Talk of the desperate need for volunteers to keep the Wheatland Boosters Organization going turned quickly into a discussion of consolidation by Wheatland council Monday.

Vice President Donald Stinedurf said if volunteers don't turn out to help with the Halloween party, the organization won't carry on. He said there are only about three to five volunteers who help with activities like Santa visiting the local nursing homes, summer concerts and bingo.

Stinedurf said 10 more volunteers are necessary to keep things running. "We've been hanging on figuring someone would come forward, but it hasn't happened," he said.

That's when the talked turned to consolidation.

"You can't exist by yourself ... You can't exist without volunteers," Mayor Thomas Stanton said. He said Wheatland needs to merge with Hermitage.

Stinedurf asked if Wheatland students would attend Hermitage schools if the two communities merged.

Nita Buczo said the schools are separate, state entities and have nothing to do with community mergers.