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A BBQ fundraiser for the Banks Fire District's CERT program, sponsored by candidates for office, is set for Saturday at Hornshuh Creek Fire Station in Buxton.
A fundraising event for the Banks Fire District’s CERT program sponsored by candidates for office and elected officials is scheduled for Saturday, May 2 at the Hornshuh Creek Fire Station in Buxton.
Scheduled from 1 to 6 p.m. at the station (49021 NW Hwy 26), the CERT BBQ Fundraiser will feature a BBQ meal with a suggested $10 donation and a raffle.
The event also doubles as a campaign event for state Senate candidate Tripp Dietrich, state representative candidate Darcey Edwards, Washington County commissioner candidate Ayla Hofler, congressional candidate Barbara Kahl, and Washington County Commission Chair candidate Jenny Kamprath. Banks Mayor Marsha Kirk also sponsored the event; Kirk is not on the May 19 primary ballot but has said she will run for re-election as mayor in November.
“A group of folks are using our Hornshuh Creek Station and inviting the public to come join them in gathering as a community for a burger or hot dog and raising money for the Banks Fire District’s own CERT program,” said Banks Fire District spokesperson Scott Adams.
The event is not sponsored by the district, Adams said. In a phone call with the Banks Post, he said the group approached the district and asked what their fundraising needs were, and the district suggested their Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program. He said private groups frequently use the station in Buxton and Banks.
In a message to the Banks Post, Kirk said the campaigning would be light, consisting of just a table with campaign info. Kirk said ultimately it was she who had chosen CERT as the fundraising recipient, and that the program typically costs $500 per person to maintain.
CERT is a national program established by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). In 2023, the Banks Fire District trained around a dozen people in skills ranging from first aid, search and rescue, to disaster preparedness and even terrorism response.
“It’s really grown into this nationally taught set of curriculum and training to help give additional training and insight to community members on how best that they can help themselves and their neighbors in the event of a natural or man-made disaster,” said Edward Lara during an interview for the first class.
But the initial funding, supplied via a federal grant, has long since dried up.
Adams said the CERT program will need to be funded by whatever means available, as there is no line item in the district budget for the program.
100 percent of the event’s proceeds will go to the district’s CERT program, organizers said.
The BBQ meal includes a burger, chicken or hot dog with condiments, salads and chips.
Raffle tickets are $5 each or 5 for $20. Prizes include a Pendleton blanket.
Running in a crowded field of six candidates for Washington County Commissioner District 4, Ayla Hofler, a Banks-area resident, said she was running not to be a politician, but to solve real problems at the county.
A Banks man was murdered, the Banks library was taking shape and more in the news of 1976 in Banks! `
Washington County Elections has mailed ballots to more than 400,000 registered voters for the May 19 election. Did you get yours yet?

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