Volunteers are the heart of Nome
With emotions still raw about the loss of Bette Ann Haugen, who lost her life in the Oct. 31 fire, the burned remnants of the Polaris Hotel remind us every day of the fragility of life and that tragedy can strike at any moment.
People venturing outside, no matter how savvy they are, can have bad luck and find themselves in need of assistance.
We are pretty darn lucky to have volunteers all across the region who are trained in search and rescue operations, fire fighting techniques and emergency medical services. Without fail, those volunteers are at the ready when it counts.
One of those volunteer organizations, the Nome Volunteer Fire Department, is holding their annual fundraiser in Nome next Saturday. It’s the Firemen’s Carnival, a Nome tradition that cannot be missed. It’s good fun, great to catch up with friends from outlying communities and it’s for a real good cause. Hope to see you all there. —D.H.—