Shortly after arriving at work at the Park Restaurant, 1015 North Jackson Street, the morning of Dec. 17, 2009, Tracy Isgrigg and Julia Leonard smelled gas.
As a precautionary measure they called restaurant manager Larry Conover to check and make sure everything was in working order. A short time later a fire broke out in the 100-year-old establishment and the building was destroyed.
Following an investigation it was found that natural gas had filled the sub-roof area of the structure and was ignited when the gas stove was turned on.
As a result of the fire nearly 30 employees lost their jobs that morning. Many have been unable to find work and a number are single parents with the loss of weekly income causing serious financial stress.
A group of friends recently decided to host a fundraising event to help offset the loss of wages until a new restaurant can be built on the site of the original Park Restaurant.
The Knights of Columbus will be the site of a benefit March 27.
“We will be cooking chicken and fish with our recipe. It will be all you can eat and the meal will include assorted sides, a drink and desert,” Conover said.
Conover continued by saying that Park Restaurant employees will be cooking and providing table service for the evening.
Dinner will be served from 5:30 to 8 p.m. with entertainment and a live and silent auction will be held to generate funds.
The cost of the dinner is $8 per person and a free-will donation will be taken during the entertainment portion of the evening, with all monies generated being divided between the employees.
DJ Mark Hackler will provide his services in the dinning hall and Frank Denzler will DJ and host karaoke on the other side of the K of C in the lounge.
The public is welcome to attend.
Frank Denzler can be contacted at (765) 932-2222 ext. 106 or via e-mail at frank.denzler@rushvillerepublican.com. To add a comment to this story visit our Web site at www.rushvillerepublican.com.
News
Related Photos
Discussion
Fundraiser approaching for Park Restaurant employees
- News
-
-
Merger off between Chamber, ECDC
Rush County Economic and Community Development Corporation Executive Director Jim Finan has announced that the Rush County Chamber of Commerce and ECDC will not be merging.
-
RCS adds to Rainy Day Fund
The Rush County Schools Board of Trustees met Wednesday night and, among other things, voted to move $550,000 into the corporation's Rainy Day Fund, which is basically the local school system's savings account.
-
Air Evac leaving Rushville base
Nearly four years to the day that Air Evac Lifeteam began operation from a Rushville base, the medical air transport operation will leave our community.
-
Teams sought for 2012 Relay for Life
Nearly a month after the annual kick off and three weeks before the first scheduled team captain meeting (March 1), local organizers are still hoping to expand the number of participants in this year's local Relay for Life.
-
Boys and girls basketball sign-ups underway
Sign-ups for the Boys & Girls Club of Rush County boys and girls ages five through second grade basketball will run through Feb. 29. These leagues will run the five Saturdays in March.
-
Youth in Philanthropy fund grant application deadline
Garry Cooley, executive eirector of the Rush County Community Foundation, has announced that the grant application deadline for the Youth in Philanthropy Fund is 4 p.m. March 1.
-
Lady Lions eliminate Lady Knights
The goal in the tournament is to advance and that is what the Lady Lions did Tuesday at Batesville with a 53-50 victory over South Dearborn.
-
The wonders of wood
Outside the wood shop door on Wednesday afternoons, kids at the Boys & Girls Club of Rush County line up for their turn inside the room where planks of wood become boxes, benches and shelves between 4 and 6 p.m.
-
Statehouse action resumes after Super Bowl break
After a time-out to accommodate out-of-town Super Bowl visitors, the Indiana General Assembly is back in session to tackle legislation that had been bottlenecked by a contentious labor bill.
-
Rice is Herman Freed Award recipient
Rush County Sheriff's Department deputy Alan Rice recently graduated from the Indiana law Enforcement Academy (ILEA) in Plainfield.
- More News Headlines
-
Merger off between Chamber, ECDC
Obama Scraps Birth Control Mandate
US Airmen's Killer Sentenced to Life in Germany
Navy Names Ship for Gabrielle Giffords
Raw Video: Deadly Blasts in Syria
Romney Slams President Obama at CPAC
Gingrich: Pres. Obama 'waging War on Religion'
5 Killed in Wrong-way Crash on I-10 in La.
Uzbek Man Pleads Guilty in Plot to Kill Obama
Denver's Largest-Ever Drug Bust Nets Dozens
Marines: No Punishment for Nazi-like Flag
Vets Look to Translate Military Skills Into Jobs
Raw Video: School Bus Burst Into Flames
LA School Reopens Amid Sex Abuse Scandal
$25B Settlement Reached Over Foreclosure Abuses
Pentagon: Allow Women Closer to Front Lines
LA School in Sex Abuse Scandal Reopens
Raw Video: Italy's Mount Etna Bursts Into Life
Greeks March; Angry Despite Debt Deal
Air Force Airlines: Leaders Get Polished Service
Ga Girl Fights Off Kidnapper at Walmart
