More photos from the Jerry's/Runion's Fire

It is amazing to think that firefighters prevented damage to Ron's Barber Shop.

Some photos of the debris that has been removed from Jerry's and Runion's Furniture.

Here is the rear entrance to Jerry's.  I didn't go in, but Darrin Wasniewski says the seating area came through pretty well.

Several crews from Design Restoration are already at work at Runion's and a big crew is expected to be there tomorrow to do the clean up.  Runion's insurance agent, Tony Rohrer from Hummel Group was there as well, making sure everything was being taken care of.


A small group of people helping out at Runion's were providing support and there were some smiles to be had in the midst of the difficulty.  There's a certain amount of joy that people have that is there seemingly no matter the circumstances.  It's not that you are happy, it's just that this is the kind of community that will lift you up in difficult times and it makes a big difference.


Linda Runion reported someone bought a sofa and love seat today!

Jerry's Cafe & Bar/Runion's Furniture Fire

An early morning fire has caused heavy damage to the roof and interior of Jerry's Cafe & Bar in downtown Orrville, OH.  The fire was initially reported by a passerby around 4:15am.  It appeared to start at Jerry's and then spread to Runion's Furniture. 

The Orrville Fire Department and some mutual aid departments remain on the scene this morning.  While I was inside Runion's, an additional smoldering hot spot was identified, so work will be continuing there for some time.

Firefighters dug a trench in the roof of Jerry's when they arrived to let the fire escape that way.  The State Fire Marshall is currently in Jerry's and would not allow photographs at the time I was there.

The fire came out of exhaust fans on the side of the restaurant and caught the Runion's Furniture roof on fire.  Runion's has a tin ceiling with blown in insulation above, so the fire spread through the insulation.  Contrary to an earlier published report, the roof did not cave in--it was pulled down by firefighters.

There was also a rumor that Ron's Barber Shop was destroyed as well.  Thanks to the skillful work of the Orrville Fire Department and several surrounding departments providing mutual aid, Ron's suffered no damage whatsoever.  The barber shop is a wood frame building, built in 1870, and is supported by a wood timber foundation.  Ironically, the sale of the barber shop to Ron's long-time employee was being finalized this morning.

Lieutenant Jeff Lorson, Chief Information Officer for the Orrville Fire Department, shares the very latest about what is known of the fire.

Below are pictures and video of the interior of Runion's Furniture.  This is the room where the fabric samples hung on the far wall.  

The streaks you see are from insulation that continues to fall.

I talked with a number of people who couldn't say enough about the great work the fire fighters have done at this fire.

Most of the tin ceiling in this area had to come down.

This a terrible tragedy for two business who are loved not just for their products but because of the people who own them and work there.  Our thoughts and prayers go out to Jack Runion, Jerry Demlow and all those affected by these fires.  We support you and trust that you will be back and better than ever soon.

What's On My Mind Today--Cuts to Orrville's budget, unemployment, new jobs, sandwich signs and PNC bank clockwatching

After the Daily Record's press deadline last night, the Conference Committee settled on the details for the next state budget that takes effect July 1.  The final vote could come as early as tomorrow.  What's at stake for Orrville?  Our share of $865 million in cuts to local government funds as well as grant dollars we rely on for expenses like repairing our roads.  I'm sure more details will come out today and we'll probably have something more official coming out at next Tuesday's City Council meeting.

Meanwhile, Orrville has a state-mandated deadline to submit next year's budget, so we've been working on a budget without knowing what the cuts to our finding will be.  "Challenging and uncertain," is how one adminstration member termed it at our budget workshop last night.

Highlights for next year include a complete replacement of Mineral Springs street next year at an estimated cost of $1 million.  Since our entire Capital Improvements budget is only $1.5 million, Ohio Public Works Commission grant funding is essential.  Ella Street is on the slate for 2013.

Bobby Warren once again proves why he's one of the best reporters in the area by tracking unemployment trends in Wayne and Holmes County against the stimulus bill timeline in today's Daily Record.  We're seeing slight ticks downward and in my view it's too soon to see much of a correlation between the stimulus bill and our employment numbers.  There was very little spending in our area, so we get the second or third-level impacts.  (Isn't government stimulus spending just another form of trickle-down economics?)

A theme picked up in the story is the kind of job that is typically being created nowadays, best summarized by the CNC machinist.  Part machinist, part programmer--not just a button pusher, but doesn't require a college degree either.  These kinds of jobs can't be done by robots or by Chinese slaves, so we're finding a niche here for them.   Best of luck to you if you're raising a family on the wages though and union reps need not apply.  (One topic for future research is the impact of these kinds of job on our society, which virtually guarantee 2-income homes and little real savings.)

Side note:  Commissioner Scott Wiggam says businesses tell him their main competitor is the unemployment bureau.

It seems we have reached some agreement here in Orrville on a sandwich sign ordinance.  Why do we need to regulate something that isn't causing any problems?  Well, because technically you aren't even allowed to have sandwich board signs on the sidewalks as it is now.  The new ordinance up for vote next Tuesday will make all of you sign posters law abiding citizens once again.

The PNC Bank clock now has its own Facebook page, created by Clockwatcher Kristin Lorson.  As reported last night, the temperature was a very comfortable J8 degrees, which is another reason living here in The Promised Land is oh-so comfortable!