Wanda English Burnett
Editor
“I
just don’t know why anyone would do this,” Pat Conant
told the Osgood Journal after the business she and her
husband, Gary, own, was destroyed by the work of an arsonist
or arsonists.
The bulk food pantry store located on US 421 just south of Versailles,
was well known to area cooks for the place to get all their
baking and cooking supplies.
“I couldn’t have been more stocked,” Pat noted,
as she told that she and staff had worked particularly hard
getting ready for her biggest months, November and December.
“I had all my samples made up,” her voice broke as
she shared that she’s not sure what the future holds for
the business she poured her heart and soul into.
Pat’s Bulk Food Pantry has been in operation for the past
20 years, providing not only bulk supplies of groceries to area
cooks, but also doing a booming online business.
New Marion Fire Department Chief Charles Meisberger told the
Osgood Journal the store was broken into sometime before
8:00 a.m. Saturday morning, November 6. He said the fire was
set (arson) and was still under investigation by the Indiana
State Fire Marshal’s office and the Indiana State Police.
Meisberger said no one was injured in the blaze that saw three
additional fire departments responding - Versailles, Osgood,
and Friendship.
“I am thankful for all the volunteers,” Pat tearfully
said, adding, she is truly thankful that no one was hurt. She
urges anyone that might have seen something out of place that
morning or any suspicious vehicles in the area to call the Indiana
State Police at 689-5000.
While Pat is unsure of future plans for the store, she said
she knows one thing - the people in this community have reached
out to them and for that she is grateful.
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BETH
RUMSEY PHOTO
The only damage visible from the front
of the building at Pat's Bulk Food Pantry on US 421 near
Versailles is the center roof. The inside was destroyed
when fire was set to the building on Saturday morning,
November 6. The windows are boarded up and the business
is closed until further notice.
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