Owner returns to find her house on fire

Thanks to an internet communications problem, last week's Republic News didn't arrive in this newspaper's office in time for publication in last week's issue but we have it this week.

However, we do not have this week's news and may not have Republic news for awhile as the correspondent's farm home caught fire Sunday afternoon.

Betty Bouray, our Republic correspondent, also serves as the pastor of the Webber Community Church. Sunday she conducted the service at the Webber church, drove to Superior to visit her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Ahrens, and returned home about 2 p.m. to find her home located west of the Pawnee Indian Village Museum was on fire.

The alarm was sounded and fire departments from Republic, Courtland, Scandia and Belleville responded to the call for assistance. While the Superior department was not called, a member of the department stopped to lend a hand when he learned of the fire.

The structure was not destroyed but its future was still in doubt on Monday morning. There is water and smoke damage throughout the structure in addition to the structural damage caused by the fire.

The fire appears to be have started near an electrical outlet in the dining room. It is thought to be electrical in nature, perhaps related to a Christmas decoration.

The structure had served as the home of Kent and Betty Bouray for 28 years. It was built by Kent. Previous occupants of the farm, Rod and Linda Warren, moved to town after a fire damaged their home. That house was razed after the fire.

At the time of this fire, Kent was in Texas.

When Kent left for Texas, Betty told her husband she was going to use his time away to downsize but she didn't expect to do so to this degree.

Betty is currently staying with her parents while pondering the family's future plans.