Community helps Salem family after fire

SALEM — Terry Krepps has played a “very spooky and very scary” Jacob Marley in “A Christmas Carol.”

So says Dr. Richard Fawcett, who has directed the classic story at the Salem Community Theatre.

It’s Marley who warns Ebenezer Scrooge of the danger of being a miser. Krepps said he has played the part for 12 years.

Dr. Fawcett, and Columbiana County Municipal Court Judge Mark Frost, who is active in the theater, say Krepps is nothing like a miser.

“He’s always willing to lend a hand,” said Judge Frost. If someone needed money, Krepps would be the first to raise it, the judge added.

“I like to help people,” Krepps admitted.

Now he and his family are being helped after a fire heavily damaged their Aetna Street home early Feb. 5.

Fortunately, no one was hurt in the fire.

Krepps and his wife, Melody, have three children, Joey, 14, Krista, 13, and Tyler, 11.

Joey has asthma, and is very sensitive to odors of smoke, Melody said.

“I have a sensitive nose and a good smell,” Joey said.

In the night, he heard a sound, got up, and saw a lot of smoke. He went back and alerted his brother, who was in the top bunk in their bedroom, then his parents and sister.

Melody called the fire department as the family fled to a neighbor’s home.

For the complete story, see Sunday’s Vindicator and Vindy.com.