FIRE DESTROYS OLIVE BRANCH SAWMILL

OLIVE BRANCH, Ill. -- A sawmill operation in the Twenty Crossing area, north of Olive Branch, was destroyed by fire early Saturday morning.

The main saw, a chipper and debarker, were destroyed in the fire.

The Horseshoe Lake Voluntary Fire Department, headquartered at Olive Branch, sent three trucks -- two pumpers and a tanker -- to the fire scene.

"We received the call about 5:25," Fire Chief John Brewer said. "By the time we arrived at the scene, it was fully ablaze."

Also answering the call was the fire unit from Thebes.

The sawmill is owned by Elvis "Bud" Kirby, and is near the Twenty Crossings-Route 3 intersection, north of Olive Branch.