Storm Write-ups: http://www.crh.noaa.gov/mkx/?n=documented_storms Sullivan Committee (oversees ham activities and receipt of ham reports at MKX) - http://www.sulcom.info Organized spotter groups - http://www.mke-skywarn.org/ http://www.midwestsstrc.org

Please join us for the “Ignite our Youth's Future” Golf Fundraiser for the Harlem-Roscoe Firefighter’s Technology Grant. The grant is awarded annually to an in-district school to assist in

purchasing technology to assist students in their educational needs in the 21st century.

Friday, June 30, 2017 Macktown Golf Course 8:00 a.m. Shotgun start (Registration starts at 7:00 a.m.)

Register Online: WWW.HARLEMROSCOEGOLF.COM

$100/golfer ($400/foursome)

What’s Included?

18 holes of golf with cart

All drinks on course and Lunch at the Turn

An "all-inclusive" steak dinner at pavilion (Free alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks at dinner!)

A gift certificate for a free future round of golf,

cart included, at any of the Winnebago County golf courses!

What Can You Win?

Longest Drive, Longest Putt, and Closest to the Pin winners will be awarded a PING golf club donated by…

Putting contest winner will be awarded a PING golf bag!

Door prizes, raffle baskets, and 50/50 golf ball drop!

50/50 Golf Ball Drop Raffle

Golf balls will be dropped onto a green at Macktown Golf

Course from our aerial truck's ladder on the day of the play day. If your ball lands in the hole you win! 3,000 balls are available, so the raffle prize could be very significant!!!

$5 per ball or $20 for 5 balls

Purchase Online at www.harlemroscoegolf.com Do not need to be present to win. Winner will be notified.

***Don’t golf but would still like to support our scholarship fund? Donations are also accepted online!***

Thank you for your support of the Harlem-Roscoe Firefighter's Scholarship Fund!

4th Annual Golf Play Day

harlemroscoegolf.com

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know this, and we embrace, cope and handle things to the best of our abilities.

Our Firefighters Need to Know Certain Things About Us Wives

Being a firefighter should never take priority over being a husband and father. We know you are providing for your family, and we know you have a love for the job. It does indeed take a special kind of man to be a firefighter. Keep in mind, though, that your family still needs you the most. We need you present both physically and emotionally on your off days. Your duties as a firefighter do not exempt you from the duties of being Husband and Dad. You work so that you and your family might live, do not live in order to work.

This means that there are going to always be dad/husband duties on days off! Get any extra rest that you may need, but don’t take advantage of that time off to be lazy and shirk any household duties simply because “that’s what those days are for,” according to Mrs. Gagliano.

Being a firefighter does not trump being a nurse, teacher, engineer, accountant, stay at home mom or whatever other job a wife may have. We need our firefighters to know how hard we work, too. Both parents have multiple job titles, husband, father and firefighter, wife, mother and nurse/teacher/accountant, etc. All parts should work together as a team to make the family a whole.If your wife needs a little extra time on a non-duty day to accomplish something important to her, please help her. Yes, this may mean you have to make dinner on your own, or take the kids to practice on your own. Do it with grace, because your wife does the same thing every day you work.

Both parties need to be fully present when at home. Yes, sometimes a job related phone call needs to be taken, or a quick errand to the station needs to be run. True, the pager may also always be present. However, non-essential work related issues should be kept to a minimum. Be mentally available to your families and try not to let work distract you too much on your days off. Don’t look at your iPhone every time you get a notification from Pulse Point. Don’t spend unneeded time at the volunteer station.

We are willing to listen, talk, understand, or just be there for you in whatever capacity. We also need the same from you in return. Our feelings are just as important! Communication is always key, but that must meant that there is listening and understanding by both parties. If your wife needs to vent about the PTA, her job, her mother, your mother, or whatever – let her! Sometimes, we just need you to be quiet and give us undivided attention, the same thing you may need from us.

We know firefighters are “fixers” by nature. Try not to let your need to “fix things” also complicate things. Don’t take all rants to heart and don’t assume that because we are ranting to you, that must mean we need or want you to fix it. Unless we tell you to fix it, we really just need you to hear what we’re saying.

We get exhausted, too. Often, especially the days you work. Sometimes, we just need a few hours to ourselves. Even if you are

always around and do your dad and husband duties on your days off, keep in mind that you usually still have us around to lighten the load. On your duty days, we don’t have that extra set of hands. Please make that off-time available to your wife on occasion, and you will reap the benefits!

If you need a relaxation massage, be sure to reciprocate! If you need a night out with the guys, then don’t give her grief if she plans a night out with the girls and you’re left at home with children. Also make sure you’re making time for just the two of you. Date nights will remind you why you got married in the first place.We do worry about you! A lot! We also miss you when you’re not home! A lot! Yes, some of us may grow to enjoy our alone time, but it’s still nice to know that maybe when you’re at work, you feel the same way too.

Utilize any professional help for post-traumatic situations. Don’t be a “man” and “suck it up.” Those feelings will fester inside until one day you explode, and it will be your family that will hurt the most because of it. Those resources are there for a reason, please use them. You owe it to your family to be as emotionally and mentally sound as possible.

