TERRE HAUTE —
Halloween decorations sold like pumpkin-flavored hotcakes Thursday at a temporary location of the Light House Mission Thrift Store.
As Sherry Wheeler of Terre Haute gathered up an assortment of scarecrows and pumpkins, she told thrift store manager Janet Davenport that she was thrilled to find the items at such a good price.
“I was one of the biggest customers at the north store,” Wheeler told the Tribune-Star. “We’re really glad they opened back up.”
Wheeler was referring to the Light House Mission Thrift Store on Lafayette Avenue, which was closed more than a month ago after the roof collapsed from heavy rainfall. That thrift store building will be repaired and renovated.
In the meantime, the decision was made to relocate retail operations into the former Dollar General building at 940 Poplar St.
After several days of cleaning and interior improvements, the opening day of business at the new location was Thursday.
Tim Fagg, director of Light House Mission, said the Lafayette Avenue location has been the most popular of the Mission’s four thrift stores during the more than 12 years it has been open.
“We will rebuild it, so we are working with our insurance company right now, and we will hire a contractor to do a new roof, interior and lighting, and then we will reopen it,” Fagg said, noting that could take a few months.
So rather than lose the almost $17,000 in monthly sales that the thrift store brings in, he said, the staff and board of the Mission decided to find another location in the interim.
“When you’re running on a budget of $1.4 million, you have to watch every penny you make,” he said.
When a friend of Fagg’s who owns the now vacant Dollar General building on Poplar approached him about using the building, Fagg was glad to accept the offer. The store building remains up for sale, and it is actually too small at 8,000 square feet to replace the damaged thrift store, which is about 12,000 square feet.
“We want to rebuild on Lafayette because we have a tremendous base of shoppers in that neighborhood,” Fagg said on Thursday as sales continued briskly. “This is as close as we could get to the Lafayette site.”
The merchandise in the thrift store includes a lot of clothing, some large furniture items such as couches and recliners, bed frames, televisions, and many housewares items.
The items are donated to the Light House Mission at the main location on Wabash Avenue, where staff and volunteers receive, sort and clean the items, and then send them out to one of the thrift stores.
“We’re just trying to provide what we believe is a good service for the people of the community,” Fagg said. “There are a lot of people who are hurting, and if we can continue to sell stuff at low prices, it helps.”
Wheeler said she is a regular customer because of the prices and the variety.
“They can’t go wrong, anyone who comes down here. The prices are excellent,” she said.
Another regular customer, Karen Hughes, said she depends on the thrift store to find good deals for her family.
“I have two kids, and it helps me out extremely,” she said.
Other Mission thrift stores are located at Seventh and Hulman streets, and in Brazil and Clinton.
The Poplar Street store hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays.
For more information about the Light House Mission or its services to help the homeless, call 812-232-7001.
Reporter Lisa Trigg can be reached at (812) 231-4254 or lisa.trigg@
tribstar.com. Follow her on Twitter @TribStarLisa.
Local & Bistate
Relocation program: Light House Mission store moves to new building while previous location is repaired
- Local & Bistate
-
-
Relic from another age: Massive find
A mastodon that lived in the Wabash Valley thousands of years ago is making big news today.
-
Game Over: Financial tightening causes VCSC to drop St. Patrick’s from athletic schedule
St. Patrick’s School athletic teams will not have an opportunity to compete against their Vigo County School Corp. middle school counterparts next year.
-
Katelyn Newell finally at home
After nearly five months, 8-year-old Katelyn Newell finally returned home Thursday evening — with a new heart.
-
Indiana State U. Police officer honored with Artz Award
Thursday was a special day for Indiana State University Police Officer Christopher Heleine in multiple ways.
-
City Council considering three for consultant
Three different tax professionals vied Thursday for a chance to become a “financial consultant” to the Terre Haute City Council.
-
Clay County sheriff warns of bank card scam
The Clay County Sheriff’s Department has received information regarding a scam targeting residents, according to a news release from the sheriff’s department.
-
State Police seek help with Sullivan County homicide
Indiana State Police detectives from the Putnamville Post are seeking help from the public with the nearly six-month investigation into the death of 85-year-old Lowell R. Badger, a rural Sullivan County farmer.
-
Man who attacked Vigo deputy arrested
A Terre Haute man accused of attacking a Vigo County sheriff’s deputy earlier this week is facing felony charges in the Vigo County jail.
-
INDOT to bid final 641 phase
The final construction phase of the 641 bypass is scheduled to let for bids on Dec. 11, according to the Indiana Department of Transportation.
-
District office moves north
The Southwest District office of the Purdue Extension service has been moved north from Vincennes to Terre Haute.
-
Day is done…
The sun sets Thursday evening as seen from south of Terre Haute.
-
PHOTO UPDATE: I-5 bridge collapses in Northwest Washington; people in water
An Interstate 5 bridge over a river north of Seattle collapsed Thursday evening, dumping vehicles and people into the water, the Washington State Patrol said.
-
UPDATE: I-70 lanes in Putnam County now open
The west-bound lanes of Interstate 70 re-opened Thursday evening after being temporarily closed due to a crash near the Greencastle/Cloverdale exit.
-
22-hospital St. Vincent Health cutting jobs
INDIANAPOLIS — One of Indiana’s largest health systems says it’s cutting an undisclosed number of jobs by June 30 because of increasing economic and competitive pressure on the health care industry.
