Account set up at City National for family that lost everything in fire Monday evening

By FAITH HUFFMAN, News-Telegram News Editor

April 30, 2008 - An account has been established to help the family whose home in Southwestern Hopkins County was destroyed by fire Monday night.

Donations to assist the family of William "Bill" and Julie Helton and Julie's mother, Carolyn Reos, may be made to the "Julie Helton, Helton Family Fund" at City National Bank.

The family lost all of their possessions in the blaze at their County Road 1126 residence.

The Greenville chapter of American Red Cross will be assisting the family with immediate needs, such as providing money for about a week's worth of food and clothing, as well as vouchers for a few days of lodging.

The assistance will be especially helpful for the family members, all of whom are said to be elderly with health challenges and limited financial resources.

Bill Helton is disabled, and suffers from a number of health conditions. He spent Tuesday night in the hospital after collapsing at a doctor's office due to breathing difficulty. He may have to have surgery in the near future due to complications from diabetes, according to Margaret DeBord, Bill's ex-wife and his son's mother.

Julie is registered at local hotel, but has spent the bigger part of the past two days with her husband, DeBord said.

As for Carolyn Reos, "She's physically fine, but suffering from the beginning of Alzheimer's," said DeBord, who is helping take care of her at the residence she shares with her son.

"Because of that, she can't be left alone at the hotel while Julie is at the hospital will Bill," DeBord said.

The family was away from the house at the time of the fire. The Heltons reportedly were in Sulphur Springs Monday evening after a doctor's appointment. They called and asked their farm workers to bring Julie's mother and join them in town for supper. They were contacted by someone in their community while eating and told of the fire. They returned to find their home and all of their possessions gone up in flames.

To make matters worse, they'd only moved into the residence about seven months ago when construction on the new home was complete, according to DeBord. They did have insurance on the home.

Fire investigators are slated later this week to examine the charred remains of the Helton home to try to determine what caused the Monday night blaze..