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Archiver > OKGEN > 1999-04 > 0923173556


From: "Peggy C. Wilson" <>
Subject: [OKGEN-L] HARRAH Fire *weep*
Date: Sat, 03 Apr 1999 15:05:56 -0600


Several years ago we were awaken one chilly night to the fire siren in
our small town. We lived just up the street from the Junior High
School. The trucks were turning in there when I rushed to the window.
Two teenage girls had set fire to it. We had a cold front coming and
the wind made the battle much harder for our volunteer firemen. They
had to fight to keep the embers from setting fire to the church across
the street and other homes in the area. We stood and watched until
nearly dawn as they lost the battle to save a building that had seen
many children in the last century travel its halls. The building where
I had elementary, junior high and some high school classes was gone...
remaining were the old stone walls. My children attended school there
as well. Many happy memories went up in flames that night. Neither of
the girls were "locals" so the building had not meaning to them.

What happened to the girls? They were turned over to their parents and
instructed to not reside in our community...some time later one of my
friend's child saw one of the girls in town...nothing had changed..no
remorse, etc. We as taxpayers had an increase in our property taxes to
pay for a new school. The justice system really taught those girls a
lesson, huh! Rumor was one of the girls' step-father helped them.

Peggy

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