BOONE, Iowa—Boone County First Responders handled all the bell ringing duties last Saturday for the Salvation Army’s Red Kettles in Boone, Ogden and Madrid.  Lt. James Beardsley said earlier that he was excited about the opportunity to participate with First Responders.  Beardsley said the goal was $4,000 for the day and that amount was easily exceeded and ended up at $5,000.56.

First Responders were also competing among themselves to see who could raised the most for the Salvation Army.  That honor goes to the Boone County Sheriff’s Department, which did their bell ringing at the Boone Walmart Story.  The Sheriff’s Department collected $1,555.63.  The Boone Police Department was second with $1,007.02.  The Boone Police Department was located at the Boone Fareway Store.

It was closer between the third and fourth place finishers, $948.40 was collected by the Boone Fire Department at the Boone HyVee.  The Ogden First Responders were located at Casey’s in Ogden and collected 906.80.  Madrid First Responders were located at Casey’s in Madrid and raised $581.71.

Beardsley says he’s hoping the First Responder Challenge will become and annual event.  Lance Kooiker, Boone County Emergency Management Coordinator help facilitate this year’s event.