Bruneau Booster Club Auction helps make a better community

Friday, February 14, 2014
Elsie Bachman and a classmate use mini iPads for a reading fluency center at Bruneau Elementary, one of the projects funded last year by the Bruneau Booster Club's annual auction.

The annual Bruneau Booster Club Auction scheduled for Saturday Feb. 22 is just ten days away, and promises to provide a wide variety of hand-crafted items, food, and gift certificates for a varied range of goods and services.

The 2014 auction will be held at the Bruneau American Legion beginning at 5:30 p.m. on Feb. 22.

The event begins with a free meal of Basque soup, bread, punch, and coffee. Homemade pie will be sold for $1 a slice and bottled water and pop will be sold throughout the evening for $1 each.

The live auction will begin at 7 p.m. Silent auction items will be available for bids until 8:30 p.m.

Raffle tickets for the portable Traeger grill are available at local Bruneau businesses and at the door on Feb. 22. The ticket price is $2 each or six tickets for $10.

Anyone wishing to donate to the auction should call 845-2282 or bring the item to the Legion Hall before 5 p.m. on Feb. 22.

This is the Bruneau Booster Club's yearly fundraiser to provide the dollars to support all of the projects the club is involved in.

The Bruneau Booster Club has a lengthy record of service in the Bruneau area, going back to 1988. The civic organization's main purpose is to support and give back to Bruneau in ways that benefit and enhance the community at large.

Some of the past major projects include construction of the picnic shelter at the community park as well as the continuing development and upkeep of the park.

Preservation of all of the Bruneau High School graduation pictures by class were reframed and electronically archived and are on permanent display in the dining room of the Legion Hall.

A quarter mile asphalt walking path was constructed at Bruneau Elementary to benefit both students and the community. Four metal benches were installed around the oval path.

Each year, scholarships are available to graduating seniors and one Idaho Drug Free Youth camp scholarship is given.

In 2012, all the proceeds from the auction were split between the Bruneau American Legion for building improvements and the Bruneau Quick Response Unit for their building fund on the proposed new Bruneau Emergency Operation Center.

Each organization received $11,000.

The club was also involved with publishing and then selling the book "Bruneau and Beyond," which was a history of the first 100 years of Bruneau.

Last year, $7,500 was dispersed to support Rimrock's Vo-Ag Department for some much needed additional equipment for use in the classroom.

Instructor Alan Shoen purchased a metal lathe, tooling for the lathe, and a new scanning tool for troubleshooting automobiles.

The Vo-Ag program includes classes in plant and animal sciences, welding, large and small engine repair, metal fabrication as well as leadership skills.

Approximately 35-40 students are enrolled each year in the programs.

Shoen brings 24 years of experience at Rimrock to his students and also serves as the FFA advisor.

The Bruneau Boosters donated $5,900 to Bruneau Elementary for the purpose of updating technology, and contributing half the cost of a new laminator for the school.

Modern education has expanded technology requirements and funds were used to purchase document cameras, mini iPads and iPod sets for each classroom at the elementary. Students use the technology in a variety of ways, from tracking reading fluency to research, creating educational videos and interactive math exercises.

Additionally, the Bruneau Boosters were one of the donors for the Bruneau Wilderness Garden at Bruneau Elementary with a $1,600 donation. The garden area includes a vegetable and pumpkin garden, as well as a watered "nature" garden area with native rock, flower, bush and tree species. The garden is in process, with students and community members being involved in its planning and the labor of creating the garden.

Inside the garden are items such as a juniper shade station and rock amphitheater.

Future plans include a tri-corner shade sail, picnic benches and pine edged walkways.

Students will participate in educational activities across all curriculum areas in the garden, as well as grow vegetables to be utilized in the afternoon snack program or sent home when there is an excess.

Another recipient of last year's funds was the Desert View Christian School, which received $3,000 and purchased new desks and chairs for their upper grades.

The Bruneau Quick Response Unit received another $2,500 to add to their Building Fund.

The Rimrock football players painted the fence in the park in exchange for a $1,500 donation to purchase new football helmets.

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