On the front page of last week’s Review, 10-year-old Jordan Turnbull and her nine-year-old sister, Skylar, are pictured smiling with newly elected doggie mayor Captain Jack Sparrow.
It’s hard to imagine, while looking at the jubilant photograph, that just two days prior to when that photo was taken, on the morning of Aug. 9, tragedy struck their family.
The back half of girls? home at 457 Glenn Court, in Lake Orion, where they lived with their mother, Tiffany, was damaged in an electrical fire.
A number of second floor rooms are without a roof or walls, and there are a number of large burn marks on the back balcony. There is also burn damage on inside rooms that yet retain a roof and, alomst two weeks later, the smell of smoke is noticible even from the driveway.
‘It was especially nice for the girls to be in the paper on the front page,? said their mother, Tiffany Turnbull.
But she noted that being in the paper has been the extent of the good news the family has received since the morning of the fire.
The family has had particular trouble finding lodging while they wait for the completion of repairs to their home.
When asked if the community has aided her family in the aftermath of the fire, Turnbull simply answered, ‘No.?
‘I have had interviews and calls with everyone in the township,? added Turnbull. ‘No one will house me and the kids just for the three or four months we need.?
Turnbull and her daughters have been moving between their relatives? houses, spending some time at her mother’s and some at her aunt’s. In lieu of any aid from the community, Turnbull said her family has helped her ‘tons.?
The girls go to school at Blanche Sims, and their friends reside in the surrounding neighborhood. Turnbull hopes to find housing in this area so that she is able to get the kids to school and to play dates with friends.
If you own any type of housing that you are willing to rent, or know anyone who does, please help the family by calling Tiffany Turnbull at (248)201-2078.
If you are unable to reach Turnbull, please e-mail The Review at lakeorionreview@sbcglobal.net, re: housing for Turnbulls.