Fasbender shows appreciation for firefighters

They are amazing at their jobs. I am so proud of the immense integrity, education, knowledge and kindness that they give to our community. I hear it all the time. We do not know how lucky we are to have them in our community.”

Mayor Mary Fasbender

The Hastings Supports First Responders benefit was organized by Nicole Sindelar of the Hastings Golf Club and Tatia Nelson of the Busted Nut Bar & Grill and held at the golf club.

There’s no doubt that the Hastings community cares.
It was evident again Sunday afternoon with a big turnout at a benefit to raise money for the families of three Public Safety officers from the City of Burnsville who were killed in the line of duty on Feb. 18.
Police were called initially about a domestic incident that turned deadly, when police officers Paul Elmstrand and Matthew Ruge, both 27, and firefighter/paramedic Adam Finseith died of gunshot wounds. Shannon Gooden, 38, of Burnsville died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound after shooting the officers. Finseth, 40, worked for the Hastings Fire Department from 2015-2019.
The Hastings Supports First Responders benefit was organized by Nicole Sindelar of the Hastings Golf Club and Tatia Nelson of the Busted Nut Bar & Grill and held at the golf club. The $20 admission fee and proceeds from auctions and raffles throughout the day are going to the families of the fallen officers.
In addition to raising money for those families, it was also an opportunity to say thank you to the Hastings Police and Fire Departments. Police cars and fire trucks were stationed at the entrance and members of the departments mingled with guests throughout the afternoon.
Cards were provided to write thank you messages to the two departments.
“There are a couple reasons we’re here,” said Sindelar. “I’m assuming everyone knows all the funds are going to the families of the fallen Burnsville First Responders. We’re just thrilled to be able to send this over there and show the support that Hastings has for them. But then on top of that, I will say that I have not been in the First Responder world ever. It wasn’t until some of my dearest friends whose spouses or my friends are in it, I had no idea what this world was about. I think it’s so important that we share that with our friends to understand what these people actually do for us every day.”
She then encouraged the crowd to give local Public Safety officials a big round of applause before Mayor Mary Fasbender made emotional remarks.
“I’d like to thank you for attending to support First Responders not only in Hastings but our Dakota County area, Burnsville in particular. Today we honor three fallen officers, Paul Elmstrand and Matthew Ruge and one firefighter/paramedic, Adam Finseth. All three went to work that day, that Sunday morning, three weeks ago, expecting to come home at the end of the night. They didn’t. They weren’t there to come home to their families of little children, their wives, the ones who support them most,” said Fasbender, calling for a moment of silence.
She credited organizers with putting together the Hastings event in just a few weeks. School students started writing thank you notes, and the cards collected at the event were added to those.
“These boxes are full of thanks you notes from students in elementary through fifth grade,” she said, sharing some of the notes:
“Thank you for what you do to keep our community safe.”
“I’m really grateful to live in a safe place.”
“I really appreciate your bravery and dedication of being a police officer.”
“Dear Hastings Fire Department, thank you for keeping our town safe and helping people in need. You mean a lot to our community.”
Of the Hastings Police and Fire workers, Fasbender said, “They are amazing at their jobs. I am so proud of the immense integrity, education, knowledge and kindness that they give to our community. I hear it all the time. We do not know how lucky we are to have them in our community.”
Fire Chief John Townsend said department members appreciated the event.
“They did an amazing job. The cause of funds going to those families to help, that’s an amazing cause. The tremendous community support is just really uplifting and amazing,” said Townsend. “It’s an amazing community, a lot of amazing people and people always trying to do the right thing.”