The Bottom Line

We know you have an important and stressful job, but we still need you present and we need you to understand the stress we experience. No one ever gets married with the intent of getting divorced. Remember that what you put into something is what you will get out of it. Marriage and parenthood are not easy, especially when “M istress Fire” is present. They are things that have to be worked on and maintained. They are things that are constantly evolving and we all have to learn to overcome those changes. Mistakes are made and we all have to learn from them. So while I can appreciate Mrs. Gagliano’s article, I am respectfully disagreeing with some of it. Well, a lot of it. The responsibility to maintain and nurture the home and family does not fall to the fire wife alone.

Ride to School in a Fire TruckPhoto by DC John Bergeron

Little Michael and two of his friends were winners of a “Ride to School in a Fire Truck” and got to ride to the Red Shed Preschool in style.

Severe Weather Safety Tips – to Save Your Life!

Fact: Hundreds of people die each year in the United States due to heat waves, hurricanes, lightning, flash floods, powerful thunderstorm winds, and winter storms or winter cold. Additionally, thousands of people are injured by these weather events each year. Will it happen to you? Fact: If you are aware of what weather event is about to impact your area, you are more likely to survive such an event. To stay on top of the weather, utilize NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards receiver units that can be purchased at most electronic stores. Make sure the model you purchase has a battery-backup. The programmable types allow you to selectively screen out those county warnings you are not interested in. Most homes have a smoke detector; shouldn’t your home also have a weather radio? You should also obtain the latest weather information from commercial TV/radio, cable TV, the internet/web, and newspapers. It’s your responsibility! The Milwaukee/Sullivan National Weather Service office (WFO MKX) that services south-central and southeast Wisconsin has a web site at: http://www.weather.gov/mkx …check it out….it is loaded with information and links! What You Can do Before Severe Weather Strikes

1. Develop a disaster plan for you and your family at home, work, school, and when outdoors. The American Red Cross offers planning tips and information on a putting together a disaster supplies kit at: http://www.redcross.org

2. Identify a safe place to take shelter. Information on how to build a Safe Room in your home or school is available from the Federal Emergency Management Agency at: http://www.fema.gov/hazard/tornado/to_saferoom.shtm

3. Know the county/parish in which you live or visit – and in what part of that county you are located. The National Weather Service issues severe weather warnings on a county/parish basis, or for a portion of a county/parish.

4. Keep a highway map nearby to follow storm movement from weather bulletins. 5. Have a NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards receiver unit with a warning alarm tone and battery

back-up to receive warning bulletins. 6. National Weather Service (NWS) watches and warnings are also available on the Internet. Select your local NWS office

at: http://www.weather.gov/organization.php …or go to the to the NWS Home Page at http://www.nws.noaa.gov 7. Listen to commercial radio or television/cable TV for weather information. 8. Check the weather forecast before leaving for extended periods outdoors. Watch for signs of approaching storms. 9. If severe weather threatens, check on people who are elderly, very young, or physically or mentally disabled. Don’t

forget about pets and farm animals.

Tornado Safety Tips: 1. Seek shelter in a sturdy building, or a pre-designated shelter. Go to the lowest level of the

building, preferably in a basement, and get under a heavy desk or workbench or sit next to the wall and cover your head with your arms/hands. Best bet – have a safe room in the basement.

2. If an underground shelter is not available, move to an interior room/hallway – put as many wall between you and the outside of the building, and stay away from windows. Other possibilities: get into a bathtub or under a bed or sofa.

3. Get out of vehicles – they can easily be tossed around – do not try to outrun a tornado. 4. If caught outside – lie flat on the ground and cover your head with your hands. Remember, in

tornado situations debris likes to settle in roadside ditches or other low spots. If heavy rains are falling in the area, ditches and low spots may quickly flood. Therefore, laying down in a ditch may not be your best choice.

5. Be aware of flying debris – most deaths and injuries are caused by flying debris. 6. Manufactured homes (mobile trailers) offer little protection, even if tied down. Leave these for a sturdy shelter before the storm

approaches. 7. Do not seek shelter under a highway overpass. Wind blow stronger under the overpass due to the wind-tunnel effect. Additionally,

flying debris (glass, wood, metal) can pummel you, and the tornado winds may suck you out from under the overpass anyway. 8. Don’t waste time opening windows and doors to equalize air pressure differences – this is a waste of time and buildings have enough

air leakage to equalize air pressure differences anyway. Buildings are more likely to explode after the wind gets inside. 9. The southwest side of the basement isn’t necessarily the safest place to be – vehicles can be pushed into basements – you can still be

crushed no matter where you are in the basement. Even the bricks/stones of a fireplace can crash into the basement and crush you! 10. Remember – the tornado can occur before there is a visible funnel cloud. A tornado is nothing more than a violently rotating column

of air extending from the ground to the cloud base. You may not be able to see the tornado (can’t see the rotating air) until enough debris and dirt get swept into the vortex, and/or the visible funnel cloud develops all the way to the ground.

11. No place is totally safe from tornadoes (except for a safe room) – if weather conditions come together properly, the tornado will go over or through mountains, lakes, rivers, swamps, marshes, bogs, and through downtown areas that have 1000 foot skyscrapers!

