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A fire that threatened a home in Howardwick last week was apparently started in the central heating system.

 

Clarendon Fire Marshall Jeremy Powell said it was not clear why the fire began, but he said it was apparent where it started.

The home of Don and Treva Fulton, located in the 100 block of Charles Drive, caught fire last Tuesday, October 18. Emergency personnel were paged out at 10:14 a.m., and the Clarendon Volunteer Fire Department responded quickly.

“We had trucks leaving the station within about three minutes, and we were on the scene in 13 minutes,” Powell said. “The fire was put out exactly one hour to the minute from when we were paged.”

The fire was contained to two bedrooms and a bathroom; and while most of the structure was saved, the family says there was extensive smoke damage.

Family members report that Mr. and Mrs. Fulton are staying at the Best Western Red River Inn and have recently found a replacement mobile home. This week a good Samaritan has stepped forward to clean off the site and prepare it for the new home.

The couple’s furniture needs are met, but they need towels, pillows, bedding, etc. If anyone wishes to help, they can call the Fulton’s daughter, Linda Rowland, at 874-4824.

“Mostly they just need prayers right now,” Mrs. Rowland said.

 

 

The Clarendon Volunteer Fire Department and Clarendon Firebelles held their annual Fire Prevention and Open House on Saturday, October 15 at 10 a.m. at the fire station.

Students from Clarendon Elementary submitted their entries for the poster contest with the theme “Protect Your Family from Fire”. The posters were anonymously judged by the firemen, and the winners were awarded trophies.

After the poster winners were announced, all the children took a ride with the firemen on one of the fire trucks. Also joining the kids on the fire truck was EJ the dalmation, who came to the open house with his owners Blake and Erin Osburn.

The winners of the poster contest were: Headstart/Pre-K – 1st place Ben Estlack, 2nd place Kai Floyd, 3rd place Jackson Graves; Kindergarten/1st Grade – 1st place Piper Chambless, 2nd place Taylor Halsell, 3rd place Morgan Johnston; 2nd & 3rd Grade – 1st place Kailee Osburn, 2nd place Emeri Robinson, 3rd place Josiah Howard; 4th & 5th Grade – 1st place Darcie Hunsaker, 2nd place Dalton Benson, 3rd place Gavin Word.

Rain and cool weather greeted people attending Hedley’s 60th annual Cotton Festival last Friday and Saturday, but the welcome weather did not dampen any spirits.

The Lioness Club got things rolling Friday evening with a Chili & Stew Supper at the Lioness Den, and Lioness Susie Shields reported having a good attendance.

Saturday’s events were cold and damp, but there were still several activities to enjoy, including several games for kids, pony rides, the Lions Club barbecue, and bingo games.

No winners were announced for the kids parade and regular parade.  Harold and Mary Ruth White served as parade marshals for the big parade.

Winners of raffles at the festival included Jack Moreman for the Lioness Quilt, Courtney Newhouse for the bale of cotton, Billy David Ballew for the Cow Patty bingo, and Frannie Nuttall for the Two-Person Hunting Package.

The ex-students reunion was qualified as a success, and the dance Saturday evening was attended by 100 people, Mayor Dusty Wilkinson reported.

“We probably had half as many people [at the festival] as we did last year, but it wasn’t bad for the weather we had,” Wilkinson said.