Latest news with #Korey
Yahoo
26-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Paxton family devastated by townhouse fire asking for help
PAXTON, Ill. (WCIA) — Several families in Paxton are looking for help after losing everything in a fire over the weekend. On Saturday, a fire started at one townhome and quickly spread to four others. Mike and Korey Swan said it's the day-to-day items that are the most important. They lost everything from key fobs to personal IDs. Gibson City swimming pool to open Summer 2025 The Swans hope donations can help replace the material things, but sadly not everything can be replaced. 'It's probably the worst 20 minutes of our lives,' Korey said. The Swans were getting ready to move out of their Paxton townhouse. Mike unplugged the fridge to defrost and clean it. 'About 5 minutes later, we both got up to do something in the house,' Korey said. 'And when I turned around, I saw black smoke coming in from the garage.' Korey said they tried to put it out but couldn't. They were able to get themselves, their two dogs and a few personal items out. 'It was completely engulfed within five minutes, spread under the roof to the adjoining neighbors, all the way down to the end of the building,' Korey said. Paxton Dog Park reopens after Parvovirus closure She also said everyone was able to get out of the building before it got too bad. The Ford County EMA and Red Cross have been helping people who were affected, and some Paxton businesses chipped in as well. 'The biggest thing that we had to secure that day was my husband's transplant medications,' Korey said. 'Luckily, the local pharmacy was able to get him a couple of days' worth of medications until we could get his medications from the University of Chicago.' But Korey said some things are irreplaceable, especially the ones with sentimental value. 'My sister passed away from cancer, and everything is, it's gone,' Korey said. The Swans have already started replacing driver licenses, car key fobs and more. Now they're asking for money to buy some of the essentials like toiletries and other household items. 'Just trying to reestablish our home,' Korey said. 'You know, everything from spatulas to silverware to clothing.' The goal for their GoFundMe is set for $6,000. Korey said any money they have leftover will be given to one of her neighbors. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
07-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Don't put all your eggs in the homesteading basket just to save money
TEXARKANA, Texas (KTAL/KMSS) — Korey and Jesse first started homesteading during the pandemic. 'If we can't access the grocery store we're able to still provide for ourselves, our family, our neighbors and things like that. So that led us into getting chickens, producing our own eggs.' says Korey Davis of Ark-La-Tex Homestead. But now, the bird flu's impact on farmers is causing some to consider keeping their chickens. 'There are people have been asking questions about, you know, raising chickens for eggs at home since, the price of eggs has gone up considerably in the last few months.' says Brian Triplett, the Texas A&M AgriLife Bowie County Extension Agent for Agriculture and Natural Resources. Louisiana urban farmer on creating sustainable, zero-waste homestead You may think that keeping your own chickens might mean eating eggs for less, but the numbers may surprise you between making sure they have a place to come home to roost and keeping them fed. The first thing to know is that chickens lay roughly 300 eggs a year, which is also what the average American eats in a year. So make sure you count your chickens before they hatch. 'Realistically, you would need about one laying chicken per member of your household.' says Triplett, 'You would expect to spend maybe anywhere from $300 to $500 or more for a coop that would hold, you know, 3 to 5 chickens.' And even if you went out and bought chicks today, it would take time before you could start making omelets. Triplett says, 'You would have about four months from the time you started raising the chickens till you got your first egg.' Which is about as long as experts say it will take for prices to stabilize as farmers replenish their chicken populations anyway. And after buying your chickens and a coop, the experts say the cost per egg will likely still make you miss grocery store prices. 'If you averaged it out over five chickens over five years, depending on the feed that you purchase, you're going to spend somewhere between, you know, $5 to $7 a dozen for the eggs that you produce at home,' says Triplett. So while it is reasonable to raise chickens as a hobby or so you feel more comfortable where your food is coming from, don't expect it to help your budget. 'I would say definitely do your research. You know you need to put in that work. You need to educate yourself, you need to be prepared, you know, because raising a chick or a chicken from a chick is very difficult. They need a heat source, they need extra guidance. You know, they need extra love and care,' says Davis. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
