Post honored for $100K donation

Staff report

WARREN

Trumbull County commissioners honored Newton Falls American Legion Post 236 for its $100,000 donation to the Newton Falls Joint Fire District.

Members of the post attended Wednesday’s commissioners meeting, along with Richard Bauman, chief of the fire district, to discuss the $250,000 expansion project the donation is helping with.

Construction has begun to renovate a building on East Broad Street purchased from Newton Township trustees that will house two firetrucks and provide two offices, a day room, kitchen and sleeping quarters. Work will be complete in the spring.

The district’s existing firehouse on North Canal Street has no sleeping quarters, so firefighters who do sleep have to use cots and chairs.

The department has 24 part-time and 27 paid- per-call firefighters who staff the fire station seven days a week. The district, which serves Newton Falls and Newton Township, also provides ambulance services.

Russ Mason, adjutant for the Legion post, said the post donated $167,000 at the end of last year to various organizations, including the fire district, and has given money to the fire district, police department and various other organizations every year for many years.

The main way the post raises money is by having bingo games two nights per week.

Bauman said he considers $100,000 from a community organization like this to be “astronomical” and “a gift from God.”