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‘The Store’ destroyed in fire
Gantt business lost, no one hurt
Published Wednesday, November 18, 2009
A fire completely destroyed a Gantt Lake fixture Monday night.
“The Store” was fully engulfed in flames by the time law enforcement and fire personnel arrived on scene, said Gantt Police Chief Chris Byrd.
“Gantt officers were the first on the scene after the call, which came in shortly before 10 p.m., in report of a structure fire on Hamner Road near the Valley of Shiloh area of Gantt,” he said. “Upon arrival, they found the home/business fully engulfed. The business area of the home housed some very large fuel tanks, which were of great concern to us; however, members with the Gantt Volunteer Fire Department were able to get a line in to put out those flames closest to the tanks.”
The property, which is owned by Donna Parks and Michael “Mikey” Jackson Sr., was deemed a complete loss. The front portion of the property served as the couple’s lake home, while the back half was known for providing boaters and fisherman gasoline and such while enjoying the waters of the lake. No one was injured or present when the fire began.
The cause of the blaze is unknown, and the incident remains under investigation.
The fire also caused other Hamner Road residents to be without power for “a few hours” after the blaze, but power was restored before the early morning hours.
Agencies responding to the incident were the GPD, the GVFD, the Covington County Sheriff’s Department and the River Falls Volunteer Fire Department.
Comments
Posted by rabbit2300 (anonymous) on November 18, 2009 at 4:29 a.m. (Suggest removal)
should be a nice insurance check
Posted by lulubell (anonymous) on November 18, 2009 at 6:20 a.m. (Suggest removal)
my sentiments exactly
Posted by SouthernAttitude1 (anonymous) on November 18, 2009 at 6:32 a.m. (Suggest removal)
So sorry to hear they lost their house and business here at the holiday season.
Folks, insurance does not replace family treasures, many of which have no monetray value.
If you have ever had a fire you would think differently.
Posted by sawdust (anonymous) on November 18, 2009 at 6:51 a.m. (Suggest removal)
to rabbitcrap and dingbell go burn your own s--t. attitude i lost my home in a fire years ago you are so right.
Posted by nurse (anonymous) on November 18, 2009 at 7:52 a.m. (Suggest removal)
How terrible. I know Donna and Mikey personnally. They are wonderful people that would do anything to help others. I hope the community comes together to support them and help rebuild their home and their business. I know my family and I will miss the pleasure of stopping at The Store on Gantt Lake.
Posted by atm (anonymous) on November 18, 2009 at 7:52 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I see the small minds in the county are up early today!
Posted by SouthernAttitude1 (anonymous) on November 18, 2009 at 7:58 a.m. (Suggest removal)
yep atm, i noticed you were here.
Posted by SouthernAttitude1 (anonymous) on November 18, 2009 at 8 a.m. (Suggest removal)
atm Sorry, i think you may have been referring to the first 2 posts, I hope. I agree with sawdust's sentiments strongly.
Posted by Blondie (anonymous) on November 18, 2009 at 9:37 a.m. (Suggest removal)
What would make someone make such a comment to someone that just lost everything that had? Are you that inhumane? do you feel like your comment was funny or something? IF So I hate to tell you you aint funny!!
Watch what you say about others...... you never know when it is going to be you on the receiving end of something such as this. Then what would you say if someone said such to you? you probably would scream slander, show your butt, no telling what else, but then you have the gall to sit here and say this about these people? YOU ARE PITTYFUL!!
Posted by workingman (anonymous) on November 18, 2009 at 10:07 a.m. (Suggest removal)
When something like this happens it is bad, most of all when they try and ask for full insurance coverage to be paid then the insurance will short change them as much as possiable, (I know for a fact).
They will never be paid for the loss in full no matter if they have an ACV or RCV policy.
They will never recover the items that are the memories.
Best of luck to you both, sounds a bit late for that, this very well may be but, be that as it may, it comes from the hart.
Posted by katelynnkatelynn (anonymous) on November 18, 2009 at 11:31 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I am so sorry to hear of the lost of there home... I too know Donna AND Mikey and i'm sure there are lots of good memories that are lost along with many other things . Good luck to the both of yous. your friend katelynn
Posted by kcopeland (anonymous) on November 18, 2009 at 11:52 a.m. (Suggest removal)
It's really sad that the first two comments were negative. Apparently those folks have never lost everything to a fire. I have, and it is a really sad thing to have to stand there and watch everything go up in smoke and flames and not be able to do anything about it.
I don't know the people, but I am sorry for their loss. Believe me, even if they do get to collect insurance, it still won't cover what they lost...not material things or memories.
Posted by fredburpel (anonymous) on November 18, 2009 at 7:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I've never expeirenced loss from fire, but it has always been a fear of mine. I can't imagine the loss Mikey and Donna is feeling. The first two posters need a life changing expeirence to know what it feels like to lose something or someone. When they do maybe someone will be there to help them and not say hurting and hateful things. What goes around comes around. My .2
Posted by Bamababe (anonymous) on November 18, 2009 at 7:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)
It's so sad to think people believe something so traumatizing is just a plot to rip off their insurance company. Apparently they've never filed a claim, you never get the monies to cover a loss of any type. My prayers go out to the owners.
Posted by blogwatcher (anonymous) on November 18, 2009 at 11:06 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I know Donna & Mikey also. They are great folks. we have a place up on Gantt lake and I dont know what we will do without them.....no gas...no conversation, ice, sweets...etc. But most of all, we enjoyed talked with them on a hot summer day. Donna would invite you into the store where is was air conditioned and chat for a bit. Mikey loved his boiled peanuts....they were wonderful.....we would sit with him and have peanuts...talke about the water and then pay him for our gas and wave goodbye...till nest time...yall wil be missed by the "River Rats".
Posted by cagriffinbdx (anonymous) on November 19, 2009 at 6:42 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The roof....the roof....the roof is on fire....
Posted by SouthernAttitude1 (anonymous) on November 19, 2009 at 7:05 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Is the community gonna come together and organize something to help them? So much is done to raise money that leaves this county it would be nice to see them help our own when they really need it. Not too long ago there was a poker run on Gantt Lake with boats to raise money for another local family's crisis.
So many of us, my husband and I included, use these local waterways as a great escape. Judging from the boats I see pass my house the economy has not stopped the fisherman. Never been to The Store because we prefer backwaters but what they offered to boaters and fisherman will be missed by those who took advantage of the convenience right away. Maybe the fishing and boating community could jumpstart an effort to help.
This would be a good way to spend your money instead of dropping it in a bucket never to see what happens to it. Sure would beat handing it over to whining politicians and board members.
I know as the realization of what has happened sinks in they are more and more disheartened.
Best of luck to you, Mikey and Donna!
Posted by nmewarlok (anonymous) on November 20, 2009 at 6:15 p.m. (Suggest removal)
wait until you loose everything in a fire and have no insurance to "write you a big check". Ive been there when I was 21. In seven minutes I lost everything I had aquired in my short life. Most of it irreplaceable items. I had the fortunate of doing business with these people when we were enjoying the lake at the first weekend in august. They seemed like nice people, even gave me some of an onion they were cooking in the back. I thought it was kind of neat to have a store right on the waterfront you just pull your boat up to and gas up.
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