Grant issued to Bonner Springs Fire Department

The Department of Homeland Security issued a $55,754 grant to the Bonner Springs Fire Department in the 24th round of the Fiscal Year.

The Department of Homeland Security will grant approximately 8,000 awards worth nearly $750 million to firefighters throughout the country over the next several months.

C. Suzanne Mencer, director of the Office for Domestic Preparedness, said, “We recognize the importance of the Fire Act grants to our nation’s fire departments, and we will continue to work closely with the fire service community to meet their needs.”

The 24th round of grants provides $17,967,017 to help local fire departments purchase fire-fighting equipment, fund health and safety programs, enhance emergency medical service programs and conduct fire education and prevention programs.

The car Santa is coming to town

Terry Franz is known in Kansas City as the car Santa. This year Franz will give away more than 100 refurbished cars to those in need in various towns in the Midwest.

Franz also gives away used vans with wheelchair lifts, power wheelchairs and more.

Franz says, “Some of them aren’t the most beautiful cars in the world, but we aren’t giving away prizes for being poor; it’s just a hand to get started.”

This Santa’s workshop includes the donations of the public, several area mechanic shops, body shops and stores. State highway patrol officers also lend a hand by installing donated child safety seats.

PMCA donates gas to Kansas Highway Patrol

The Petroleum Marketers and Convenience Store Assn. of Kansas are donating gasoline to the highway patrol from Dec. 20 to Jan. 1.

The program, which is in its 14th year, is intended to ensure motorists’ safe travel over the holidays.

“This partnership is a great example of public and private entities working together to provide services at a lower cost to Kansas taxpayers,” said William Seck, patrol superintendent.

In 2003, association members gave the patrol 105 coupons for free tanks of fuel and 25 gift certificates for $10 each to be used to purchase fuel. The patrol estimates the contributions added up to more than 1,590 gallons of gasoline, which will allow troopers to monitor more than 23,850 miles without fuel cost to state taxpayers.