Helping hands

Laveta Shelton and Debbie Cummins were caught without home insurance when their home burned to the ground. The Red Cross gave them aid in the form of three nights in a hotel and some money to spend at Wal-Mart.

An account has been set up at First Basin Credit Union to help the two. Account No. 51706 is under Debbie Cummins' name.

Around 7:45 a.m. Sunday, Cummins awoke to prepare for church and found that smoke had risen to eye-level. She woke Shelton, and they both fled the home with Gizmo and Ms. B, two of their Chihuahuas. Two more of their dogs and a cat were caught in the fire.

Shelton required breathing treatments for smoke inhalation, and Gizmo was treated for burns as well as smoke inhalation. Most of the home burned completely, and the remaining standing portion's attic caved in, leaving only the roof and walls.