Friends were to band together on the weekend to help an Olds-area couple regroup after a windstorm destroyed their mobile home.A benefit was to be held on Saturday at the Evergreen Centre in Olds for Murray and Sherry Urlacher, whose mobile home was destroyed on July 31 during a fierce windstorm. Not only did the couple lose their home, but numerous downed trees destroyed outbuildings and fencing on their acreage east of Olds on Highway 27.“The wind came through their acreage and took their mobile home (and) destroyed it completely, twisted it out of shape and took it off the foundation. It also brought a lot of trees down in the yard, which did a lot of damage to sheds and roofing and fencing. They basically had a total disaster and they're still struggling with that right now,” said Mary Jane Travis, one of the organizers of the benefit.Corn and other crops were completely stripped from the field and the cleanup was immense, said Travis.“They were told that it was one of the worst (windstorms) since Pine Lake, so that kind of gives you an indication of what it was like,” Travis said.Travis, who is a co-worker of Sherry's at Padnoma Support Services in Olds, said she was hoping for as many people to come out as possible to support the Urlachers get back on their feet. The benefit was to include a chili supper and silent auction.“We're looking to have a support group of people whoever feels they want to come and help them out a little bit, no matter what they give,” she said.Travis was not aware of whether or not the Urlachers had insurance. The couple is living in a fifth wheel currently, but she wasn't sure what they would have for accommodations this winter.
