Following an August crash that claimed the life of Hawk Point Police Chief and Warren County Deputy Paul Fricke, many emergency responders in the county felt it was time to band together for support. The Warren County BackStoppers committee was soon formed. The committee, comprised of representatives from every emergency responder agency in the county, will help raise funds for families mourning a loss. Fricke was driving south on Highway 47 exiting Hawk Point when he lost control of his police cruiser and struck a utility pole. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Fricke’s family is one of two from the county to benefit from the St. Louis BackStoppers since the organization was formed in 1959. In October 2002, Truesdale police officer Vernon Seals was killed after being struck by a vehicle that was being chased by other officers on Interstate 70. BackStoppers provides support and financial assistance to the spouses and children of local and county police officers, firefighters, publicly funded paramedics and EMTs, and volunteer fire protection units who have lost their lives in the line of duty. The assistance includes paying for school, a family’s mortgage, health and dental coverage and college tuition. The organization assists families in 13 counties in Missouri and five in Illinois. “It means a lot to our guys knowing if something happens to us their wives won’t have to worry,” Marthasville Fire Chief Jeff Backhaus said. “This group will step up and help them out.” The local group will host its first fundraiser with the Warren County BackStoppers Dinner Dance on Saturday, Feb. 26, at the St. Ignatius Community Center in Concord Hill. The event will include a buffet-style dinner from 6-7:30 p.m. and a dance featuring the band Phase Five from 8 p.m.-midnight. A silent/oral auction also will be held from 6-9:30 p.m. and will feature items from businesses from within the county and more, including an autographed and game-used hockey stick from the St. Louis Blues. Tickets cost $20 per person and are available by contacting the Warrenton Fire Protection District at 636-456-8935. Only 400 tickets will be sold. Sponsorships are also available and a contributor’s name will be displayed on signage during the event. The levels are as follows: table, $50; bronze, $250; silver, $500; gold, $750; and platinum, $1,000. Backhaus said the committee has set a goal to raise $15,000 at the event. All proceeds will be forwarded to the St. Louis BackStoppers group. “It’s mainly for the widows and families so they don’t have to worry about the financial burden,” Backhaus said. Committee members are Backhaus, Sheriff Kevin Harrison, Warrenton Police Greg Houdyshell, Wright City Fire Chief Ron MacKnight, Wright City Assistant Fire Chief Todd Van Zuyen, Warren County Ambulance District Administrator Ralph Hellebusch, Warrenton Fire Chief Mike Owenby, Wright City Police Chief Douglas Saulters, Wright City police Lt. Gary Sweaney, Truesdale Police Chief Andy Huston, Marthasville Police Chief Eugene Jenkins, Village of Innsbrook Administrator Chris McCormick, and Marthasville Fire Ladies Auxiliary members Pam Backhaus and Alicia Powell. Backhaus serves as president, while Harrison and McCormick are the group’s vice president and treasurer, respectively. Local residents who are also part of the committee are Chip Wobbe, Frank Stuermann and Lulu Hasenjaeger. Individuals can join the local committee with a minimum $150 contribution. Backhaus said the St. Louis BackStopppers officials have been supportive of the effort to form a county committee. “They think it’s great,” Backhaus said. “We’ve had great support from them. We’re happy to contribute to them since they would contribute to us if the need arose.” The local committee plans on moving the annual dinner dance to other locations throughout the county each year. Other local fundraiser events may be planned later in the year, such as a kickball tournament, Backhaus said. Individuals unable to attend the dinner dance can also make a monetary donation at any time by contacting their local emergency responder agency or the St. Louis BackStoppers group. For more information on BackStoppers, visit www.BackStoppers.org.