BELLEFONTE — Historic Bellefonte, Inc. hosted first responders from across Centre County for the First Annal First Responders Weekend on May 15 and May 16.
The weekend included contest and games of non-first responder type events designed to provide cash prizes to each participating departments competing in the various contests and games for prize money.
HBI President and Event Director said there are many reasons for an event like this.
He said first responders don’t get the recognition they deserve, an opportunity to meet and compete with members of other units and take home some nice prize money. He added that first responder units are funded in many different ways, however there is never enough.
U.S. Congressman Glenn “G.T.” Thompson, R-Bellefonte, and State Rep. Kerry Benninghoff, R-17th District, were on hand to pass out $1,000 checks to the top five units and $10,000 to the overall winner. The top five units were Springfield Police Department, Logan Volunteer Fire Department, Bellefonte EMS, Hublersburg Volunteer Fire Department, and Bellefonte Police Department. Overall event winner and weekend champion is the Hublersburg Vol. Fire Department.
McCool added, “We hope that we have developed a model event that will go statewide in a few years.”
The next HBI sponsored event is the 38th Annual Historic Bellefonte Cruise which will be held on Father’s Day weekend, June 19 and 20.