Web sites: http://www.spc.noaa.gov/faq/tornado/index.html Using a search engine on the Internet/YouTube, type in these key words for additional web sites: skywarn, tornado, thunderstorm,

downburst, tornadoproject, storm chaser, vortex, derecho, severe weather, Enhanced Fujita Scale, safe room, lightning, jet stream

The Firehouse Scene - Page 6 The Firehouse Scene - Page 7 www.harlemroscoefire.comwww.harlemroscoefire.com

Garage FirePhotos by Sheryl Drost & Carol Donovan

Harlem-Roscoe Firefighters responded to a working garage fire on Necedah Dr. in Roscoe on March 12. The fire was quickly knocked down. The cause of the fire was accidental and believed to be from improper storage of hot ashes from the fireplace.

Semi Fire Photos by Sheryl Drost

Harlem-Roscoe Firefighters responded to a report of a truck on fire on I-90 on March 20. First in units found a semi trailer on fire. The driver had un-hooked the cab and moved it safely away from the fire. No one was injured. The trailer was carrying paper towels.

The Firehouse Scene - Page 6 The Firehouse Scene - Page 7 www.harlemroscoefire.comwww.harlemroscoefire.com

Garage FirePhotos by Sheryl Drost & Carol Donovan

Harlem-Roscoe Firefighters responded to a working garage fire on Necedah Dr. in Roscoe on March 12. The fire was quickly knocked down. The cause of the fire was accidental and believed to be from improper storage of hot ashes from the fireplace.

Semi Fire Photos by Sheryl Drost

Harlem-Roscoe Firefighters responded to a report of a truck on fire on I-90 on March 20. First in units found a semi trailer on fire. The driver had un-hooked the cab and moved it safely away from the fire. No one was injured. The trailer was carrying paper towels.

The Firehouse Scene -Page 8 The Firehouse Scene - Page 5 www.harlemroscoefire.comwww.harlemroscoefire.com www.harlemroscoefire.comwww.harlemroscoefire.com

know this, and we embrace, cope and handle things to the best of our abilities.

Our Firefighters Need to Know Certain Things About Us Wives

Being a firefighter should never take priority over being a husband and father. We know you are providing for your family, and we know you have a love for the job. It does indeed take a special kind of man to be a firefighter. Keep in mind, though, that your family still needs you the most. We need you present both physically and emotionally on your off days. Your duties as a firefighter do not exempt you from the duties of being Husband and Dad. You work so that you and your family might live, do not live in order to work.

This means that there are going to always be dad/husband duties on days off! Get any extra rest that you may need, but don’t take advantage of that time off to be lazy and shirk any household duties simply because “that’s what those days are for,” according to Mrs. Gagliano.

Being a firefighter does not trump being a nurse, teacher, engineer, accountant, stay at home mom or whatever other job a wife may have. We need our firefighters to know how hard we work, too. Both parents have multiple job titles, husband, father and firefighter, wife, mother and nurse/teacher/accountant, etc. All parts should work together as a team to make the family a whole.If your wife needs a little extra time on a non-duty day to accomplish something important to her, please help her. Yes, this may mean you have to make dinner on your own, or take the kids to practice on your own. Do it with grace, because your wife does the same thing every day you work.

Both parties need to be fully present when at home. Yes, sometimes a job related phone call needs to be taken, or a quick errand to the station needs to be run. True, the pager may also always be present. However, non-essential work related issues should be kept to a minimum. Be mentally available to your families and try not to let work distract you too much on your days off. Don’t look at your iPhone every time you get a notification from Pulse Point. Don’t spend unneeded time at the volunteer station.

We are willing to listen, talk, understand, or just be there for you in whatever capacity. We also need the same from you in return. Our feelings are just as important! Communication is always key, but that must meant that there is listening and understanding by both parties. If your wife needs to vent about the PTA, her job, her mother, your mother, or whatever – let her! Sometimes, we just need you to be quiet and give us undivided attention, the same thing you may need from us.

We know firefighters are “fixers” by nature. Try not to let your need to “fix things” also complicate things. Don’t take all rants to heart and don’t assume that because we are ranting to you, that must mean we need or want you to fix it. Unless we tell you to fix it, we really just need you to hear what we’re saying.

We get exhausted, too. Often, especially the days you work. Sometimes, we just need a few hours to ourselves. Even if you are

always around and do your dad and husband duties on your days off, keep in mind that you usually still have us around to lighten the load. On your duty days, we don’t have that extra set of hands. Please make that off-time available to your wife on occasion, and you will reap the benefits!

If you need a relaxation massage, be sure to reciprocate! If you need a night out with the guys, then don’t give her grief if she plans a night out with the girls and you’re left at home with children. Also make sure you’re making time for just the two of you. Date nights will remind you why you got married in the first place.We do worry about you! A lot! We also miss you when you’re not home! A lot! Yes, some of us may grow to enjoy our alone time, but it’s still nice to know that maybe when you’re at work, you feel the same way too.

Utilize any professional help for post-traumatic situations. Don’t be a “man” and “suck it up.” Those feelings will fester inside until one day you explode, and it will be your family that will hurt the most because of it. Those resources are there for a reason, please use them. You owe it to your family to be as emotionally and mentally sound as possible.

The Bottom Line

We know you have an important and stressful job, but we still need you present and we need you to understand the stress we experience. No one ever gets married with the intent of getting divorced. Remember that what you put into something is what you will get out of it. Marriage and parenthood are not easy, especially when “M istress Fire” is present. They are things that have to be worked on and maintained. They are things that are constantly evolving and we all have to learn to overcome those changes. Mistakes are made and we all have to learn from them. So while I can appreciate Mrs. Gagliano’s article, I am respectfully disagreeing with some of it. Well, a lot of it. The responsibility to maintain and nurture the home and family does not fall to the fire wife alone.

