Fire Destroys Pike County Shopping Center
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Posted: 9:15 AM Dec 29, 2009
Fire Destroys Pike County Shopping Center
It's still not known what sparked a fire that destroyed an entire shopping center in Elkhorn City on Christmas Eve.
Reporter: WSAZ News Staff
Email Address: news@wsaz.com
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ELKHORN CITY, Ky. (WSAZ) -- It's still not known what sparked a fire that destroyed an entire shopping center in Pike County on Christmas Eve.

A pawn shop, beauty shop, Appalachian Wireless store, a Mexican restaurant and some storage areas in the Russell Shopping center in Elkhorn City are all gone.

The owner of Russell Shopping Center, Bill Blankenship, says some downed trees caused power lines to fall on the roof of the building, which might have caused the fire. He also says once they finally got power back last week, there could have been a power surge.

Bill and his wife have owned Russell Shopping Center for nearly 20 years. When he went to check on the building Christmas Eve morning, something was wrong.

"When I got back there, all I seen kind of towards the roof, or towards the wall -- I couldn't tell which one it was -- but there was a ball of fire and that's all I could see," Blankenship said.

He was the only one inside and called the fire department immediately.
He says as the shopping center burned, it was too much to handle.

Blankenship says they do not know the extent of the damage financially yet. He did have insurance.

The Elkhorn City fire chief says the incident is under investigation.

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Latest Comments

Posted by: To Jay on Dec 29, 2009 at 05:06 PM

Tiger probably found another girlfriend yesterday. That's what took-up news time and prevented the story.
Posted by: Anonymous on Dec 29, 2009 at 02:06 PM

.....the pictures are very informative too.
Posted by: JAY on Dec 29, 2009 at 09:47 AM

