By Tim SchmidtRecord Managing EditorPreliminary fundraising figures from Saturday’s fifth annual Warren County BackStoppers Dinner Dance appear to be, as good if not better, than last year.Marthasville Fire Chief Jeff Backhaus, who serves as chairman of the committee, said it will likely be another week before organizers know how much money was raised at the fundraiser.Proceeds from the event are donated to BackStoppers, which provides support and financial assistance to the spouses and children of police officers, firefighters, paramedics and EMTs who have lost their lives in the line of duty.Since forming in 2011, the local BackStoppers group has donated $180,000, including $60,000 raised a year ago. A sold-out crowd of 400 was in attendance at the St Ignatius Community Center in Concord Hill.“It was a huge success,” Backhaus said. “It was every bit as good as last year.”View the photo gallery from the event here: http://bit.ly/1BdviY2.Approximately $30,000 was raised from the oral auction, which featured 52 items ranging from Henry Golden Boy .22 rifles to St. Louis Cardinals tickets to a helicopter ride. A party bus excursion to Fast Eddie’s Bon Air in Alton, donated by FastLane/Warrenton Oil and Ron’s Catering, generated the highest bid at $2,800. Three Henry Golden Boy rifles brought a combined $5,000.Money also was raised from more than 200 silent auction items, four handgun raffles, 50/50 tickets and program advertising.“It was awesome,” Backhaus said. “I am amazed by it every year. The continued support is there. It is definitely a well-supported cause in the county.”Ron Battelle, BackStoppers executive director, said the annual dinner dance is one of the largest fundraisers held each year.“From the families of our fallen heroes, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts on what you have done,” he said. “You are amazing, generous people. There is none better. You are the best.”Backhaus said the 2016 dinner dance will likely fall on the same weekend as this year.BackStoppers assists families in 13 counties in Missouri, including Warren and Franklin, and five in Illinois. The organization helps in paying for school, a family’s mortgage, health and dental insurance coverage, and college tuition.Three families with Warren County ties are benefiting from the BackStoppers organization.Paul Fricke, a Warren County deputy and Hawk Point police chief, was killed Aug. 27, 2010, while on duty. He was driving south on Highway 47 exiting Hawk Point when he lost control of his police cruiser and struck a utility pole.Lonnie Cole, who died Oct. 2, 2003, was a deputy with the Warren County Sheriff’s Department.On Oct. 6, 2002, Truesdale police officer Vernon Seals was killed after being struck by a vehicle that was being chased by other officers on Interstate 70. Seals was standing next to his patrol car on the shoulder of the road when he was hit.The portraits of three fallen police officers — Lonnie Cole, Paul Fricke and Vernon Seals — are carried during a ceremony held at the Warren County BackStoppers Dinner Dance. All three died in the line of deputy. Carrying the portraits, from left, are Warren County deputy Ben Westhoff, deputy Amber Houk and Truesdale police officer Jeff Catron. Tim Schmidt photo.