Ride to School in a Fire TruckPhoto by DC John Bergeron

Little Michael and two of his friends were winners of a “Ride to School in a Fire Truck” and got to ride to the Red Shed Preschool in style.

Severe Weather Safety Tips – to Save Your Life!

Fact: Hundreds of people die each year in the United States due to heat waves, hurricanes, lightning, flash floods, powerful thunderstorm winds, and winter storms or winter cold. Additionally, thousands of people are injured by these weather events each year. Will it happen to you? Fact: If you are aware of what weather event is about to impact your area, you are more likely to survive such an event. To stay on top of the weather, utilize NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards receiver units that can be purchased at most electronic stores. Make sure the model you purchase has a battery-backup. The programmable types allow you to selectively screen out those county warnings you are not interested in. Most homes have a smoke detector; shouldn’t your home also have a weather radio? You should also obtain the latest weather information from commercial TV/radio, cable TV, the internet/web, and newspapers. It’s your responsibility! The Milwaukee/Sullivan National Weather Service office (WFO MKX) that services south-central and southeast Wisconsin has a web site at: http://www.weather.gov/mkx …check it out….it is loaded with information and links! What You Can do Before Severe Weather Strikes

1. Develop a disaster plan for you and your family at home, work, school, and when outdoors. The American Red Cross offers planning tips and information on a putting together a disaster supplies kit at: http://www.redcross.org

2. Identify a safe place to take shelter. Information on how to build a Safe Room in your home or school is available from the Federal Emergency Management Agency at: http://www.fema.gov/hazard/tornado/to_saferoom.shtm

3. Know the county/parish in which you live or visit – and in what part of that county you are located. The National Weather Service issues severe weather warnings on a county/parish basis, or for a portion of a county/parish.

4. Keep a highway map nearby to follow storm movement from weather bulletins. 5. Have a NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards receiver unit with a warning alarm tone and battery

back-up to receive warning bulletins. 6. National Weather Service (NWS) watches and warnings are also available on the Internet. Select your local NWS office

at: http://www.weather.gov/organization.php …or go to the to the NWS Home Page at http://www.nws.noaa.gov 7. Listen to commercial radio or television/cable TV for weather information. 8. Check the weather forecast before leaving for extended periods outdoors. Watch for signs of approaching storms. 9. If severe weather threatens, check on people who are elderly, very young, or physically or mentally disabled. Don’t

forget about pets and farm animals.

Tornado Safety Tips: 1. Seek shelter in a sturdy building, or a pre-designated shelter. Go to the lowest level of the

building, preferably in a basement, and get under a heavy desk or workbench or sit next to the wall and cover your head with your arms/hands. Best bet – have a safe room in the basement.

2. If an underground shelter is not available, move to an interior room/hallway – put as many wall between you and the outside of the building, and stay away from windows. Other possibilities: get into a bathtub or under a bed or sofa.

3. Get out of vehicles – they can easily be tossed around – do not try to outrun a tornado. 4. If caught outside – lie flat on the ground and cover your head with your hands. Remember, in

tornado situations debris likes to settle in roadside ditches or other low spots. If heavy rains are falling in the area, ditches and low spots may quickly flood. Therefore, laying down in a ditch may not be your best choice.

5. Be aware of flying debris – most deaths and injuries are caused by flying debris. 6. Manufactured homes (mobile trailers) offer little protection, even if tied down. Leave these for a sturdy shelter before the storm

approaches. 7. Do not seek shelter under a highway overpass. Wind blow stronger under the overpass due to the wind-tunnel effect. Additionally,

flying debris (glass, wood, metal) can pummel you, and the tornado winds may suck you out from under the overpass anyway. 8. Don’t waste time opening windows and doors to equalize air pressure differences – this is a waste of time and buildings have enough

air leakage to equalize air pressure differences anyway. Buildings are more likely to explode after the wind gets inside. 9. The southwest side of the basement isn’t necessarily the safest place to be – vehicles can be pushed into basements – you can still be

crushed no matter where you are in the basement. Even the bricks/stones of a fireplace can crash into the basement and crush you! 10. Remember – the tornado can occur before there is a visible funnel cloud. A tornado is nothing more than a violently rotating column

of air extending from the ground to the cloud base. You may not be able to see the tornado (can’t see the rotating air) until enough debris and dirt get swept into the vortex, and/or the visible funnel cloud develops all the way to the ground.

11. No place is totally safe from tornadoes (except for a safe room) – if weather conditions come together properly, the tornado will go over or through mountains, lakes, rivers, swamps, marshes, bogs, and through downtown areas that have 1000 foot skyscrapers!

