LUSK – Sounds of laughter and smells of food vendors wafted down second street towards Main as people strolled around the parking lot and small park near the Town shop. In other words, typical carnival sights and sounds. What wasn’t typical was the fact that all proceeds went towards a non-profit and local heroes and helpers were being honored. The annual EMS Carnival is a combination of appreciation for the community and opportunity for the county to show their support of the local ambulance service and all those volunteers do for the county. 

Multiple vendors, fun booths and competitions were held on Saturday, August 27 to the delight and amusement of all who attended. $25 covered an all day pass to the carnival for the bouncy house, booths and activities. 

Krista Gulley, Duke Lashmett, Jeanine Carpenter, Amber Buchanan, John Eddy and Barb Finley were all honored for their contributions and support to emergency services in Niobrara county.

Carnival goers had a shot at getting the new Sheriff, Randy Starkey wet in the dunk tank along with Police Chief Bo Krein.

Winners of the corn hole tournament were Alex Miller and Adam Dickson with Chris Haws and Randy in second and Jerry Miller and Trey Eichenberg coming in third.

The auction on Saturday with numerous donated items pulled in $6,965. Raffle winners were Tom Wasserburger for the quilt, Kinsey Keller on the soap basket, Jeptha Willoughby for the wine basket and the custom gnome will go home with Kodi Smith. 

Lusk Emergency Medical Services is staffed with volunteer EMTs who are are responsible for their own training and tuition costs. The carnival is held to help defray those costs as well as for purchasing equipment for the service and improving opportunities for the EMTs. After the live auction at 5 p.m. attendees danced the night away to Nate Smith and the Caddywhompus Band.