OVFD Awarded a Grant for New Gear

The Texas A&M Forest Service awarded the Olney Volunteer Fire Department (OVFD) a grant for $14,850. The grant covers 90 percent of the cost for new bunker pants and jackets. The OVFD paid the remaining 10 percent.

The volunteer firefighters received their new gear Tuesday, Nov. 20. The volunteers who received the new equipment were Len Bernhardt, Kade Betts, Cody Dixon, Rocky Hickam, Homer Molina, Clint Pulliam, Gunter Rodriguez, Teddy Scobee, Danny Speers and Kevin Sullivan.

The OVFD consists of 29 volunteers: Len Bernhardt, Kade Betts, Justin Calhoun, Mario Cortinez, Cody Dixon, Jake Englishbee, Hunter Enloe, Norman Hampton, Jeff Harvey, Rocky Hickam, Donald Ickert, Matthew Ickert, Casey Keeter, Ron Keeter, Kenley Lane, Homer Molina, Jason Pack, Trampas Patton, Byron Piercy, Clint Pulliam, Jerry Don Riggins, Johnny Riggins, Gunter Rodriguez, John Schneider, Teddy Scobee, Jimmy Smith, Danny Speers, Kevin Sullivan and Sam Sullivan.

The OVFD was established in 1912. Ron Keeter is the current fire chief who took over in 2007 after his father, Garry Keeter, retired after serving as the fire chief for 19 years.