Web sites: http://www.spc.noaa.gov/faq/tornado/index.html Using a search engine on the Internet/YouTube, type in these key words for additional web sites: skywarn, tornado, thunderstorm,

downburst, tornadoproject, storm chaser, vortex, derecho, severe weather, Enhanced Fujita Scale, safe room, lightning, jet stream

The Firehouse Scene - Page 4 The Firehouse Scene -Page 9

Bugle AlarmBy Justin Mayton

What Every Firefighter Should Know About Their Spouse – A Working Mom’s RebuttalBy Alison Lhttps://wifebehindthefire.com/every-firefighter-know-spouse-working-moms-rebuttal/

A few years ago, Fire Engineering published an article by Anne Gagliano titled, “What Every Firefighter’s Spouse Should Know.” The first time I read this article, when I was a brand new fire wife, I absorbed it eagerly. I heard about the divorce statistics. I heard about the suicides. I heard about the emotional and physical toll it could take on our loved ones. Naturally, a fire wife with as much life experience as Mrs. Gagliano should be an ideal role model for a new fire wife like me. I saved the link to her article and vowed to myself to read it often, to remind myself on the bad days what I need to do to make sure our family stays whole. This is my response to her article.

My husband and I were married for 7 years before he finally got the coveted call from the city he works for. This was his dream, and going through the civil service process was the only way he felt he would achieve it. It was a dream 5 years in the making. We had many ups and downs in our 7 years of marriage, so I was determined to become an ideal fire wife in order to keep things on the “up.” It wasn’t what I signed up for when we first got married (he was a carpenter then), but let’s face it, nothing ever is. If you adapt to change, you grow together, and your marriage stays intact.

The day my husband graduated from the Academy was the proudest day of my life. He worked so hard for this day, and I was so proud I could explode! I’m not a crier, but I bawled like a baby with our oldest 2 children by my side the day he marched in to the sound of the pipes and drums. I was so thankful the grueling Academy was over. During those 7 months, I was a working single mom Monday through Friday. My husband moved to a place within the geographic requirements for his job. We stayed behind and were happy to just be able to see him on weekends. I put in 40 work hours a week, over 800 miles on my car per week, and 4 hours a day commuting, all with two small children in tow. We worked on getting our house sold so we could relocate closer to my job and meet the residency requirements for his. Weekends were spent with the children and helping him study, and eventually were spent on packing our lives into boxes. The entire family was back together the week after he graduated, the same week he started his new job as a rookie firefighter.

A new home, a new job, a new school for our oldest. It took some adjustment on my part because after 7 months of being a single mom and shouldering the entire responsibility for our two children, I had my partner back! Things got rough at times, because it was an adjustment for him as well. He wasn’t used to taking kids to school, doing homework, making meals, and caring for kids on his off days. I re-read Mrs. Gagliano’s article again and again. I noticed something though. I was beginning to resent

her statements. Yes, it is good to know about the health statistics. Everything else in regards to home life and family, communication, and what a firefighter “needs” on his days off and what should be expected of the spouse, began to rub me wrong.

A career firefighter will spend one third of their working lives at the station. Wildland firefighters can spend anywhere between a few days and seven months away from home. Volunteer firefighters drop what they’re doing whenever the pager goes off to rush to where they are needed. What does this mean? The wives (or husbands on occasion) and any children, are left behind. The uncertainty and frustration we face can be daunting.

On the days our firefighters work, we do the job of two at home. We spend those hours doing everything related to home and family ourselves. We cook, clean, shuttle kids to practice, lessons and games. We help with homework, science projects, do the shopping, take kids for haircuts, and try to coordinate extended family

gatherings. We often also work full time jobs. We get the kids up in the morning, get them dressed and off to school, daycare, or the sitters. We often get ourselves to work, shift out of “mommy mode” and into “dedicated employee” mode. We put in our time at work, shift back into mommy mode, then we go pick our kids up. We battle the feelings of guilt because the kids were with the sitter for 12 hours that day, or because they had to be a latchkey kid for the day, or because we missed a baseball game. We get home, make dinner, do homework, make sure they are clean and put them to bed. Then with whatever energy may be left, we try to clean up from

dinner, maybe do a load of laundry, and give any pets attention. Then we go to bed, alone, and try to get a decent sleep just to do it all again the next day. Our nights can be interrupted with wet beds, bad dreams, and coughing fits. Then there are the special days on weekends or holidays where there may not be a job to contend with, but we have to explain to children where daddy is, why he’s not there, and when he’s coming home. We have to make the green bean casserole, gather up the party gifts, and get on the road to some family function, all without our partner. For the volunteers, those wives have to deal with husbands leaving at the drop of a hat, with zero notice and no information of when their firefighter may return home. That often means plans are ruined, activities are postponed, a daughter with a dance recital is disappointed. There always has to be a contingency plan to do things solo, just in case the firefighter gets called away. To top it all off, we worry and we miss our firefighters. We might not say it, and we may not always show it in order to appear strong for them. They do not need to deal with the guilt of leaving disappointed families behind, they need to be able to focus at their job and know that we will be waiting for them at the end of their shift. As a result, we battle feelings of abandonment, resentment, and frustration.

