Westminster Rescue Mission Hires New Executive Director

An announcement posted on Patch highlights the background of Reverend Steven T. Cochran who was recently hired as the Executive Director of the Westminster Rescue Mission.

(Update) Officials Rule Fatal Fire Outside Westminster Thrift Shop an Accident

Police have identified the 59-year-old woman who died in the fire.

A fire that killed a homeless woman outside of a thrift shop early Tuesday morning was classified as accidental by the State's Medical Examiner. As previously reported, at approximately 1:49 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 8, fire officials responded to the one-alarm fire at the rear of The Spare Room thrift shop, 30 West Main St., where they located the remains of a body and clothing effects burning. A homeless woman involved in the fire was pronounced dead at the scene. Deputy State Fire Marshal Bruce Bouch said in a statement that the woman who died in the fire has been identified as Paula Mae Carlisle, 59. According to Bruce Goldfarb, spokesperson for the Maryand State Medical Examiner's Office, the cause of death was determined to be smoke …

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Officials Investigate Fatal Fire at Main Street Thrift Shop

The Spare Room thrift shop is operated by the Westminster Rescue Mission.

Police are investigating an early Tuesday morning fire at a thrift shop operated by the Westminster Rescue Mission at 30 West Main St in Westminster. A deceased homeless woman's body was found in the fire at the back of the building, according to a police report. Deputy State Fire Marshals, Maryland State Police and the Westminster Police Department are participating in the investigation. At approximately 1:49 a.m. the Westminster Fire Department responded to the one alarm fire at the rear of the thrift shop structure and quickly located the remains of a body and clothing effects burning on the rear dock of the building, according to a police report. Although the fire was quickly extinguished, the victim was determined to be deceased on …

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Agape Ministries COGIC

2:30 pm on Thursday, January 10, 2013

I've been told that it was a lady named Paula. She would come visit our church regularly.   more ›

Rescue Mission Ready to Rebuild After April Fire

The Rescue Mission plans to launch a "buy a brick" program to get the community involved and raise funds to rebuild the facility.

The Westminster Rescue Mission is rebuilding its thrift barn that burned to the ground in early April. A Rescue Mission spokesperson said the organization hopes a new building will be finished by early next year. The blaze, which started just before 10 p.m. on April 6, was brought under control with the assistance of 100 firefighters from 15 fire departments, including Westminster. The day following the fire, Pastor Dean Waddell told Patch, "It's been a setback but in the near future we will look to rebuild and make it bigger and better and continue to help our community." And according to Rescue Mission Development Officer Carol Bernstein, that is exactly what they are preparing to do. Bernstein said that designs are still being …

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Demolition: Westminster Rescue Mission Silo Comes Down

A recent fire burned down the Westminster Rescue Mission barn, leaving only a damaged silo standing.

Earlier this month, a fire burned down the Westminster Rescue Mission barn off Lucabaugh Mill Road. Pastor Dean Waddell, director of the Westminster Rescue Mission, said that he intends to rebuild bigger and better. The Westminster Rescue Mission offers support and programs to men battling addiction and homelessness. Waddell said they also have a food box distribution program to help provide food to those who need it in the community. Waddell said in a previous Patch article that the most important thing is that no one was injured in the fire. He said that the barn that burned down was used to sell and store furniture and other donations from the community. It was referred to as The Thrift Barn. Today, April 27, the remaining silo was …

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Rescue Mission Plans to Rebuild Burned Down Thrift Barn

Pastor Dean Waddell said the Westminster Rescue Mission will rebuild bigger and better.

Pastor Dean Waddell, director of the Westminster Rescue Mission, said that the community has been incredibly supportive since the Rescue Mission's thrift barn burned to the ground late Friday. Just before 10 p.m. Friday, the Westminster Fire Company was dispatched to 643 Lucabaugh Mill Road where the Rescue Mission's thrift barn was engulfed in flames. The fire was contained with the assistance of approximately 100 firefighters on 42 pieces of apparatus. Assistance was received from 12 of the 14 fire departments in Carroll County along with stations from Baltimore County and York County, PA.The fire was under control at 11:45 p.m. Waddell said what was most important was that no one was injured in the fire. He said that the barn that …

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