By AP/KWMU
Jefferson City, MO – The owners of a group home in southwest Missouri where eleven people died in a fire have appealed the loss of their state licenses to run homes for the mentally ill and disabled.
But Joplin River of Life Ministries also said Thursday it has no plans to reopen its four businesses.
The state health department had given the Ministries until Friday to close its group homes and relocate the residents; the homes already are closed.
But the organization appealed to the state's Administrative Hearing Commission, saying it wants to regain the residential care licenses so the homes would be more valuable to sell.
Ten residents and one employee were killed in a November 27th blaze that destroyed the Anderson Guest House.