We understand that after a rough night, our firefighter needs rest and extra sleep. We know they need to keep up on their exercise. We know they experience horrors that we can never fully understand. We know their brotherhood offers them things that we cannot. We

Lightning Safety Tips: 1. Postpone outdoor activities if thunderstorms are imminent. Lightning can travel 5-10 miles away from the thunderstorm

and strike the ground with blue sky overhead. The storm doesn’t have to be overhead in order for you to be struck. 2. Move to a sturdy shelter or vehicle. Do not take shelter in a small shed, under isolated trees, or in a convertible-top

vehicle. Stay away from tall objects such as trees or towers or poles. 3. If in your vehicle when lightning strikes – don’t touch a metal surface. You are safer in a vehicle than being outdoors. 4. Remember that utility lines or pipes can carry the electrical current underground or through a building. Avoid electrical appliances,

and use telephones or computers only in an emergency. 5. If you feel your hair standing on end – get down into a baseball catcher’s position and plug your ears with your finger tips so if

lightning does hit it will not blow your ear drums out. Do not lie flat! 6. 30/30 rule – if the time between lighting and thunder is 30 seconds or less, go to a safe shelter. Stay there until 30 minutes after the

last rumble of thunder. Web site: http://www.lightningsafety.noaa.gov Flash Flood/Flood Safety Tips:

1. Nearly half of all fatalities in a flash flood involve a person driving a vehicle. Do not drive into a flooded area – Turn Around Don’t Drown! It takes only 2 feet of water to float away most cars. It’s amazing how powerful we feel when we get behind the wheel – don’t do it!

2. It takes only 6 inches of fast-moving water to sweep a person off their feet – don’t walk through a flooded area! 3. If you are camping in a river valley, move to higher ground if thunderstorms with heavy rains are in the area. Do not

attempt to drive away. 4. Don’t operate electrical tools in flooded areas. 5. Most flash flood deaths occur in the middle of the night when it is more difficult to see rising water levels judge the

depth of water covering road surfaces. Web sites: http://www.weather.gov/os/brochures.shtml (to find the “Flash Floods and Floods…The Awesome Power” brochure) http://www.srh.noaa.gov/srh/tadd/ (for information on Turn Around Don’t Drown - TADD) Severe Thunderstorm Straight-line Winds:

1. Don’t underestimate the power of strong thunderstorm winds known as straight-line winds – they can reach speeds of 100 to 150 mph. Hurricane-force winds start at 74 mph. Wisconsin does experience these kinds of winds!

2. If a severe thunderstorm warning contains hurricane-force wind speeds seek shelter immediately (as you would for a tornado situation).

3. Stay away from windows and go to the basement or interior room/hallway. Do not use electrical appliances. 4. Be aware that tall trees near a building can be uprooted by straight-line winds – that tree can come crashing through

the roof of a home and crush a person to death. 5. Powerful straight-line winds can overturn a vehicle or even make a person air-borne when they get up over 100 mph! 6. One type of a straight-line wind event is a downburst, which is a small area of rapidly descending rain-cooled air and rain beneath a

thunderstorm. A downburst can cause damage equivalent to a strong tornado! Web site: http://www.spc.noaa.gov/misc/AbtDerechos/derechofacts.htm (information on strong straight-line wind events) Large Hail:

1. Although it is rare, people have been killed by large hail stones after sustaining head injuries. Additionally, several people are injured by large hail stones each year in the U.S.

2. Some thunderstorms can produce large hail stones that can reach the size of baseballs, softballs, or even as big as computer compact discs (CD) or DVDs! These large hail stones can fall at speeds over 100 mph! – that’s why they are dangerous! The largest hail stone in Wisconsin was over 7 inches in diameter!

3. If a severe storm is producing large hail stones, seek a sturdy shelter and stay away from windows that can easily be smashed.

4. If you are in your vehicle before the hail storm starts, get out of it and go to a sturdy shelter. Glass windows in vehicles can easily be smashed by the hail stones. If you can’t get out of your vehicle, then come to a stop and cover your head with your arms and hands.

Additional Web Sites: PDF-printable brochures on a variety of weather-related issues are available at: http://www.weather.gov/os/brochures.shtml Wisconsin Emergency Management homepage: http://www.emergencymanagement.wi.gov Basic and advanced storm spotter slide sets (Part I and II) can be found on Storm Spotter’s Page http://www.crh.noaa.gov/mkx/?n=spotters Wisconsin severe weather graphics and bean counts: http://www.crh.noaa.gov/mkx/climate-severe.php National severe weather hazard statistics: http://www.nws.noaa.gov/om/hazstats.shtml Preparedness and Safety Tips: http://www.crh.noaa.gov/mkx/edu.php http://www.fema.gov/kids/ Storm Prediction Center’s web site address: http://www.spc.noaa.gov Glossary for storm spotters: http://www.srh.noaa.gov/oun/severewx/glossary.php Link to other NWS sites: http://www.weather.gov/organization.php National Climatic Data Center – Ashville, NC – http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov Midwestern Climatic Center – http://mcc.swsuiuc.edu Wisconsin State Climatology Office: http://ww.aos.wisc.edu/~sco Wisconsin Storm Write-ups: http://www.crh.noaa.gov/mkx/?n=documented_storms Sullivan Committee (oversees ham activities and receipt of ham reports at MKX) - http://www.sulcom.info Organized spotter groups - http://www.mke-skywarn.org/ http://www.midwestsstrc.org

Please join us for the “Ignite our Youth's Future” Golf Fundraiser for the Harlem-Roscoe Firefighter’s Technology Grant. The grant is awarded annually to an in-district school to assist in

purchasing technology to assist students in their educational needs in the 21st century.

Friday, June 30, 2017 Macktown Golf Course 8:00 a.m. Shotgun start (Registration starts at 7:00 a.m.)

Register Online: WWW.HARLEMROSCOEGOLF.COM

$100/golfer ($400/foursome)

What’s Included?

