NEWS
 Fire tears through Salem UMC in Alliance
By Jessica Stewart
The outside of the Salem United Methodist Church looks like a quaint, peaceful church with one exception: the yellow caution tape that surrounds the building. This is a scene of disaster.
Early Saturday, March 13th, Larry and Debbie Odey noticed smoke coming from a church window. At first, the Odey’s didn’t suspect anything unusual; they assumed that people in the church were cooking. Upon closer inspection, the Odeys realized no one was in the parking lot. They quickly phoned for help and the fire department arrived at the church shortly afterward. 
Pastor Neil Orchard found this comforting. He was touched by the sense of community in the rural area. “Neighbors looking out for neighbors,” he said.
The bulk of the damage was in the sanctuary, where the fire started. The rest of the church received a large amount of smoke damage. The pews are covered with soot and ash. The new stained glass windows have streaks of lead from the melting solder. The floor, once a light blue, now has a dark tint.
 Days after the fire, the church was busy with activity. Work had already begun to repair the damage left behind by the fire and smoke. Orchard was pleased to see the progress. He said he was blessed to have a congregation that is as strong as it is.
The church was built in 1939. The congregation will temporarily relocate to the Washington Township Town Hall. The township has offered the church the space free of charge until the fellowship room becomes available for services.
The cause of the fire has yet to be determined.
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