The home of Penny and Charley Sloan, located on a remote stretch of gravel road off Hwy. D in south Daviess County, burned to the ground late the evening of Tuesday, Dec. 1.
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The Sloans were renting from a relative who had insurance on the house. However, the Sloans did not have renter insurance and lost all their furniture and belongings.
According to Penny, none of the family was home at the time. Penny and the three children, Shelby, 16, Caitlen, 15, and Dusten,10, were staying at Penny’s mother’s home in Rayville working on a school project. Charley stayed after work at the armory in Independence.
Penny returned home at about 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 2, to find nothing but smoldering ashes where the house had been.
Penny said firefighters believed the blaze may have started in a crawl space under the house. They declared the cause of the fire "unknown."
"My daughter had been at a friend’s house in Cameron Tuesday evening," Penny said. "She wanted to go home Tuesday night. But I told her to come to her grandmother’s in Rayville instead. I thank God I did that. The fire would have started under her bedroom. She would have been there alone and she’s a heavy sleeper."
Penny said the family now needs a home and everything that goes in it. They live in Daviess County, but the children attend school in Caldwell County, and Penny would like to keep the children in the Hamilton School District.
"It’s only when you have a tragedy that you find out what’s important in life," Penny said. "And that friends are there for you."
If you would like to help the family by contributing furniture, household items, or a monetary donation, please leave your gift at Green Hills Community Action Agency, located on Clay and Jackson in Gallatin, or at the home of Natosha Teegarden, 601 W School Lot 1, Hamilton, Mo 64644. From there, friends will take items to store at The Wells of Joy Church, southeast of Hamilton, until a home is found for the family.
Dusten wears a size 8-9 in pants and shirts and a size two shoe. Caitlen wears juniors size one short pants; small to medium shirts; and size six shoe. Shelby wears junior size 14 short pants; medium to large shirts; and 6 ½ shoe. Charley wears 32 X 32 pants, medium to large shirts, and 7 ½ extra wide shoes. Penny wears juniors 10-13 short pants, medium to large shirts, and 6 ½ to 7 shoes.