Pine Level Volunteer Fire Chief Mark Caffey shares some life-saving tips with our Hartselle Enquirer readers this week. If you smoke or live with a smoker, you have a greater risk of a house fire than homes without smokers.

Careless smoking is the number one cause of house fires in the United States. There are about 9,000 smoking related fires in homes each year, and most people are asleep when the fires occur.

More than 60 percent of fires from careless smoking are caused by dropping a hot cigarette on a bed, upholstered furniture or in the trash. One out of four fatal victims of smoking-related fires are not the smoker whose cigarette started the fire.

Smoking related fires can be prevented by taking a few simple precautions:

Always smoke outdoors and do not throw cigarettes into potted plants, mulch or leaves since they easily catch fire and can spread to your home.

If you smoke indoors, use wide ashtrays with a stable base that won’t tip. Always make sure cigarettes and ashes are out, and never toss hot cigarette butts in the trash.

A lit cigarette can smolder for 20 to 30 minutes or more before igniting anything. Never smoke in bed, and if drowsy or falling asleep, put it out. Install and regularly test your smoke alarm, as it doubles a person’s chance of surviving a fire.

On Sun., Feb. 22, the Charles Holladay Quartet sang for the afternoon music entertainment at Summerford Nursing Home at 1:30 p.m. Patients and visitors joined in singing some of the songs and enjoyed the program. The quartet consists of Charles Holladay, Joe Fitzgerald, Royce Burden and Joel Holladay.

Roger Saint of the Round Top community had shoulder repair surgery on Wed., Feb. 18. He has returned home and has therapy for his shoulder each day. Roger’s exercise and recovery is going well.

Round Top Community Church women’s group met on Mon., Feb. 23, at 9 a.m. Their new book for study is “Intercessory Prayer, How God Can Change Your Life Through Prayer” by Dutch Sheats. The group also made some plans for the Lenten season, Palm Sunday and Easter.

Happy birthday wishes to Ferrell Anders on March 6, Barry Hardin on March 7, Wendi Westmoreland on March 9, Martha Bickham on March 11, Bobbie Nix on March 13 and Ruth Hardwick Perry on March 17.

Happy wedding anniversary wishes go out to Greg and Pam Holmes on March 17.

Get well wishes go out this week for Colt Beavers, Molly Beavers, Ann Nelson Elsea, Betty Thompson, Linda Kay Johnson, Herman Hardin and Haley Hardin Roberts.

The Sisters in Christ unit of Forrest Chapel United Methodist Church and United Methodist women met Feb. 12, at 6:30 p.m. at Mister Henry’s restaurant in Hartselle.

Kim Byford gave the devotional on Psalms 23 from Phillip Keller’s book “A Shepherd Looks at Psalms 23.” Specifically on the passage, “He maketh me to lie down in green pastures.” Jennie Turney is president of the daytime United Methodist women and the Sisters in Christ Unit. They also have a hostess for each meeting. After the meal, members present programs and have a business session. The next meeting will be Thur., March 12, for supper and a program.

On Tues., Feb. 24, the Morgan County High Class of 1963 met for supper at Mister Henry’s in Hartselle at 5:30 p.m. Sue Williams of the Pleasant View community is chairman of the class social committee. Members appreciate Sue and her efforts to keep the class in touch and enjoying the meal each month.

The discipleship training class at Corinth West Baptist Church enjoyed a pancake supper at 5 p.m. on Sun., Feb. 22. Brother Glenn Miller was assisted by Hilton Kelley, David Shedd, Roger Guthrie and Larry Ricks. They prepared pancakes, waffles, sausage and bacon with syrup and coffee. Others attending were Dana Henslee, Shirley Pope, Kristie Guthrie, Emma Guthrie, McKenzie Guthrie, Dawn Shedd, Kanee and Cody Morgan, Tim, Shanda and Griffin Garner, Carson and Bryant Moon, Donna and Tony Smithson, Gaynell Wilhite, Kristen Liles and Gayle Miller.