Independently owned since 1905
Independently owned since 1905
Sheriff Tom Rummel (center) accepts a check for $10,000 from Philip Williamson (left) and Dan Normandeau of Phillips 66. The Sanders County Sheriff's Office will us the money to help replace patrol vehicles.
Mark Reese (center), chief of the Thompson Falls Rural Fire Departnment, accepted $15,000 from Williamson and Doug Czerwinski (left) of Phillips 66.
Three local groups recently received donations from Phillips 66, a global company with local ties. Phillips 66 operates the pipeline terminal just east of Thompson Falls.
Philip Williamson, Terminal Supervisor for Phillips 66 in Thompson Falls, presented checks to the Sanders County Sheriff's Office, Thompson Falls Rural Fire Department and Plains/Paradise Rural Fire Department.
The Sanders County Sheriff's Office received $10,000 to be used to help purchase a new patrol vehicle.
The Sheriff's Office has been replacing its fleet of vehicles with 4-wheel-drive Dodge pickups. Rummel said that the department now has four of the trucks, with two more budgeted for this year.
"Four-wheel-drive is a must, and the pickups work really well for us and get good mileage," Rummel said.
After talking to Sheriff Tom Rummel about needs and the Sheriff's Office budget, Rummel got bids for replacement vehicles and submitted a grant application. Rummel was thankful for the help from Phillips 66.
"With budget constraints, this is a different avenue we can pursue," Rummel said. "Any help we can get that takes strain off of taxpers is a good thing." Rummel said the pickups cost about $27,000 each.
In addition to philanthropy funds donated nationwide, Phillips 66 donated $50,000 to Northwest Montana fire departments after the 2017 wildfire season.
The Thompson Falls Rural Fire Department received $15,000 and Plains/Paradise Rural Fire Department got $10,000. Florence and Missoula fire departments also received funding. Williamson said the donations to fire departments were disaster relief funds to help the fire departments recover from the fire season.
Mark Reeser, chief of the Thompson Falls Rural Fire Department, said the $15,000 will be used for radios and pagers, as well as absorbent pads that help absorb liquids such as oil and gas in case of any spills.
In 2017, the Billings Division of Phillips 66, which includes the Sanders County area, donated $62,000 in philanthropy funds. The donations are awarded to projects and organizations in the areas of Environment and Sustainability, Education and Literacy, and Community Safety and Preparedness.
"It's important to us to give back to our communities," Williamson said. "It lets us help people out and gets us involved in the community."
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