Fourth Of July Arson Sparked By Roman Candle Claims Life Of Schell City Mayor:

The mayor of a small Vernon County town died of a heart attack while battling a blaze that was sparked by a roman candle on the 4th of July.

Dale Haddix, 70, who was also the Assistant Volunteer Fire Chief in Schell City, was helping extinguish the blaze at an abandoned house on Second Street that jumped to a nearby storage building owned by the Schell City United Methodist Church, when he died.

Vernon County Prosecutor Lynn Ewing has charged eighteen year-old Charles Stewart with two counts of second-degree arson resulting in injury or death. The probable cause statement says that the charges are from two seperate structure fires....one for allegedly starting the weekend fire that claimed Haddix's life--the other arson charge is in connection to an structure fire at Maple and Third in Schell City on June 20th.

The State Fire Marshals office is assisting the Vernon County Sheriff's Office with the investigation according to Sheriff Ron Peckman.

Funeral services are pending for Haddix.




09VE-CR00536 - ST V CHARLES E STEWART