The Cheraw Rescue Squad was at the heart of some rumblings last week after Bernard Stubbs wrote about the group and its captain, Roger Owens, in his column last week.

One of the Cheraw Rescue Squad's founding members, Stubbs, voiced a desire to attend a Cheraw Braves football game. Owens got everything in order and had Stubbs carried to and from the game - in an ambulance.

When Stubbs arrived at the game, the Rescue Squad golf cart was used to transfer Stubbs from the ambulance to the stands.

All this was a nice gesture. It's great to be able to give a lifelong supporter of an organization special treatment. However, it would have been smarter to pick Stubbs up in a personally owned vehicle to transport him to the game.

In 2003, the Cheraw Rescue Squad got $19,000 from Chesterfield County Council and $5,000 from the town of Cheraw. Many people have memorials sent to the squad in lieu of flowers, and squad members hold fundraisers to generate money to keep the local unit running. People trust that money they donate to the rescue squad or give through paying taxes is being used to save lives. And, people should feel that way.

Yes, the ambulance was going to be on standby at the game, but that doesn't allow money people entrust to an organization to be used the wrong way.

Cheraw Rescue has done tremendous things for Cheraw and Chesterfield County. At the sound of a tone, volunteers respond to calls for assistance. Cheraw Rescue has lent a hand at almost every function Cheraw has held, as well as volunteered time and equipment to law enforcement and fellow rescue departments in Chesterfield County.

Cheraw Rescue will continue to do great things for Cheraw and Chesterfield County, but misuse of financial trust will cause faith in a longtime organization to falter.

Cheraw Rescue is a valuable organization to Cheraw and Chesterfield County. We continue to have faith in this organization and appreciate the service of its volunteers.