18 holes of golf with cart

All drinks on course and Lunch at the Turn

An "all-inclusive" steak dinner at pavilion (Free alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks at dinner!)

A gift certificate for a free future round of golf,

cart included, at any of the Winnebago County golf courses!

What Can You Win?

Longest Drive, Longest Putt, and Closest to the Pin winners will be awarded a PING golf club donated by…

Putting contest winner will be awarded a PING golf bag!

Door prizes, raffle baskets, and 50/50 golf ball drop!

50/50 Golf Ball Drop Raffle

Golf balls will be dropped onto a green at Macktown Golf

Course from our aerial truck's ladder on the day of the play day. If your ball lands in the hole you win! 3,000 balls are available, so the raffle prize could be very significant!!!

$5 per ball or $20 for 5 balls

Purchase Online at www.harlemroscoegolf.com Do not need to be present to win. Winner will be notified.

***Don’t golf but would still like to support our scholarship fund? Donations are also accepted online!***

Thank you for your support of the Harlem-Roscoe Firefighter's Scholarship Fund!

4th Annual Golf Play Day

harlemroscoegolf.com

Tis the SeasonPhotos by Sheryl Drost

Spring is here and burning season is upon us. If you don’t know the burning rules for where you live, feel free to give us a call at 815-623-7867. Firefighters have already been chasing field fires due to out of control burning so PLEASE, burn responsibly!

On March 20, a burn pile got out of control into a wooded area off Stateline Rd. Above firefighter Tim Schrader uses an Indian Back Pack to extinguish the fire.

Stove FirePhoto by Carol Donovan

Firefighters extinguished a oven fire on Greglynn St. on March 26. Damage was contained to the appliance.

False Alarm Photo by Carol Donovan

Deputy Chiefs’ WhistleBy Deputy Chief John Bergeron

Start Seeing Motorcycles

With summer approaching and warm weather soon upon us, the number of motorcyclists sharing the roads with motor vehicles will be increasing.

Inclement weather, road conditions, traffic congestion and limitations of protective gear, make motorcycle riders susceptible to serious or life threatening injuries, regardless of their experience or skill level. We can all help make this summer safe and enjoyable by practicing safe driving habits and staying focused on the road.

Motorcycles represent only 3% of all vehicle registrations in the state. Therefore, motorcyclists are among the most vulnerable vehicle types on the road and can be easily overlooked by motorists.

Tips• Remember that motorists often have trouble seeing motorcycles and reacting in time.

• Make sure your headlight works and is on day and night.• Use reflective strips on your clothing and on your motorcycle.• Be aware of the blind spots cars and trucks have. • Flash your brake light when you are slowing down and before stopping.

• If a motorist doesn’t see you, don’t be afraid to use your horn. Dress for safety.

• Wear a quality helmet and eye protection.• Wear bright clothing and a light-colored helmet.• Wear leather or other thick, protective clothing. • Choose long sleeves and pants, over-the-ankle boots, and gloves.• Remember – the only thing between you and the road is your protective gear.

• Constantly search the road for changing conditions. • Give yourself space and time to respond to other motorists’ actions.• Give other motorists time and space to respond to you. • Use lane positioning to be seen; ride in the part of a lane where you are most visible.

• Watch for turning vehicles. • Signal your next move in advance. • Avoid weaving between lanes.• Pretend you’re invisible, and ride extra defensively. • Don’t ride when you are tired or under the influence of alcohol or other drugs.

• Know and follow the rules of the road, and stick to the speed limit. Know your bike and how to use it:

• Get formal training and take refresher courses.• Practice. Develop your riding techniques before going into heavy traffic. Know how to handle your bike in conditions such as wet or sandy roads, high winds, and uneven surfaces. Remember: Give yourself space. People driving cars often just don’t see motorcycles. Even when drivers do see you, chances are they’ve never been on a motorcycle and can’t properly judge your speed.

The Firehouse Scene - Page 10 The Firehouse Scene - Page 3

Accidents Photos by Sheryl Drost, Carol Donovan, and Duty Officer

03/13/17 West Lane 03/17/17 Forest Hills Rd.

03/14/17 McCurry Rd. 03/16/17 Elevator Rd. 03/23/17 Burden Rd.

03/16/17 Hwy 251 03/29/17 Metric Dr. & Rockton Rd.

03/18/17 West Lane Rd. 03/21/17 Burden Rd.

03/21/17 Burden Rd. 03/25/17 I-90

Firefighters responded to a fire alarm on West Lane on March 16. There was no fire.

Scholarship AwardedBy Rob Lukowski

The past two years, the Harlem-Roscoe Firefighter’s Association awarded an area high school senior with $10,000 for their college education. This year’s winner is Hsing-Hao Louh. He was picked out of 30 applicants. All were required to fill out an application, submit a resume and several letters of recommendation before undergoing an interview process with the association’s board.

Louh is a senior at Hononegah High School and was a very impressive applicant. He maintained a 4.98 GPA all while volunteering in the community and being involved in sports.

“It’s really exciting,” says Louh. “It feels great. It’s a huge privilege and they’ve provided me a great opportunity to continue my education to the best of my abilities and I’ll definitely study for myself, my future and them as well.”

Louh may attend Georgia Institute of Technology but is still waiting to hear from Duke and Berkeley. He wants to study bio-medical engineering.

