Special volunteers make good Boston butt

If you haven’t ordered your Boston butt for Memorial Day weekend, it’s
not too late.

The South Gulf County volunteer fire department is hosting
its annual Butt Roast fundraiser, Thursday through Saturday, May 27 to 29.

If you manage to get one, it may well have been rubbed down by
a man who knows well the type of help a volunteer fire department can provide.

Jeff Mayle and his family had their home on Lee Street,
along the Money Bayou gulf front, burn completely to the ground, entirely destroyed,
a couple years ago.

“The South Gulf fire department spent the night attempting
to save their home.” said Patrick Foy, assistant chief. “The family was able to
escape safely when we alerted the neighborhood upon arrival, but the home was a
total loss. Adjacent homes suffered damaged, but were saved by the fire
department.”

The Mayles are the same family that lost Triple Tails
Restaurant and their second home in Port St. Joe in 2018 to Hurricane Michael.

“Years later, the family will move back in, to their totally
re-built Lee Street home this week,” said Roy. “First thing Jeff wanted to do??
Show his gratitude to the fire department. He will be a Butt Roast “Butt
Rubber” this year.”

Mayle and fellow volunteers have been busy rubbing butts all
week with Bad Bryon’s Famous Butt Rub, preparing them for six hours of
slow-cooking on the department’s famous “Smoker-101.”
While walk-ups may be accommodated, Roy urged everyone to order their butts
on-line in advance, at sgcfire.com to order by credit card.

“You reserve your pick-up date Thursday, Friday
or Saturday. Pick-up at Firehouse #1 at 240 Cape San Blas, where you will be
directed across the street to Salinas Park,” he said.
Proceeds from the sale support the non-profit department’s water safety and
rescue, beach safety flag program and medical first responders, typically first
on-scene.