THATCHER — A new facility for Graham County Search and Rescue has moved from concept to reality.
On Thursday, Search and Rescue held a ground-breaking and United Way of Graham and Greenlee Counties check presentation for its new multi-use training facility.
Ronnie Glaspie, the facility’s project manager for Search and Rescue, said it’s hoped the building will be usable by the fall.
“The concrete will be poured in the next couple of weeks . . . and then a couple of weeks after that, as we get it cured, the Ward Brothers are going to come in. The building is setting over there; we already have it paid. So they’ll be putting the building up, and then once we get it up, we’ll just start fine-tuning the inside,” Glaspie said.
– Contributed Graphic
The new building will be 50-foot by 100-foot by 16-foot, adjacent to Search and Rescue’s current facility. The new building will include five 12-by-14 bay doors to allow for indoor storage of rescue vehicles.
Total cost of the facility is estimated at $425,000. The Graham County Board of Supervisors has authorized expending $42,500 for the building, Valley Telecom Group granted Search and Rescue and Apache Gold Resort and Casino donated $10,000 each, $5,000 from Graham County Electric Cooperative and $2,000 was donated by Safford Lions Foundation.
During Thursday’s ground-breaking, United Way presented Search and Rescue with a check for $180,000, which was approved in March.
Search and Rescue continues to fund-raise for the facility, with the next opportunity to contribute coming in the form of a prime rib dinner at Frontier Steak and Spirits on Wednesday, June 12, starting at 4 p.m. Cost is $40 per plate, and take-out orders will be accepted. There will also be 50/50 drawings and raffles throughout the evening.
To RSVP seating for dine-in, call 928-348-8400.
– David Bell Photo/Gila Valley Central
Search and Rescue is also selling raffle tickets for a handgun package, that includes an SAR 9 9mm handgun, a conceal-carry fanny pack, cleaning pad, Impulse range kit, bullseye targets, ear plugs and an Igloo ice chest.
Tickets are $5 each or five for $20. Go to the Search and Rescue Facebook page for the Venmo link to purchase. The winner will be drawn during the annual Battle of the Bands and Nickel Picnic at the Graham County Fairgrounds on July 13.
