Five entities from Eureka received a comprised total of $47,500 in grant funds on Wednesday, Aug. 21, from the Tim Underwood Memorial. All five groups submitted grant applications noting their reasonings for seeking the funds, with all benefiting the community in some way.
The largest of the three, totaling $18,000, was awarded to the Eureka Fire Department (EFD). Luke Westerman, EFD Fire Chief, shared with organizers that the EFD provides fire and rescue services for the City of Eureka and Greenwood County. EFD also has a strong Unmanned Aerial Systems search and rescue program, primarily due to previous funding opportunities from the Tim Underwood Memorial Golf Tournament. EFD serves surrounding communities with UAS and fire services. The application also noted that EFD has 25 dedicated volunteers.
With the funding requested, EFD will construct a live fire training structure, composed of four steel shipping containers and equipped with staircases, landings, windows, rooms, and an elevated platform. Each of these elements provide for a comprehensive experience for live fire and rope rescue training in a safer and more easily controlled environment than a live fire scene. The tactical structure will be shared with the 18 other fire departments in Greenwood County to maximize the benefit for the entire county’s fire-fighting populace. EFD will also offer joint training exercises and use of the facility to surrounding rural counties.
Additional details on the structure can be found in the Aug. 21 edition of The Eureka Herald.
This past August, the annual Eureka Pro Rodeo saw a new addition for their 13th annual event, as the 2024 Eureka PRCA Rodeo which was held at the historic Eureka Downs facility for the third year featured a big screen. The big screen allowed for rodeo fans to view the action at a larger scale as well as offered a replay feature.
The Tim Underwood Memorial was the presenting sponsor for the 13th annual event and through the application process, the Eureka Pro Rodeo was awarded $13,000 this year.
The plans are to use those funds towards the rental of a big screen for the 14th annual event.
Eureka’s Top Hand Youth Rodeo (THYR), also applied for grant funds and were awarded $7,500. The THYR has brought in competitors from Nebraska, Arkansas and southeast Kansas. The event has participants competing in roping, chute dogging, goat tying, poles and barrel events.
The Eureka Saddle Club was also awarded $6,500 through the memorial.
Rounding out the donations for Eureka this year was the Greenwood County Wild Kansas Association, who received $2,000 for the purchase of an enclosed trailer to store and move their equipment/materials used for their events. The Greenwood County Wild Kansas Association hosts the Tree Shakin Show Down and annual fish fry to assist with disaster relief in Greenwood County and presents annual scholarships to graduating seniors.
The annual Tim Underwood Memorial golf tournament, hosted by HF Sinclair, aims to raise funds that can, in turn, be shared with organizations to impact the community in memory of Tim Underwood, a refinery worker who passed away on Sept. 4, 2017, as a result of a workplace accident. Funds are distributed to non-profits selected by the Underwood family. In total, this year’s event raised more than $335,000 for organizations in the El Dorado/Butler county area.
(Courtesy photos)
