Southern Cove Vol. Fire Comp. Celebrates 75 Years of Service

Southern Cove Volunteer Fire Company had a lot to celebrate the weekend of Aug. 4. They have been serving their community for 75 years.

Friday, Aug. 4, doors were opened for ox roast, noodles, hamburgers, French fries, and homemade apple dumplings. Jeff Boyd used his grandfather's recipe for the ox roast. According to Boyd's wife Beth, he used 900 pounds of meat. This process takes a lot of know-how and a lot of time cooking the meat down to achieve the product.

Friday evening, the Fire Queen Contest was held, and the Kenton Sitch Band played.

Saturday's "Fireman's Battle of the Barrel" was canceled due to lack of participants.

There was a cruise-in at 10 a.m. of cars and trucks. Brad Replogle of Harrisburg was present with a beautiful 1955 Ford F 100 he called Sharky with 43,000 miles.

Replogle stated his grandfather and grandmother were from New Enterprise. They were William and Betty Replogle.

He had this car for three years now and it was completely redone when he bought it. He stated everyone was into Chevys when he went to school, and he always liked Fords. He swore one day he would own a vehicle like this, especially when it was in New Enterprise. He loves taking the car to car shows and will be taking it to Tennessee soon.

David Claycomb was present with his 2007 Crown Victoria. This was once the Curwensville Bureau Police car. It served as a code enforcement vehicle. The vehicle was featured in a 2020 movie shot in Philipsburg about drugs. The vehicle is signed by those in the movie on the glove box of the car. Claycomb is a lieutenant firefighter from Reynoldsdale. He hopes to keep restoring it to its original condition.

Haylee Mayne, third-grader at Northern Bedford, was crowned the Little Miss Princess on Friday. Junior Fire Queen Aaliyah Pepple of New Enterprise was also crowned Friday. Both girls will attend parades and help the South Cove Volunteer Fire Company during their reigns.

Saturday at 1 p.m. a hot line demonstration was done by New Enterprise Rural Electric. Conner Kagarise, who is a lineman, and Mike Shawley, who is an operation manager, discussed safety with the audience. They discussed what happens when a wet tree limb brushes up against wires and transformers. They advise the public to call the electric company if they see trees that need cut back, downed wires or have questions about anything pertaining to electricity. They showed how electricity travels a line and what happens by using a hot dog for the demonstration. They discussed how electricity burns from the inside out. The correct way to exit a car if a wire is on it was demonstrated by not touching the car at all and shuffling your feet to get at least 40 feet away. If possible, call for help before exiting a car with a downed wire on it.

The fireman's parade started at 6 p.m. and went through the town of New Enterprise. There were many people in attendance and lots of fire trucks, three twirling groups, the Jaffa Shrine horses, antique vehicles and more.

From 7 to 10 p.m., the band 100 Proof band played. They play in Altoona and at community festivals, mostly in central Pennsylvania.

At the end of the evening trophies and plaques were given out to various fire companies, with Saxton taking first place for its engine and Martinsburg taking second.

Sunday there was a chicken BBQ at 11 a.m., church service at 12:30 p.m. and music by a hometown group 869 from 1:30 p.m. until 3 p.m.

There was a basket raffle going on all weekend. There were over 50 baskets donated. One basket was $350 worth of lottery tickets that had been donated. The other large basket was $500 gift cards for Sheetz that was also donated.

Juls Reighard-Bratton deserves a special thank you for taking care of the raffle for the fire company.

"I just love to help the fire company," she said.

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