Please join us this year on June 30, 2017 at our annual golf play day at Macktown Golf Course to help raise funds for helping our area youth succeed in their futures!

Obtain more information and register at: www.harlemroscoegolf.com .

RORO 2017By Carol Donovan

More photos taken at RORO can be viewed on our Facebook page

Thank you to everyone that stopped and visited with us at this years RORO!

Marcia Soppe Josh Hoffland May 11 - 50th May 13th - 30th

From the Chief’s DeskBy Fire Chief Don Shoevlin

Another successful dinner was held. The men and woman of the department along with all the volunteers did another exceptional job. Of course, its success would not have happened without your support. Thank you to everyone who attended whether it was dining with us, picking it up at carry

out or having it delivered. We enjoy whole-heartedly giving back to our communities. The preliminary numbers I was told is that we served around 1350 meals.

With the warmer temperatures begins several outdoor cleanup projects. Remember, there are burning ordinances either passed by the village or the county. If you are uncertain, I urge you to call our office at 623-7867 on Monday – Friday. When burning, please be cautious. Even though the ground is wet, the top growth is dry and burns quickly. A small breeze can spread the fire very quickly. If it is windy, I suggest that you reconsider and wait. The wind can take a small controlled fire and quickly make it a large uncontrollable one.

We should be taking delivery of our new ambulance by the end of this month. This ambulance is replacing one in our fleet. There will be more information and pictures in next month’s newsletter.

In last month’s newsletter, Lt Sarver wrote a most inspiring article on “How do you do it” It did pertain to being a firefighter and the fire service brotherhood. Well said Lieutenant!

Did you know that of all the fire departments in Illinois, over 70% are volunteer? Did you know the opportunities that present themselves when you volunteer, not only short term but long term?

Whether we are helping individuals or families who have suffered a devastating loss, providing care and comfort to those sick or injured, teaching prevention to all ages, like Lt. Sarver said in his article, it’s through the efforts of ordinary people and becoming a team, that we can do extraordinary things. Everyone in our community needs someone who cares and is willing to step up and help our neighbors when they are in need. Volunteering allows us to give something back to our community.

Today, there are many demands on our time, and firefighting or emergency services require specialized training. There are many reasons not to volunteer. Your fire department was built by volunteers who were willing to give back. Today, with the demand for our services ever growing, we still maintain to operate with those from the community who volunteer to become a firefighter/EMT.

If you have a sense of civic pride, if you want to see immediate results of a job well done, if you have the heart and spirit to make your community a better place to live, consider volunteering with the Harlem-Roscoe Fire Department. To start the process, just stop by Fire Station One at 10544 Main St. in Roscoe and pick up an application.

Your continuous and generous support is greatly appreciated. If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to call me, this is your fire department. Don’t forget to keep up on the progress of your fire department by visiting our website, harlemroscoefire.com, and don’t forget our Facebook page. Go ahead and friend us. It remains an honor to me to represent this fire department, the members and our communities locally and throughout the state.

Spring DinnerBy Sheryl Drost

The Harlem-Roscoe Firefighter’s Association would like to thank everyone that dined at our 59th Annual Spring Dinner Fundraiser that was held on March 8th. I had to laugh though, when I asked several patrons if they liked the change in menu. Their response was no, we liked the Coon & Ham dinners better! For those that don’t know, the original Spring Dinner menu featured racoon and ham. And, that they remembered that menu, just goes to show you how long they have been coming to our dinners!! We thank you, but I thnk we will stick with the current menu!

Spring Dinner Snapshots by Sheryl Drost & Marcia Soppe (Check out our Facebook page for all the photos taken at the dinner!)

The Firehouse Scene - Page 2 The Firehouse Scene - Page 11 www.harlemroscoefire.comwww.harlemroscoefire.com

The Firehouse Scene

The Firehouse Scene is a monthly newsletter produced by the Harlem-Roscoe Fire Prot. Dist.

Editor-in-Chief - Don ShoevlinEditor & Layout - Sheryl Drost

The Firehouse Scene is available at Station One - 10544 Main Street in Roscoe and on the department’s website after the second Sunday each month: You can now sign up on the home page of our website to receive the newsletter by email.

www.harlemroscoefire.comE-mail submissions to Sheryl: hrfdsdrost@gmail.com

Birthdays!

April 2017

3rd Nate Sarver7th Chris Witcik8th Ron Canode10th Colleen Bloyer22nd David Fleetwood24th Paul Stanphill25th Ryan Sarver

May 2017

11th Marcia Soppe ‘50th’13th Josh Hoffland ‘30th’18th Austin Richards20th John Bunger23rd Rob Lukowski31st Jordan Stark ‘30th’

THE FIREHOUSE SCENEis a publication of the

Harlem-Roscoe Fire Protection District

The Firehouse Scene - Page 12www.harlemroscoefire.com

April 2017 Chief Don Shoevlin Editor Sheryl Drost

Garage Fire Pages 6

Truck FirePages 7

Photo by Sheryl Drost

Station FunniesBy Sheryl Drost

“Let the Chief engineer the truck”, they said.

“It will be OK” they said!

Peek-a-boo Marty!

Jazzy has it covered

They never outgrow being a daddy’s girl!

Daddy Please????Smile, your on Carol’s Camera!