Kramer Volkswagon bites the dust at corner of 4th and Alder

On Monday, about noon, Marlene Kramer was turning the corner from Alder St. onto Fourth Ave. when smoke started coming out of her 1972 Volkswagon. She jumped out of the car and ran into the middle of Alder and yelled for help.

Brian Finkbeiner came hobbling out of his house with a boot on his foot and tried to put it out with a fire extinguisher. Meanwhile, Kramer called 911, and two fire trucks responded. By that time, flames were shooting out of the car.

The fire was extinguished, and Kramer rescued her purse and her husband’s prescription from the front seat. She said she had a sick feeling...