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 Times photo/Dan Robinson
Building lost
Due to the uncertain condition of the abandoned business building, firefighters from eight departments fought the fire at T-Ted's Ceramics in Dunkirk from a safe distance Monday morning. The building was demolished later in the day for safety purposes.
Blaze destroys Dunkirk business
By DAN ROBINSON
Times staff writer
DUNKIRK - Within 12 hours a former Dunkirk business went up in flames and was reduced to a pile of rubble Monday.
According to Dunkirk Fire Chief Jim Steele, the department was called out at 4:29 a.m. after a resident reported smoke coming from the T-Ted's Ceramics building on Main Street. The building was located across the street from the fire department.
When the volunteers arrived on the scene at 4:37 a.m., they found a working fire, with smoke rolling from the brick structure. Because the aged building was known not to be structurally sound and there was no one known in the abandoned business, said Steele, no firefighters were allowed to enter the burning building.
After about an hour, the flames made their way through the roof of the structure and flames brightened the dawning sky. The south wall of the building caved in as firefighters from eight departments gave assistance in controlling the fire.
(Refer to page 1 of the Kenton Times) |
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| SATURDAY MAY 24, 2008 |
 Times photo/Dan Robinson
Keeping in touch
Dave Roby salutes the grave of his friend, John Merschman, in a cemetery outside of Delphos. Roby began visiting the final resting place of his "twin" soldier last year and plans to return to the site each Memorial Day to care for his grave.
Veteran keeps promise to ‘twin'
By DAN ROBINSON
Times staff writer
When Dave Roby met his "twin,"John Merschman, in the Army nearly 40 years ago, the two men vowed to keep in touch when they returned home. It has taken most of his life, but Roby is now fulfilling that commitment each Memorial Day.
Roby was drafted into the Army in March, 1969, after graduating from Ridgemont High School. He was sent to South Carolina for basic and advanced training. Away from home and feeling alone, Roby was surprised to meet a fellow draftee from the same area of Ohio.
Merschman had been called into the Army after graduating from Delphos High School. As he and Roby talked, they began to realize they had more in common than being from northwest Ohio.
"We had the same birthday,"said Roby. "The same day and year. The guys in our company called us the twins.”
The two Ohio men became close friends, but went their separate ways after training. With a promise to keep in touch, Roby and Merschman were each sent to Vietnam. Merschman was a door gunner in a helicopter unit, while Roby was a radio operator "in the bush.”
The "twins"were stationed in the same area, said Roby, and continued to run into each other occasionally.
"We saw each other once or twice, but we stayed close,"Roby remembered.
(Refer to page 1 of the Kenton Times) |
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