The Fresno County town of Lanare last weekend raised enough money to hold an election for its community service district board and keep hope alive for healthy drinking water.

The district must hold the election to continue being recognized by the state, which has funding for drinking water fixes. Without the election, the district would have shut down and the town of 400 would have lost its chance at state funding.

And without the election, the district's community center would have to shut down.

The town's water treatment plant, funded with $1.3 million in public money a few years ago, has been mothballed because residents cannot afford to run it.

The dinner-dance and some donors have provided more than $1,300, which should be enough for the election. The county's initial estimate of $1,500 to $2,500 was too high.