The Peru Gazette

By John T. Ryan

Bill Downs Jr. was critically injured in a Saturday, June 19^th motorcycle accident and brought to the Intensive Care Unit at Fletcher Allen Hospital in Burlington. Downs is well known in the Peru community having served as Fire Chief. He is also the Town’s Water and Sewer Plant Operator. Three days following the accident Peru fighters decided host a spaghetti dinner fundraiser to assist Downs’ family. The dinner was held on Friday, June 25^th and people turned out by the hundreds. A total of $6,600 was raised in just a few hours. Doug Besaw, Treasurer of the Peru Fire Department said, “People would buy two meals, hand over $50 and say “Keep the rest!’” While Besaw didn’t know the exact number of people served he knew that at least 160 pounds of spaghetti was consumed. Besaw was excited about the community’s response. He said, “We started to put it together on Tuesday. To raise that kind of money in only four days is really impressive.” Even more important, Bill Downs is making good progress. He is out of intensive care and has been moved to Fletcher Allen’s rehabilitation unit.

David Brown Photos