the aftermath.

by Derrell Simpson 

Yesterday afternoon a tornado terrorized the town of Midville, reaching Cleveland Street and leaving one woman dead, eight people injured and area residents and businesses with several thousand dollars in damages. 

Evelyn Morrison, 67 Kent St., was pronounced dead on arrival at Good Hope Hospital.  She was killed on her way home from her job as a teller at National Trust Bank. Anna Patton suffered major injuries after being buried by an aisle of canned good. She came out of surgery last night and is in critical condition. George and Thelma Jones were treated for minor cuts and lacerations and is in good condition. 

Midville Police Chief Robert Sykes said three total amount of damages would come to about $150,000. "The part of Cleveland Street looks like a bomb has been dropped on it," claims Sykes. It's going to take us several days to get it all cleared. It's amazing that all this damage was done in  less than two minutes. I feel awfully bad about Miss Morrison, but we were lucky that many more didn't get hurt." 

At 3p.m. the Weather Bureau issued a tornado warning after reports of funnel clouds south of Midville. "Thank goodness, the tornado hit when it did we had closed up at 3p.m., and nobody was in the building," said Clyde Plenty vice president of NT Bank whose temporary facility was destroyed. Plenty said no money was in the building and nothing of importance was lost. 

At the Big Bank Sound Record Shop just doors down from the bank, it is reported that four people were rushed to the hospital and treated for injuries due to flying debris and broken glass. Josh Gibson describes the moments before the tornado hit as the "scariest thing…it was like the loudest drum roll i ever heard. then there was the sound of glass breaking and things crashing around you."

"Fortunately none of my most valuable records were damaged," said Bill Belson, record store manager and noted music collector.

Police report that they have arrested several youth for looting after the tornado. " I just couldn't believe that some people would steal from us after something like this has happened, " said Hollbert Morrison, manager of the Jiffy-Kwik 24-hour food store whose damages is estimated to cost several thousand dollars worth. Mr. Morrison said the store was not a total loss, " the worst thing was the looters." 

Three houses in the next block of Cleveland street were damaged, including the home of Mayor Mellon. "We were lucky because no one was home," said the mayor. The mayor also express his condolences for the death of Miss Morrison, " she was an old friend and life-long resident of this town…she used to be a teacher at Elmwood Elementary School…she taught there for about 20 years before retiring to work at the bank…everybody in town knew her."  

Other business and homes were hit too by this tornado, like Red Cedar's used car lot, however not much damage was done. 

The Weather Bureau says that three other tornados were sighted i the area, but only one did any damage.