Newman Lake raises $9,891 at barn dance

The annual community barn dance hosted by Newman Lake SCOPE and the Newman Lake Fire Auxiliary last Saturday was a huge success.

The 14th annual event brought in $9,891 in donations. People were buying T-shirts and bidding in a silent auction in addition to adding money to a donation jar, said SCOPE and auxiliary volunteer Katie Rulffes. “All that adds up,” she said.

The money is split by the two groups. Last year the auxiliary bought the fire district an infrared camera and SCOPE provided residents with free reflective address signs to mark their properties. Rulffes said the money will be spent later this year after the fire department provides a wish list of items.

The annual event is always sold out and is only advertised in a Newman Lake community newsletter. Rulffes estimates that 1,000 people attended this year and participated in the auction, dance and kids games. “We had just crowds and crowds of community people come and support us,” she said.