By MIKE CORN

mcorn@dailynews.net

Historic-minded Collyer now has a bit of breathing room in its quest to buy back a 1926 fire truck that once stood guard over the community.

At least two Hays residents, one of whom is originally from Collyer, stepped forward after a story appeared in The Hays Daily News, detailing the plight of the community in its effort to raise cash quick to buy the truck.

Originally, Collyer had only a week to raise the cash, as a buyer from Germany also stood ready to make the purchase. The current truck owner, from Gove, has agreed to give the Trego County community a year to come up with the money.

All that delights Donna Malsom, president of the Collyer Community Alliance.

But she also recognizes that they still don't have the cash in hand, although it gives them time to get the money. She's already identified tax credits that can be used to raise money to help purchase the fire truck, which the city of Collyer used to protect the city.

The offer of a year to raise the cash came about when one of Collyer's guardian angels went out to look at the truck, Malsom said. All three individuals are shunning the spotlight.

"I think they want to work with us," she said of the truck owner.

The price of the truck actually started at $12,500, but the buyer from Germany wasn't willing to pay that much. The price dropped to $10,000 as a result.

Since the mad dash to raise the cash, Malsom said she thinks he has a line on how to raise some money.

"I think I might have a line on a tax credit so I can get some money," she said.

It's not easy for a non-profit group such as the Collyer Community Alliance to raise money, quick or otherwise.

Already, the all-volunteer group is in debt for its efforts to restore two buildings on the grounds of the St. Michael Catholic Church. One has been restored and is available as a bed and breakfast, while the schoolhouse is awaiting restoration.

"We're still in debt on the St. Michael property for $45,000," she said at the time of making the plea for the cash. "It's hard to go too far into debt as a non profit."

Initially, when Collyer received the offer of a Hays man buying the truck, the idea was to leave it in Collyer and let the community raise the money over the course of a year.

His only comment, Malsom said, was that his children didn't want to inherit a fire truck.

Since then, a second man has stepped forward. While he's living in Hays, he is a former Collyer resident and wants to become more involved in the community.

"He's willing to buy it and give it to us if it comes down to it," Malsom said.

She's surprised that a small community such as Collyer can bounce back and gain attention to rescue itself.

Just five years ago, she said, Collyer was nearly a ghost town.

But, Malsom said, there's simply too much history in the community to let it die.

"That's why the fire truck belongs here," she said.

In addition to the tax credits that Malsom will be pursuing, she's always willing to take donations to help pay the cost of the truck.

"We definitely will take donations and they are tax-deductible too," she said.

* Malsom can be contacted at (785) 769-4268.