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Press Release
Camp To-pe-ne-bee’s digital photos at: http://www.lasallecouncilbsa.org/fire/index.htm The Dining Hall at LaSalle Council’s Camp To-pe-ne-bee near Michigan City, IN burned to the ground on Wednesday, June 25, 2003 at approximately 8pm. Thankfully no one was injured. Early indications are that cause of the fire was electrical. Thankfully Dunes Moraine Cub Scout Day Camp Director Roseanne Cabrera was staying in another part of camp, saw the blaze and called 911. We’re grateful for the Coolspring, Westville and other volunteer fire departments that responded and undoubtedly were able to prevent the fire from spreading throughout the camp. Camp To-pe-ne-bee has been serving the youth of our area since 1947, and the Dining Hall has been part of that experience since the early 1950’s. In the past ten years alone, over 1,000 youth per year have made Camp To-pe-ne-bee part of their Scouting life. In the two weeks previous to the fire we conducted Boy Scout Junior Leader Training and Potawatomi Cub Scout Day Camp. We were in the midst of Dunes Moraine Cub Scout Day Camp when the fire occurred. The building is insured, however replacement cost for a facility meeting today’s standards will be significantly higher. Council Scout Executive Patrick D. Bridges said: “In the last few months we’ve been finalizing plans for a Capital Campaign. One of the key projects in this campaign was to fund a major remodeling for this dining hall. We find ourselves in a position of urgently needing to fund this project which will now cost approximately $250,000. We hope the community will step in to help us rebuild as soon as possible.” The amazing part of this event is that Roseanne and Cub Scout Day Camp Program Director Cindy Bellovary, their staff, and many other local volunteers showed such concern for the boys who were coming to camp the next morning that they spent much of the night moving activity stations and securing new supplies to make the program possible for the 180 youth who came back Thursday and Friday for the remainder of their camp! For information on how to contribute to the Camp To-pe-ne-bee Dining Hall Fund, contact Scout Executive Patrick D. Bridges at 574-289-0337. |
