From a news service, 1/11/07:



Couple Who Relies On Breathing Machines Has Power Cut Off 1 hour, 13 minutes ago
 
A Cleveland couple with dozens of life-threatening illnesses were without power Wednesday night.

 
The couple sat for hours by candlelight until the power was put back on.

"Just bundle up the best I can do. Put a coat on and try to keep warm," said Leroy Dickey.

Dickey, Deborah Knight and two others they've taken in are hoping layers and blankets will get them through the chilly night.

The couple relies on breathing machines run by electricity.

"Sometimes we have to use our food money just to pay our bills," Dickey said.

The Salvation Army put up more than $300 to keep their gas and electricity on. The couple owes $3,000 toward those bills.

They're still responsible to pay up or they could see their electricity again.

"It's really rough when you can't pay your bills," Deborah Knight said.

The Salvation Army said the power should have been turned on. A Cleveland Public Power representative said that paperwork came in late in the day and that's why the couple was still in the dark.

It makes me feel real bad because the way I see it there are supposed to be people out here to help you and then when you call them up they hang up on you and they don't want to help you nothing," Knight said.

CPP restored their power at about 10:30 p.m. The Salvation Army offered them a place to stay. And St. Herman's Monastery and House of Hospitality sent them food.


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