The good, bad and beneficial

One week ago today my son Doug and I were in town and saw a fire truck in front of Jerry’s Restaurant. It had its large ladder up with an American Flag on top. It reminded us that there was a benefit spaghetti dinner going on, so we stopped in to eat.

We often take for granted how hard our volunteer firefighters work for us, and how their employers allow them the time to do so. So paying a few dollars for a great spaghetti dinner while helping to support them was a win-win situation. The firefighters waited on the tables and helped with the dinner. While there, Doug saw some of his former coworkers from CC Communications, people from Tedford Tire and former sheriff Bill Lawry.

All were dressed in their best fire uniforms, quite an impressive sight for our small community. These dedicated volunteers have given Fallon and Churchill County the highest fire prevention rating. What few are aware of is that this rating saves all of us a lot on our homeowner’s insurance cost. So the next time there is a call for some donations to the fire department, or a benefit dinner, I hope you’ll support it.

All one needs to do is look around our town to see wonderful civic organizations and their volunteers working everyday. Entering Fallon on the highways are signs of all the groups making our community a better place. For example, there’s Banner Hospital and their outlet store, Veterans organizations, Churches and others too numerous to mention. We are blessed with organizations that support and help those in need everyday.

A few years ago a good friend of ours, owner of a restaurant here in Fallon, was suffering from cancer. The Eagles organization put on a spaghetti dinner, and over 400 people attended. They even had to go to town a couple of times to get additional food supplies. People donated items for an auction to help the family involved. My son Doug and I are still amazed at the outpouring of love and support.

The ranchers and farmers here in town have helped in other ways. I’ve heard of a time when one rancher donated a steer for sale; while others will bid on it, only to re-donate it back to be re-auctioned off. I’ve also witnessed that happening at bake sales to help our schools and FFA and other groups. Other church groups are feeding and supporting others on a daily basis, as is Meals-on-wheels.

We have quite a choice on where to eat. There are many Mexican and Asian restaurants and Pizza Parlors to choose, as well as those who serve “American fare.” One long established pizza parlor has supported youth groups for many years, as have other restaurants. Recently, one of my favorite spots remodeled their café as well as changing their menu. They serve open-faced turkey or beef sandwiches with potatoes and a vegetable for an unbelievably low price.

There’s also the place my son Doug calls “The good place.” They serve breakfast and lunch and sell wonderful baked goods. Their menu consists of a lot you’d call “different” items. I love their “sliders” while Doug loves their breakfast sandwich. Another location serves lunch daily and dinners on some nights. They make their own potato chips, which I always order. A brownie is included, and they have some really great coffee.

We’ve experienced some disappointing meals. One in particular happened weeks ago. Here’s what happened. There were only four other customers there, all eating. Nobody else came in while while it ate. Well, we sort of ate. Perhaps it was because it was toward the end of the breakfast time? We waited about 15 minutes for our meal to arrive. Doug ordered their special meat item, with potatoes and eggs over easy and sourdough toast.

The meat and potatoes were both burned on the bottom to a crisp that was almost uneatable. The toast was so hard all the way through, that when Doug banged it on the plate, it broke in pieces. His eggs were hard as a rock, the yolks solid. My pancake was a huge thick item covering a large plate. It was burned on the entire bottom. My sausage was cremated and uneatable.

Doug had eaten there in the past and the food was great. So why didn’t we send everything back this time? It was because the lady who served us and made the toast is one of the owners.

Edna Van Leuven is a Churchill County writer and columnist. She may be reached at news@lahontanvalleynews.com