I like how this story comes out 4 days after the fire, Must have been a slow day in the news yesterday
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  • Posted By: A special thank you to Bret Baier: Did anyone see the interview with Obama the other day? This interview should be used in journalism classes to teach the "press" how to conduct an interview. Clearly, Obama has no earthly idea what is in the Obamanation health care bill. Finally, a reporter throws Dr. Chicago a high and tight slider and it turns into "uh uh uh uh well I um uh uh well duh..." Nice chin music Bret, keep up the good work.
  • Posted By: I Agree with Christina: Wow, you summed that up really well. Poor babies who don't have a voice being born to these losers who don't have a clue. Don't smoke, drink or do drugs while you're pregnant!
  • Posted By: John: Hey freedom,did you ever take into consideration that smoking bans do cost bar owners and in many cases the very people you are trying to save jobs for many times lose them anyway,they knew the dangers when they took the jobs they dont have to work there and many bartenders rely on tips to make a decent income they are not paid minimum wage so if there are no patrons that means no tips and an 8 hr shift would pay about $30 I ran a bar and when the smoking ban was passed it went belly up in a matter of 3 months and the bartenders went from a good night of $100-$150 to less than $30 to nothing at all it is not the bartenders who propose these bans and everyone I hired smoked themselves as did 90% of the patrons which were regulars and the other 10% could have cared less but the health dept with all their wisdom put these 8 girls out of work and on welfare which the tax payers have to foot the bill for
  • Posted By: Christina: To Dave, I absolutely do not support abortion! It's not the womans or anyones right to kill an unborn baby. Again you have the right to choose life or death, but what right does the baby have? If the baby is not wanted then give the baby up for adoption, but don't kill the baby. And to George. You missed the point. If someone wants to smoke, or drink, that is their choice. However, the babies did not have a choice to smoke or not. Your wife chose to continue smoking before she got pregnant and continued smoking even after finding out she was pregnant. If she would have stopped then, the baby's would not have been in danger of stress. But after being born, they had to go through withdrawl, just the same as an adult. Now to MK, I've worked hard my entire life, have never been on welfare, and never received any free health care for myself or my children. I have to pay for our health insurance at the rate of $724.38 a month. Which we work to provide!
  • Posted By: Freedom is not Free: Someone pays the price for it. Smokers are behaving like spoiled brats wanting their right to smoke in a bar. The bar owner may want to decide whether to be smoke/non smoke. But what of the workers? With jobs scarce, they may not have the option of moving out of a smoke environment. You want the right to go sit for a few hours an evening smoking while you drink. Then you can go home. But these workers have to be there, night after night, breathing the smoke from possibly a thousand cigs a night, whether they are smokers or not. Paying the price for your freedom. Some may not even stop to think about how that is harming them as they work. When will people understand that they are not the center of the universe? Take your smoking outside where it harms only you as you are the ones choosing it. Stop believing we have the right to force others to breathe it. It use to be the in thing to smoke, so many young people tried it. If they now see they will be isolated, many will not choose it.
  • Posted By: Walt: The latest NBC poll (that I've seen...Tuesday March 16) says that 46% think we should pass Obama's health care bill, against 45% who think we shouldn't.
  • Posted By: MK: Curt you are absolutely correct about the cigarette taxes. I guarantee Christina and the like are enjoying free heath care for their children (CHIPS) which is funded purely off of tobacco taxes. You see Obama has already raised taxes for the smokers for this little increase in CHIPS coverage. Note: Most smokers do not make 250K.
  • Posted By: Margaret: Smoking ban.I understand why people dont want to breathe second hand smoke and all the problems that smoking causes.However I dont think that the lawmakers have the right to ban smokers from smoking.It should be a personal decision,a great comprimise could be easily reached and would be fair to all.Let the bar owners decide if they want to allow smoking in thier bar.If the owner decides that they want to allow smoking they would be required by law to place a sign on the door that states is is a smoking establishment ,enter at your own risk.It would replace the no smoking signs on the doors!Then people could choose whether they want to enter and breathe smoke or go to another bar that is non-smoking.That would make everyone happy.The smokers can smoke and the non-smokers wont have to tolerate second hand smoke.
  • Posted By: Palins Poison by Andy: Sarah Palin is a nit wit who spreads lies on every topic she speaks on. She claimed that Alaska produces 20% of our nations energy when it's actually under 3%!!! This is her OWN state! This woman was a breath away from being our VP! She claimed that the Christmas Day bomber stopped talking after being read his Miranda rights, which of course is not true and he has talked extensively providing info on all the points that Mrs Palin mentioned. She claims several times that health care reform will result in "death panels" which will decide who will receive health care. Just about every American is aware that this is a LIE and has been proven to be a lie over and over and yet she still uses this claim to put fear into Americans. I ask, if you have to stoop to lies and fear mongering to get someone on your side do you really have a leg to stand on?
  • Posted By: why i quit...: i used to watch wsaz almost exclusivly,not anymore.i generally flip thru and watch whats on their liberal agenda just to see if i,m wrong.very seldom am.tea party people are thought of as the perverted hollywood types,if you know what i mean.so i for one will be surprised if wsaz covers the taxed enough already people.on the other hand if you dont,wont work,are a drug addict,alchol abuser,lazy,live off other peoples hard work,they cant do enough reporting on their victimization.go figure.go tea party,decent people.keep on trying to get above the people who seem determined to destroy this country.wsaz,p.c.
  • Posted By: buck: What good does it do to evaluate a bill once it is passed on its merits? Can you say puppet on a string? Furthermore a 3000% drop is nuts. Mathematician not needed to know 3000% is totally out of this world. What this means is Obama has no idea what is in the bill. Obama said this already and still it’s being voted on. I just hope our congressman realize Obama is being a puppet on a string, but they don't have to be one to. Our president is trying to pass a bill that he is relying on someone else to write and he has not even read. I know our congressman read this page so please pay attention to what we the people want, and what Pres. Obama has admitted to. Again I say, he said we as well as he would know what was in the bill once it passed on its own merits, to include a 3000% decrease in premiums. This is totally not fair to we the people. I know there will be people who disagree with this, but again I say that is Obama's own words. He has no idea.
  • Posted By: what is...: how can you tell an anti semite from a muslim?can free speech even say the word anti semite?this administration seems to want to inflame the palestians against the israelies.whats with that?you dont put out a fire by throwing gasoline on it!!!!what is the end game for this administration?strange....
