Easter Egg Hunt Draws Crowd for Medaryville Fire Department
On April 19 at Medary Baseball Field, the Medaryville-White Post Township Volunteer Fire Department hosted a lively Easter egg hunt that brought together families for a morning filled with fun and treats. Children raced across the baseball and open fields, eagerly collecting colorful eggs, with a few special golden eggs hidden throughout. Fire Chief Sean Hauptli expressed his appreciation for the event, noting its positive impact on the community.
“We took over this event when Medaryville Lines Clean unfortunately folded,” said Sean Hauptil. “We've been running it now for about eight years. The exciting thing about today is that even though the weather isn’t great, people still come out, have a good time, and enjoy looking for Easter eggs. It’s been a great overall experience—even with less-than-perfect weather.”
The Medaryville-White Post Township Volunteer Fire Department, located in Pulaski County’s District 9B, proudly operates as a volunteer unit. This annual event has become a tradition for the department, with Assistant Chief Jeremy Hauptli playing an active role for several years.
“The community loves it,” said Jeremy Hauptli. “They support it tremendously, and it helps show them that we’re here not just for emergencies—we’re here to be part of the fun too. I just want to thank the community for helping support this event and everything else we do, from fundraisers to these family-friendly activities.”
Michelle Heightley, the secretary of the Medaryville-White Post Township Volunteer Fire Department, has played a key role in organizing this annual event. Working alongside Assistant Chief Jeremy Hauptli and the rest of the team, she has significantly contributed to the continued success.
“In my role as secretary, I take minutes during our meetings, type them up, and help organize how we’re going to run everything,” said Heightley. “I also help organize things—flyers, social media posts, word of mouth. We use Facebook a lot to spread the word. A few of the guys in the department go out and buy the candy. We stuff treat bags instead of eggs because we feel it’s more fair—this way, every kid gets the same amount, and it’s equal across the board. We also hand out ice cream cone certificates for a free cone, and once we start, things move quickly from there.”
The Medaryville-White Post Township Volunteer Fire Department is committed to serving both on and off the call, striving to make a difference during emergencies and through positive community events. They aim to support and uplift the community in every way possible, creating meaningful connections beyond the field.
“It kind of helps people see what we do as a department,” said Jeremy Hauptli. “And it gets them involved in the Easter celebration and everything that comes with it. Seeing the kids out here finding Easter eggs and having fun is great. I just want to thank the community for supporting us. That’s really why we do this—we strive for that connection and support from the people we serve.”
Despite the gloomy weather, families still gathered in high spirits. The event drew a large crowd of eager children, all ready to dash across the fields in search of colorful eggs. The weather in no way dampened the excitement of the hunt.
“We do a great amount to give back to the community. We try to make it fun and engaging,” said Jeremy Hauptli. “For Halloween, we host a costume contest. People come by our department on Halloween night dressed up, and we run the contest kind of like how we do here in the atrium. We even have an adult category, so it’s fun for everyone. Plus, we serve hot dogs, cold drinks, hot chocolate—all that good stuff.”
Sean Hauptil expressed sincere gratitude for his team’s dedication, acknowledging the time and effort they contributed over their holiday weekend to help make the event a success. He emphasized that it wasn’t a one-person effort but the result of a committed and collaborative crew.
“Giving back like this helps the community understand that we’re not just here for emergencies,” said Sean Hauptil. “We’re here for them—period. No matter the situation, we want people to know we care and are good people involved in more than just the tough moments.”
For more information about the Medaryville-White Post Township Volunteer Fire Department, visit their Facebook page or the Indiana Volunteer website.