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Vern Hollister - Correspondent

The 5th annual Big Boar Rally, Newald Fire Department's Sturgis for area bikers as well as a fundraiser for the department, featured a massive bonfire both Friday and Saturday nights and burnouts of a different nature at intervals both evenings. The aroma of wood smoke and burning rubber permeated, on occasion, the August night air.

For the volunteer department, chief Nick Schuett said that the rally helped them purchase a new fire truck two years ago, and they are planning to buy another in the near future.

"We sell food," Schuett said. "We do raffles. We raffle off donations, and we have a poker run."

Sam Votis said that she, along with 35 others that swelled to nearly 50, followed the Poker Run trail that took them through "beautiful country."

"We rode to Cavour," Votis said, "and we took the back roads and ended up in Three Lakes. Then we took 70 to Tipler and back."

The ride lasted from 10:30 in the morning to 5 in the afternoon.

In moves to not only promote their own cause but to accommodate the visitors which make fundraising possible, Newald Fire Department members have improved the facilities and grounds. In the past couple of years, they have added a pavilion and a set of bathrooms just beyond. Brats, hamburgers and beef sandwiches were sold at one end of the pavilion while at the other end, Darkhorse, an Appleton area band, performed Saturday evening. They are the only band to have played for the Newald rally.

In appreciation, the fire department found them sleeping accommodations. They also set aside an area for camping overnight. Motorcycle enthusiasts brought their tents, their motor homes and stayed for the two days. A concrete slab was also moved closer for the burnouts. It found a permanent spot a few feet from "bikers only" parking just outside the pavilion. In a sense, it's a matter of one group supporting the other for two nights and two days of money-raising and enjoyment. Improving the grounds brings in more people to help fundraising efforts.

One added feature occurred Saturday night. With the slabwood and dry timber burning and the bonfire lifting high into the air, from behind a fireworks spectacular lit up the night sky.

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