  • Posted By: to... hey wsaz...: are you kidding,that wouldnt be fair to obama,all the elitest liberals.some people might see the truth and be sorry they votd fo these reprobates.the truth shall set you free is a statement ive heard all my life,but free speech will hurt the cause.marxism,socialism,communism,etc.rules for radicals,tell boobs anything they want to hear but keep on with the cause.
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  • Posted By: curt: it just amazes me to see that most of you smoking ban commy,s out their like the health department and others would like to make smoking illegal all together,and when this does happen one day as Im sure it will if things keep going the way they are in this country,then I hope you enjoy digging deep down in your wallet and purse to pay the taxes that we smokers pay on a daily basis ,because one thing is for sure if big brother isnt getting his money from us then he will steal it from everybody?
  • Posted By: Hey Channel 3: Are you guys covering the Taxed Enough Already (TEA) party protest outside Rahall's office in Huntington tonight at 6? I heard today that Obamacare will create 159 new federal agencies and raise taxes by over a Trillion dollars.
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  • Posted By: Anne: FYI to a few callous veterinarians in the region: Our pets are very dear to us. Unfortunately, when their bodies cannot be saved, and they have to be "put to sleep", some kindness would be greatly appreciated. Some reverance, consideration for the pet and the people involved, and basic kindness would be helpful in dealing with this horrible experience. Shame on those of you who do none of the above; a huge thank you to those of you who act with some semblance of respect.
  • Posted By: Keith...thanks Jim: No offense, I just didn't know what you were trying to say. Clarification is good sometimes. I have noticed the people who call names the most on here and impugn other folks intelligence are often the worst spellers, can't put a sentence together, often can't carry a coherent thought to completion, etc..but I often say "corpseman" now when talking about those folks in the Navy, just as a tribute mind you, no disrespect intended. I am going to study geography now, my family is planning a vacation to one of our 57 states, we just haven't decided which one, we just have to remember and take our asthma "inhilators" along so we don't get winded.
  • Posted By: plain as day: well i see wsaz,obama news has slowed,stopped free speech 3 days.
  • Posted By: george: to christina:support the smoking ban in your own home and keep your nose out of others business!! how bright you must be,for your info my wife had twin girls,and the doctor told her NOT to quit because it would cause stress on the babies. thats from a doctor which im sure by far your not!!! so you want to chrg. her with child abuse,how foolish are you!! you need to worry about whats in your own closet and not everybody elses!!!!
  • Posted By: Jeremy C: I agree with Christina though I'd go a step further and clear this up once and for all and make cigarettes illegal.
  • Posted By: Dave: @christina do you support a womans right to abortion? Just a question, I am curious. The health department does not have the right to make any laws, only elected offficials, elected by the people are supposed to pass laws. If the majority of people want a smoking ban, the ban smoking. But don't leave up to appointed officials in the Dept. of health. smoking is bad, but smoking bans are unconstitutional, and that is worse.
  • Posted By: Big Earl: Hello good WV coal miners and there kin did any of you people see that show on the PBS channel the other night about WVs own Rocket Boys Homer RoyLee Quintin and Sherman Odell can somebody at Governor Joes office tell these people down to the TV station to quit bumming money while were trying to watch the show last time it was WVs own adopted son John Denver singing Country Roads Take Me Home got interupted or WV adopted son John Boy Walton doing the talk over on the history of WV show getting cutoff who is the people that sits around talking on the phone in the back of the room you are trying to watch the show next thing somebody comes on trying to sell you a Edsel or a 200 dollar t shirt it is the working coal miner what keeps the PBS station afloat they ought to give all certified WV coal miners free Rocket Boy tshirts.
  • Posted By: Christina: I support the ban on smoking. All studies show the dangers of this recreation. Now; when is someone going to be bold enough to create and pass a law that charges and convicts woman who smoke while pregnant of CHILD ABUSE? The baby does not have the choice to smoke or not to smoke, but YOU do!
  • Posted By: Hey Everybody We Are All Getting A BIG RAISE!!!: Obama said that if his health care bill passes costs would drop an incredible 3000%!!! That means your boss will save sooooo much money under his system he/she can afford to give you a big raise! Now if you pay $1000 dollars a month for your coverage, a 100% savings on that would mean you pay zero dollars; a 3000% drop in cost would mean what, your employer saves or gets back from somewhere around $3000 to $30,000 dollars? No, I am not making this up; I heard Obama say it. Great news. Why wouldnt anybody support Obamacare. Boy that Bush sure was dumb.
  • Posted By: Keith...if you love your country and cherish your freedom, act now...: The way things should be in America: Barack Obama decides something is good for us, it becomes law. Period. Vote on a bill? Why? Read a bill? No need. Televise the hearings? What a joke. Barack says it, that settles it. Oh, Garydon, where are you now that there are real "faceists" at work? Folks, it will be a long, difficult fight this fall, but Nick J. Rahall must be defeated in the House election. He has carried the water for Obama and Pelosi on this Obamanation healthcare bill from the start; he was one of the first to endorse Obama; he is largely protected by WV media, who refuse even to publish his office phone numbers in order that you can call and voice your opinion; Nick and Nancy's bill raises 10 new taxes immediately; gives no "benefits" for 4 years; will ration your care, will raise your premiums, will limit your choices. Sound like a good deal? If you possibly can, log onto the League of American Voters website and contribute to the ads they are running...hurry, do it now.
  • Posted By: Jim: Keith,mirrows an often mispelled and mispronounced word for mirrors,believed to be attributed by an abbreviated note from an illusionist to his aide to line mirrors in a row to cause an optical effect of seeing the same thing over and over again much like the republicans telling stories whether true or not over and over again only to recant after the damage is done.Myself I use the word as a tribute to a person we both know who often mispronounced the word matter of fact he mispronounced so many words and made up so many that there was a term coined after him Bushism's
  • Posted By: Big Earl: Hello good coal miner people of WV and there kin did you people see where the WV Mountaineer basketball team is going to what they call the Big Dance well I say congratulations I heard them people from over on the McCoy side of the river is to well I bet Coach Huggins won’t be dragging a tree hugger around everywhere with him sticking a camera in her face ever time they call timeout as his Number 1 fan I say pack the muzzle loader and go hunt treehugger wildcat did you people ever read that story where our own Devil Ance Hatfield off the WV side of the river hunted wildcat with his bare hands he treed a bear to I read it in that book Story of the Devil hey you hippies and dopeheads head back over to Ohio and cheer for your buckeye nuts look out Shaggy it’s the WV State Police ruh roh Scooby hide the dope.
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