Local

Troopers go extra mile to help family during winter storm

HALL COUNTY, Ga. — A Hall County family thanked a state trooper Sunday who came to the rescue when the family's heat went out during the winter storm.
 
It took four troopers to make it happen, but they were able to track down the right sized wick, drive it from one jurisdiction to another and deliver it to the family who does not have any other heat source.
 
A kerosene heater was the only source of heat in Sheila Bickerstaff's Talmo mobile home. She lives there with her cousin and 5-year-old granddaughter.
 
"It was really cold. We stayed wrapped up in blankets," Bickerstaff said.
 
The three of them thought they were going to have to ride out the storm with no heat after the wick caught on fire. The snow was so deep in their driveway that they were forced to stay inside. Bickerstaff told Channel 2's Liz Artz the only thing she could think to do was call the state troopers.
 
"We were able to get a trooper who works out of the Athens post meet us on 129 Jefferson and relay it here," said Georgia State Trooper Sgt. Richard Harper. "We had an older vehicle with chains on tires able to get around easily with that."
 
Harper said he thought of his own family in the situation.
 
"I've got a large family myself and I try to set them up if I had to be out in the weather," Harper said. "We're not robots. We have feelings and emotions too. If we can help someone anyway possible that's part of our job too."
 
Harper said they can't always provide services like this to residents, but he was thankful they were able to get to the family in the storm and provide heat, especially since there is a young child in the home.