Letter to the Editor: Disappointed with eviction of women’s auxiliary group

As a member of Quinton Fire and EMS women’s auxiliary for over 24 years, I want to express my disappointment and dissatisfaction in the actions taken by the fire department of Quinton Station #2. The eviction of the auxiliary by the fire department was apparently triggered by the cancellation of the steak feast.

The auxiliary did indeed cancel the steak feast due to very slow ticket sales and because so many other functions and festivities were going on in the county that same weekend. The group decided it was best to cancel this event rather than to lose money.

I was very unpleasantly surprised by the actions taken by the fire department of Quinton Station #2. Officers and Chief Sid Lucas directed and influenced the decision to evict the auxiliary from the building. Perhaps the decision to evict us was due to the chief’s brief tenure with the volunteer fire department and the influence other members may have exerted. Chief Lucas and some of the newer members may be totally unaware of all of the accomplishments the auxiliary has performed in the past 50 years. It has always been the function of the auxiliary to support and help in any way we can such as preparing food and drink for the fire members when out on extended fire calls, help with purchasing tools, equipment and even the first ambulance at the station.

Contrary to the article in the Oct. 23 edition of the Chronicle, financial matters had nothing to do with the auxiliary being evicted. The former treasurer that was convicted of embezzling money was not a member of the auxiliary. The auxiliary has always been profitable from early days of hoagie sales, car washes, bake sales, bingo, the steak feast, and the annual turkey dinner, all of which the county citizens have been very faithful to attending and supporting.

Each member of the auxiliary has been dedicated to giving back and contributing to the betterment of our community. We will strive to keep this auxiliary response, and thanks to the overwhelming request by our citizens, we will have our annual turkey dinner this year on Nov. 9 at George Watkins Elementary School.

Cindy McKinney
Quinton