-
Update: Cleanup from overturned truck in Greene County continues
Fuel spillage from the dump truck hauling gravel that overturned this morning in Greene County at Indiana 54 and County Road 725 East near Ridgeport continues to restrict traffic to one lane.
-
17-pound bone found during Vigo flood cleanup
TERRE HAUTE — Crews cleaning up from Wabash River flooding in Vigo County came across a 17-pound bone that they believe might have come from an ancient mastodon.
-
Duke Energy gives $10K to Wabash Valley Red Cross for Vigo flood relief
Duke Energy is giving $10,000 to the Wabash Valley Red Cross chapter for flood relief from this spring’s heavy rains.
-
I-70 Frye Road overpass contract awarded; construction to begin May 28
The Indiana Department of Transportation has announced the Interstate-70 Frye Road overpass contract was awarded to Halverson Construction Co. Inc. from Springfield, Ill., for $317,166.
-
Banks of the Wabash Festival is more than just yearly entertainment
Pioneers think counterintuitively. Where others see widespread apathy, they focus on the possibility for progress. In a way, the 2013 Year of the River celebration began in the 1970s.
-
Planning session aims to better Terre Haute
It’s not yet clear what will come of it, but dozens of community leaders spent the whole day Wednesday trying to develop a plan – or collection of plans – to make Terre Haute “a better community.”
-
Education funding boost won’t benefit all schools
In the budget bill passed by the General Assembly last month, there is more money allocated for K-12 education over the next two years, but that doesn’t mean every school will get more dollars.
- Day of Action job options open
-
Park Board renames land around Memorial Stadium
Land surrounding Indiana State University’s Memorial Stadium on Terre Haute’s east side has been designated as Veterans Memorial Park, following a unanimous vote Wednesday from the Terre Haute Park Board.
-
Deputy suffers minor injury during incident
A Vigo County Sheriff’s deputy received a minor injury to his hand Tuesday night while subduing a drunken driving suspect who fled behind a North Terre Haute business.
-
Man accused of child neglect gets new trial date
An Oct. 15 trial date has been set for a Terre Haute man arrested in November for child neglect after he and his wife allegedly tied up and confined their adopted children in the family home.
-
Police find meth labs, arrest Pierson Township man
Police uncovered two active methamphetamine labs in southeastern Vigo County on Monday, leading to the arrest of a Pierson Township man.
-
New date set for attempted murder trial
A new trial date has been set for a Terre Haute woman charged with attempted murder.
-
Illinois Senate approves sex education bill
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — A proposal that revamps sex education in Illinois public schools to include information about contraception and sexually transmitted diseases has cleared the state Senate.
-
Gregg pondering 2nd run for Indiana governor
INDIANAPOLIS — Former Democratic gubernatorial candidate John Gregg is pondering another run at the state's top job, but has yet to make a decision.
-
Illinois senator apologizes for Nazi remark
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Illinois Sen. Donne Trotter has apologized for remarks that compared a member of Gov. Pat Quinn’s cabinet to a Nazi.
- More Local & Bistate Headlines
-
Raw Video: Washington State Bridge Collapse
Raw: Utah Teen Arrested in Death of His Brothers
Boy Scouts Decision "First Step" Say Activists
Raw: Jurors Deadlock on Jodi Arias Penalty
Sheriff: No Sign Killing of 2 Kids Was Planned
Raw: Heckler Interrupts Obama on Guantanamo
Boy Scouts Mom Supports Gay Inclusiveness
Obama Offers Drone Strike Defense
Closer Look at Okla. School Where Children Died
Boy Scouts Approve Plan to Accept Gay Boys
Obama Defends Drone Strikes, With Limits
Two Suspects in Murder Known to London Police
Johnson: Don't Blame Islam or UK Policy
Raw: Scuffles in London After Hacking Death
Obama Renews Call to Close Gitmo
A Slice of Apple History Up for Grabs
Chain-Reaction School Bus Crash Injures About 50
Britain Attack Believed Linked to Radical Islam
Raw: 80-Year-Old Climbs Mount Everest
Oklahoma Family Reflects on Lost Son
AK-47-wielding thug may be the most bumbling crook ever
Oklahoma Survivors, Heroes Survey Damage
Trout's cycle a boost for Angels
Raw: New Video of Deadly Oklahoma Tornado
Kim Kardashian Flaunts Pregnant Bikini Body in Greece
NBA star pledges $1M to help tornado recovery
Shakira's Shocking Talent
Morgan Freeman falls asleep on air
GRAPHIC: Blood-Soaked Machete Killer Caught on Tape
Elin Nordegren Furious With Lindsey Vonn For Parading Kids in Public
Camera Captures Climber As He Loses Grip And Falls
Helen Mirren Meets with Dying Boy in Queen Elizabeth's Place
Crowd Chants '¡Si, Se Puede!' After Passage of Immigration Bill
DWTS Crowns a Winner
Police Ram House to End Hostage Standoff
Demi Moore a Rocks Bikini at Harry Morton's Family House
Anthony Weiner: I'm running for New York City mayor
Kate Middleton's Dress Flies Up
VIRAL: Baby makes epic soccer goal
The Hangover Baby All Grown Up
