Chief Trent Carswell called the open house at the Mill Spring Volunteer Fire Department Saturday, May 14 a big success.

“It was even better than we hoped,” Carswell said. “We got to meet a lot of really nice people and they got to see the changes we’ve made at the station.”

Carswell estimated that more than 200 adults and children visited the station to meet Sparky the Fire Dog, eat hot dogs and sweets prepared by the department auxiliary, sign up for free smoke alarms, submit membership applications and participate in a raffle.

Carswell said the department received several applications from prospective members.

Susie Mohn was the big winner in the fire department raffles, taking two prizes. She won a weekend class for the certification portion of the North Carolina concealed weapon permit donated by North Carolina State Trooper Darryl Bailey, and a truckload of mulch delivered by Tim Edwards Landscaping.

Jay Adams won the other concealed weapon class. Sheriff’s Deputy Shannon Scell, who spent her Saturday helping parents fingerprint children, won a garden bench donated by Chris Carroll Woodworks.

– article submitted by Charles Green