Salina Journal News: Police, fire battle for donors in annual blood drive

Police, fire battle for donors in annual blood drive

8/25/2010
TIM UNRUH

Dennis Boeschling used to vote for firefighters, but lately his ballot has been cast for police.
“It’s whatever strikes me,” Boeschling, 61, of Salina, said Wednesday as he waited to donate at the Red Cross Salina Community Battle of the Badges Blood Drive.
The drive began at noon at Sunrise Presbyterian Church, at Beloit and Roach streets. Among the draws is a friendly rivalry between the Salina Fire Department and Salina Police Department over which agency receives the most votes.
“Unfortunately, I’ve been more involved with the police department than fire,” Boeschling said. “I used to vote for the fire department. They were in our neighborhood a lot.”
Who wins the Battle of the Badges doesn’t really matter, said Lt. Wayne Pruitt of the Salina Police Department.
“We’re more for getting everybody here,” he said. “I know people who vote for the police one year and the next they vote for the fire department.”
Read the rest of the story in Thursday's Journal.