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RECOVERY BEGINS
(Local News ~ 05/06/03)
Judging from the damage left behind, Dyersburg probably experienced at least one F-2 tornado on Sunday night. That's the preliminary assessment given Monday afternoon by a two-man team from the National Weather Service. A more definitive ruling on the number and location of tornadoes should be available this afternoon...
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Officials express concern for storm-ravaged areas
(Local News ~ 05/06/03)
Gov. Phil Bredesen plans to observe storm damage and meet with Madison County leaders today to discuss state and federal assistance. Joining him will be Sen. Lamar Alexander, Congressman John Tanner, State Sen. Don McLeary, State Rep. Jimmy Eldridge, State Rep. Johnny Shaw, as well as other key members of the Bredesen administration...
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No looting in aftermath
(Local News ~ 05/06/03)
Reports of looting in the Barker Trailer Park in the aftermath of the tornado are not true, said Dyersburg Police Chief Bobby Williamson. "We have not received a single report from anyone of looting," said Williamson. "If we did, you bet we would take care of it. Fact is, we haven't heard anything from any place the tornadoes hit in Dyersburg."...
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Dyersburg State gymnasium damaged by tornado
(Local News ~ 05/06/03)
A tornado ripped through the Dyersburg State Community College campus late Sunday night, tearing air conditioning units off the gymnasium roof and opening a gap in the ceiling that allowed rainwater to flood the hardwood floor. Dyersburg State president Dr. Karen A. Bowyer said the damage to the roof would cost at least $100,000 to repair. The Tennessee Board of Regents and the Risk Management unit of the state of Tennessee are handling reconstruction assignments, according to Dr. Bowyer...
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Humane society hopes to reunite pets, families
(Local News ~ 05/06/03)
Tansey Autry found something a little unusual in her Newbern yard Monday morning. A large brown-and-black dog was lying on the ground. No ordinary stray, this dog was still chained to a pole -- you know, the kind used to erect clotheslines. The pole was bent in half...
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Emergency shelters provide temporary homes for storm victims
(Local News ~ 05/06/03)
Two emergency shelters have been set up in Dyersburg, giving storm victims a clean, dry place to spend some time or to spend the night. The American Red Cross set up a shelter in the First United Methodist Church Family Life Center on Sunday evening and plans to keep it open as long as people need a place to stay. The Family Life Center is located on Elm Street, behind the main church building at 100 McGaughey St. Families who plan to spend the night are asked to arrive by 11 p.m...
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Insurance companies swamped with storm damage claims
(Local News ~ 05/06/03)
Local insurance agents faced a storm of phone calls Monday as homeowners began reporting damage from tornadoes, strong winds, heavy rains and hail. Ron Butcher, a sales agent with Bradshaw and Company Insurers, said his office was flooded with claims -- once they brought in a generator to restore electricity and phone service. Butcher said he believed the agency averaged 10 calls an hour beginning at 8 a.m. Monday...
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City unable to close Finley floodgates
(Local News ~ 05/06/03)
Disasters, by their very natures, have unintended consequences. Anita Hensley, head of the Dyersburg water department, found that out the hard way Monday morning when she discovered the Finley floodgate protecting the south side of the city from the floodwaters of the Forked Deer River were open and could not be closed. As torrential rains poured into Dyer County Monday night, there was nothing to do but wait and hope the flooding would be minimal...
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Local man found dead in Obion River
(Local News ~ 05/06/03)
A Dyersburg man who had been reported missing since Thursday was found dead and floating in the Obion River on Sunday night. The body of Jonathan Greer, 20, has been sent for an autopsy in Memphis. Dyer County Sheriff Jeff Holt said the cause of death is undetermined and the investigation remains open...
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Returning electric system to normal will require months: Williamson
(Local News ~ 05/06/03)
Though all Dyersburg Electric System customers should have power restored today, it will take months to return the local electric utility to normal operation, its manager said this morning. "We made some pretty significant progress last night," Jimmy Williamson said. "We should get Lake Road, Forcum and Christie Street back on today."...
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Damages to Dyersburg High could reach $6 million
(Local News ~ 05/06/03)
An exhausted Lloyd Ramer, superintendent of the Dyersburg City Schools, sat in the darkened office of Dyersburg High School Monday morning making a list of the damages to the facility caused by Sunday night's tornado. It was a long one -- and growing...
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'Together We Attack'
(High School Sports ~ 05/06/03)
Mother Nature obviously isn't a sports fan. Among the thousands of people adversely affected by Sunday's tornadoes was Dyersburg's athletic community. The Sportsplex at Dyersburg High School was gutted, its interior visible to everyone outside the school. Water stood on the hardwood floor, pink insulation hung from the walls and the metal roof of the building lay on the ground on the other side of the building...
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Local athletics rocked by tornadoes
(High School Sports ~ 05/06/03)
Dyersburg High School athletic director Terry Glover was the first school official to see the sportsplex at the rear of the school after it was struck by a tornado Sunday night. His initial reaction was amazement. Apparently, a tornado skimmed the top of the structure stripping away the metal roof and creating such an intense vacuum that the east wall collapsed inward, scattering brick and concrete across the basketball floor...
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Mary Faye Vaughn
(Obituary ~ 05/06/03)
Mary Faye Vaughn, 73, of Tiptonville, died Monday, May 5, 2003 at Dyersburg Regional Medical Center. Funeral arrangements are incomplete and will be announced by Dyersburg Funeral Home.
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William Walton
(Obituary ~ 05/06/03)
William Walton, 90, of Lenox, died Monday, May 5, 2003 at his residence. Funeral arrangements are incomplete and will be announced by J.W. Curry & Son Funeral Home.
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Leslie Gwen Williams Jr.
(Obituary ~ 05/06/03)
Leslie Gwen Williams Jr., of Caruthersville, Mo., died Saturday, April 26, 2003 at his residence. He was owner/operator of Metal Fabrication Factory and former CEO of Colson Corporation in Caruthersville. Services were at 10 a.m. April 30 at Bob Hunt Funeral Home in Cave City, Ky. Burial was in Cave City Cemetery. H.S. Smith Funeral Home in Caruthersville was in charge of arrangements...
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Thelma Dodson
(Obituary ~ 05/06/03)
Thelma Dodson, 82, of Trimble, died Sunday, May 4, 2003 at Union City Manor. She was a retired employee of Trimble Manufacturing and a member of Trimble Assembly of God. Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. today in Rutherford Cemetery with the Rev. Bill Parks officiating. Johnson Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements...
Stories from Tuesday, May 6, 2003
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