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Parsons firefighters were called Tuesday afternoon to a fire on North Central on the west side of the apartment at 318 N. Central, which is north of Youth Crisis Shelter. The two-story brick apartment building was engulfed in flames when firefighters arrived and began attacking the fire from the north side and tried to  keep the fire from spreading to the apartment east of the brick building. Parsons police officers responded to the fire and helped residents from the east apartment building evacuate, including several infants. The residents and the infants took shelter at the police department.
Parsons firefighters were called Tuesday afternoon to a fire on North Central on the west side of the apartment at 318 N. Central, which is north of Youth Crisis Shelter. The two-story brick apartment building was engulfed in flames when firefighters arrived and began attacking the fire from the north side and tried to keep the fire from spreading to the apartment east of the brick building. Parsons police officers responded to the fire and helped residents from the east apartment building evacuate, including several infants. The residents and the infants took shelter at the police department.
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Charlotte Brown (right) gets a dinner roll from 9-year-old Ava Alloway’s basket. Ava’s mom, Ashlea (to Ava’s left) serves brown gravy for dinner attendees Tuesday at the community Christmas dinner at First Christian Church, 1500 S. 29th.
Charlotte Brown (right) gets a dinner roll from 9-year-old Ava Alloway’s basket. Ava’s mom, Ashlea (to Ava’s left) serves brown gravy for dinner attendees Tuesday at the community Christmas dinner at First Christian Church, 1500 S. 29th.
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Colleen Surridge/Sun photo

Passing time while waiting on an older sibling to get out of class, Abbigayle Butler, 1, looks through a picture book she found in a rack in the foyer at Lincoln School.
Colleen Surridge/Sun photo Passing time while waiting on an older sibling to get out of class, Abbigayle Butler, 1, looks through a picture book she found in a rack in the foyer at Lincoln School.
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Colleen Surridge/Sun photo

Luke Gilmore, accompanied by music and violin teacher Dana Saliba on piano, plays “O’ Holy Night” on the violin during a holiday music recital Friday at Woodridge Estates. Gilmore also conducted other students of Saliba and accompanying musicians in performing for the first time his musical arrangements, “Pacem Noel” and “Holiday Medley.”
Colleen Surridge/Sun photo Luke Gilmore, accompanied by music and violin teacher Dana Saliba on piano, plays “O’ Holy Night” on the violin during a holiday music recital Friday at Woodridge Estates. Gilmore also conducted other students of Saliba and accompanying musicians in performing for the first time his musical arrangements, “Pacem Noel” and “Holiday Medley.”
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Colleen Surridge/Sun photo

Garfield School students (from left) Alexandria Maldonado, Dakiah Yates and Wesley Griggs decorate Christmas bulbs with stars and snowflakes at one of the Santa Stations teachers organized Thursday. The stations allowed students to choose from six different activities to make gifts for their families.
Colleen Surridge/Sun photo Garfield School students (from left) Alexandria Maldonado, Dakiah Yates and Wesley Griggs decorate Christmas bulbs with stars and snowflakes at one of the Santa Stations teachers organized Thursday. The stations allowed students to choose from six different activities to make gifts for their families.
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Colleen Surridge/Sun photo

New Garfield School student Justice Wertz decorates a Christmas tree ornament at one of the Santa Stations teachers organized Thursday. The stations allowed students to choose from six different activities to make gifts for their families.
Colleen Surridge/Sun photo New Garfield School student Justice Wertz decorates a Christmas tree ornament at one of the Santa Stations teachers organized Thursday. The stations allowed students to choose from six different activities to make gifts for their families.
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Colleen Surridge/Sun photo

After talking about what would be possible and impossible to fit inside the Christmas bags Kim Spielbusch handed out to her kindergarten class at Lincoln School, Kyler Evans (left) and Xenia Rush pulled open their bags on the count of three to discover what was inside them.
Colleen Surridge/Sun photo After talking about what would be possible and impossible to fit inside the Christmas bags Kim Spielbusch handed out to her kindergarten class at Lincoln School, Kyler Evans (left) and Xenia Rush pulled open their bags on the count of three to discover what was inside them.
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Jamie Willey/Sun photo

Dr. Ron Finley hands a gift bag to George at a Christmas party sponsored by the Parsons Kiwanis Club on Oak Cottage at Parsons State Hospital and Training Center. The Rev. Richard McCandless, Warren Marlow and Finley brought cake and ice cream as well as the gifts to the residents of Oak Cottage. McCandless, who organizes the event, said this is the 25th year the club has sponsored the party. The club also has monthly birthday parties at Oak Cottage when every resident with a birthday in the month gets gifts. McCandless said the club sponsors the parties to let the residents know that the community cares about them.
Jamie Willey/Sun photo Dr. Ron Finley hands a gift bag to George at a Christmas party sponsored by the Parsons Kiwanis Club on Oak Cottage at Parsons State Hospital and Training Center. The Rev. Richard McCandless, Warren Marlow and Finley brought cake and ice cream as well as the gifts to the residents of Oak Cottage. McCandless, who organizes the event, said this is the 25th year the club has sponsored the party. The club also has monthly birthday parties at Oak Cottage when every resident with a birthday in the month gets gifts. McCandless said the club sponsors the parties to let the residents know that the community cares about them.
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Bea Rizza spends time with Chance, an old ranch horse that had been abandoned on a rural Erie homestead, along with a wild mustang and her 10-month-old filly. Rizza is fostering Chance for Rainbow Meadows, Equine Rescue & Retirement Inc. until a home can be found for him to live out his remaining days.
Bea Rizza spends time with Chance, an old ranch horse that had been abandoned on a rural Erie homestead, along with a wild mustang and her 10-month-old filly. Rizza is fostering Chance for Rainbow Meadows, Equine Rescue & Retirement Inc. until a home can be found for him to live out his remaining days.
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Agnes Parker was joined by her son, Tom Parker of Thayer, for her 101st birthday reception at Prairie Mission Retirement Village Saturday afternoon.
Agnes Parker was joined by her son, Tom Parker of Thayer, for her 101st birthday reception at Prairie Mission Retirement Village Saturday afternoon.
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