Major Fire Near Downtown Abilene

ABILENE, TX - Shortly after 5:30 p.m. Monday evening, a fire was reported in a large warehouse building located in the 400 block of Plum Street, east of downtown Abilene.

Distorter News reporters were on the scene before any other local media outlets arrived. The fire quickly went to two alarms as dense smoke covered the east side of downtown. Within 15 minutes, flames had erupted from the roof of the two-story structure. Firefighters were hampered by the poor water supply through 90 year old water mains around the fire scene.

At news time, no injuries had been reported, but the building had partially collapsed and was considered a total loss. For many years, this warehouse complex was home to West Texas Wholesale Supply Company, a large hardware, farm and ranch and plumbing supply distributor, founded by former D&W co-owner Foy Weathers. Mr. Weathers' son-in-law and grandson had operated the business until the late 1990s. Paul Johnson and Associates had managed the building for several years and a non-profit agency, along with a copier machine company and several individuals had items stored inside the warehouse.

The Abilene Fire Department and heavy equipment operators will be working through the night, in freezing temperatures, to extinguish the remaining fire, knock down unstable walls and clear debris left from the collapse of the 43,000 square foot structure.

Fire investigators are working to determine a cause. Abilene FD Public Information Officer, Lt. Greg Goettsch, could only speculate on a general list of possible causes. Due to the intense heat and rapidly spreading fire, the initial attack team was prevented from entering the building more than a few feet, before taking a defensive position outside.

Exclusive feature to the Abilene Distorter News

Man apparently shoots, kills himself at convenience store

ABILENE, TX - Foul play isn't suspected in the shooting death of a 44-year-old man at an Abilene convenience store Monday evening, November 9, 2009.

Police spokesman Sgt. Keith Shackleford said the incident occurred about 6:30 p.m. at the 7-11 in the 8100 block of Hwy. 83/84 and that it is being investigated as a suicide. The man was reportedly shot in the chest, according to a call to police, and died while being transported via ambulance to Hendrick Medical Center, after being diverted from nearby Abilene Regional Medical Center.

The man's name has not been released.

Witnesses reported this incident was the result of accusations made against the deceased man by his neighbors over the 44-year-old man allegedly having an inappropriate relationship with the neighbor's teenage daughter. A domestic dispute between the man and his wife in the parking lot of the convenience store allegedly concluded with the self-inflicted wound to the now deceased husband.

Several comments posted in the local newspaper's blog by someone allegedly using the teenage girl's parent's name were removed. The parent is supposedly a long-time employee in the local broadcast media, who formerly operated a feed store near Tuscola.

The deceased man was a local businessman, who had a notable career in automobile restoration and specialty services. He also resided near Tuscola at the time of his death.

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