On Thursday, June 13, the Town and Country Fire District of Woonsocket was called out to help the Alpena Fire Department fight a house fire in rural Alpena. The home belongs to Linda Kopfmann and was built by her and her late husband, Ronnie, just ten years ago after their original home was destroyed by a tornado. 

In the initial reporting, the origin of the fire is still under investigation. It is believed to possibly be from a lightning strike as there was quite a thunderstorm with plenty of lightning that morning. Most of the home was destroyed by the fire or so heavily damaged by smoke that it isn’t salvageable. Very little of what is in the home can be saved, and the cleaners who take care of homes after fires stated that the interior of the home will have to be gutted to start from scratch for the home to be in livable conditions.

Kopfmann and her granddaughter, Ashlynn Larson, of Woonsocket, and Ashlynn’s daughter, Gracelynn, were all living in the home and got out of the fire safely. However, the family dog did not survive, and that has been just as devastating for Kopfmann and her family.

Fortunately, the three displaced members of the household have found shelter with family and staying in a camper. More permanent dwellings are being considered in the area, and together they will all once again come out on the other side of this tragic event. 

…See a picture in this week’s issue of the Sanborn Weekly Journal.

As was reported in the last two issues of the Sanborn Weekly Journal, a golf cart and transit bus were recently heavily damaged in the town of Woonsocket. The transit bus belongs to Lon McWhorter, and he is now offering a $500 reward to anyone who gives verifiable information that leads to the capture of those involved in the criminal acts that took place in the early morning of Tuesday, May 21. They are asking anyone with any information about these crimes to please contact the Sanborn County Sheriff’s Office at 605-796-4511.

As was reported in last week’s issue of the Sanborn Weekly Journal, some vandals took a golf cart for a spin and did some heavy damage to the vehicle. After the story went to press, it was reported that a transit bus, owned by Lon McWhorter, was also taken for a joy ride the same night and was damaged, as well. Through the investigation, it has been determined that all of this took place very early Tuesday morning, May 21, at around 2 a.m. Interviews have been conducted, but the crime is still under an ongoing, active investigation. If anyone has any information about this, please contact the Sanborn County Sheriff’s office at 605-796-4511.