Friday morning Calhoun County awoke to storms just before dawn. The fierce winds (70-90 mph) took out several 100 year old trees including one on the courthouse square (pictured at right.) An old pecan tree between buildings north of Main Street (center right) no longer will be providing pecans and Mrs. Goolsby slept through the one falling on her house (bottom right.) News media across the state made mention of the damage and the volunteer help in Calhoun County.
As the sun rose, it was revealed that windows, roofs and walls were missing from several businesses. La Carreta (bottom left) and BnG's Pizza are put out of commission for awhile, though a few pizza's did make their way out for a few lucky workers. Rick's Tire (below) sustained severe damage to the garage doors and north wall. The car wash lost a roof as did the library and the adjacent building being remolded for a new shop by Zach Anders.
The elementary school has a couple of new skylights now. The superintendent, Matt Scarbrough, along with others were cleaning up and repairing damages before noon and totally expected to be back to school on Tuesday, which weather did not permit. A full assessment of the damage was reported at a special called school board meeting Friday afternoon. Scarbrough bragged on the staff as the board admonished his actions to facilitate the rapid response. The planned roof repair may come sooner than expected as the new skylights were deemed unnecessary.
No lives were lost and the resiliency of the people of Calhoun County is shown in the ability of the town to be back in order and prepared for the next winter storm before church Sunday morning.
The landscape around the courthouse and other parts of the city may have changed but this doesn't'... the people of Calhoun County never fail to help out in times of need and crisis.
