At the same time most local firefighters were attending a funeral service for their chief Wednesday morning, a fire in an apartment complex in the 100 block of East Park Street gutted two apartments and damaged several others in the seven-unit building.

The fire necessitated the rescue of two people in the building.

Funeral services for longtime Sulphur Springs Fire Chief Gerry will be held Wednesday morning at League Street Church of Christ with the Rev. Jim Moore officiating. Sulphur Springs City Manager Marc Maxwell will deliver the eulogy.
    Following the 10 a.m. service, Chief Cleaver will be carried to Sulphur Bluff Cemetery on his department's Engine 1.
    Honor guards from Grapevine Fire Department and Longview Fire Department, along with the Longview Fire Department Drum and Bagpipe Corps, will render full firefighter honors at the cemetery and the Hopkins County Military Coalition will provide military honors.
    Pallbearers include Assistant Fire Marshal Eric Hill, Assistant Fire Chief Tim Vaughn, Fire Captain Charles Vaughn, Fire Captain Aaron Kager, Interim Fire Captain David James, Fire Captain Duane Sprague, Driver Jay Stonaker and Driver Doug Clay.  Honorary pallbearers are the Sulphur Springs Fire Department and retired Sulphur Springs firefighters.
    Chief Gerry Cleaver died at his Sulphur Bluff home Monday morning following an extended illness.
    The Grapevine Fire Department will also be sending a firefighting crew to man Sulphur Springs No. 1 Fire Station during the service and Longview Fire Department is sending an engine company and truck to cover the south side of the city and respond to county calls to enable city and county firefighters to attend the service.
    Sulphur Springs city offices will be closed from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday so employees can attend the funeral.
    With nearly 33 years of service for the City of Sulphur Springs, Cleaver joined the Sulphur Springs Fire Department in 1980.  He was promoted to the rank of Captain in 1988 and served a brief time as interim fire chief prior to official appointment to that office in 1999.
    Cleaver was born May 25, 1952, in Dallas, the son of William Roe Cleaver and Cletus Brown Cleaver.
    He was a 1970 graduate of  Spruce High School in Dallas and a member of the Pentecostal faith.  He married Dana Durham Cleaver on March 25, 1989, in Sulphur Springs.
    Chief Cleaver served in the United States Army and was stationed in Germany.
    Visitation will be 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. today at West Oaks Funeral Home.

David Shirley has been named valedictorian and Samantha Dodgen salutatorian of the Yantis High School Senior Class of 2013. Amber Lynn Bagwell and Kelsey Lynn Huie were recognized as the top eighth graders at Yantis, as well.

Women age 60 and older are reminded there are just four days left to register to compete in the Ms. Hopkins County Senior Classic Pageant.

“I am still looking for contestants for the 2013 Ms. Hopkins County Pageant,” said Karon Weatherman, local pageant coordinator. “Friday, May 24, will be the deadline.”

Relay For Life of Hopkins County 2013 was considered a success, with many turning out to show support of cancer survivors and caregivers and enjoy the festive atmosphere of the first RFL on the downtown square. The team sites along the outer perimeter of the square, each selling different goodies and funds services — such as face-painting — to benefit RFL, added to the fair-like fun.