Cafe Fire Hurts Meals on Wheels

When a case of bad luck arises, many times it's easy to feel sorry for yourself. But even though ...  More »

When a case of bad luck arises, many times it's easy to feel sorry for yourself. But even though luck wasn't on her side recently, one Sawyer business owner isn't taking any time for pity. Dan Erdmann has her story. (Dan Erdmann, KX News) Although this kitchen may not feel like home to Connie Aho... (Connie Aho, Cowboy's Corner owner) "We're having hamburger steaks today." (Dan Erdmann, KX News) over the next several weeks, it will serve as a home to her business. Last Wednesday night, a passer-by noticed a fire within Aho's Cowboy's Corner Cafe and contacted the Sawyer Fire Department. (Connie Aho, Cowboy's Corner owner) "I was pretty much shocked, I was pretty hysterical." (Dan Erdmann, KX News) Aho says a short in an upstairs electrical box caused the fire, which was mostly contained to that area of the building. The restaurant portion experienced mainly smoke damage, but it forced Connie to close her doors for the time being. (Connie Aho, Cowboy's Corner owner) "It still smells like smoke, but not too much." (Dan Erdmann, KX News) In addition to her cafe and catering business, Connie's biggest concern was for the "Meals on Wheels" recipients she cooks and delivers food to in Sawyer and Surrey. With her kitchen in shambles, no one could've blamed her for giving up. (Dan Erdmann, KX News) "But Connie wasn't about to throw in the dish towel just yet. With so many people counting on her to continue, she knew it was important to keep the burners hot, but in a different location." (Connie Aho, Cowboy's Corner owner) "The seniors in Sawyer have a nice facility, and I've talked to them and it's an approved kitchen, so they're allowing me to use their kitchen until mine's operational. (Dan Erdmann, KX News) Connie's Meals on Wheels service is part of a larger program through the Minot Commission on Aging, which serves a seven county region. Commission Executive Director, Roger Reich, says he was amazed by Connie's resilience after the fire. (Roger Reich, Minot Commission on Aging) "Yup, she had problems, but she was gonna make sure she had a meal out that Friday Morning for them." (Dan Erdmann, KX News) He says they wouldn't be able to cover such a wide area without the help of people like Connie. (Roger Reich, Minot Commission on Aging) "You know, once you lose something like that in a community, it's hard to get that back and to keep those senior meal programs, it's very fortunate to be able to do that in those small communities, because that's a social gathering, as much as a nutritious meal program for those people in those areas." (Dan Erdmann, KX News) For Connie, it's simply a matter of supporting a good cause. (Connie Aho, Cowboy's Corner owner) "I'm not here to get rich off of them, I just enjoy doing it and hopefully someday somebody will take care of my grandma." (Dan Erdmann, KX News) Connie hopes to have her restaurant up-and-running again by mid-December, but until then, she says it's just another day and just another kitchen. (Connie Aho, Cowboy's Corner owner) "I love my job! I love the customers and I love Sawyer. That's why we moved here and I always wanted to have this kind of business and I'm gonna keep going." (Dan Erdmann, KX News) In Sawyer, Dan Erdmann, KX News. Connie says on a given day, she serves anywhere from 20 to 40 people through the Meals on Wheels program.  « Less