Eclectic Observer
IVEY SEES PROGRESS, CHURCHES REGROUP, HOW TO HELP, MORE NEWS INSIDE
The
WEDNESDAY • JANUARY 23, 2019
TheWetumpkaHerald.com
Vol. 30, No. 3
Moving ahead
Willis: It’s time ‘to dream about Wetumpka’
#We2Strong: The true meaning of community
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By DONALD CAMPBELL Staff Writer
Following the loss of the senior center and heavy damage at police department headquarters, the Wetumpka City Council Tuesday approved replacing some of the equipment lost in Saturday’s tornado. After receiving quotes on what it would take to replace the three computers lost at the senior center and 18 computers at the police department, the council approved a cap of $25,000 to replace the computers and purchase auxiliary equipment needed to run them. Mayor Jerry Willis gave the council an See WILLIS • Page A6
Today’s
Weather
63 36 High
Cliff Williams / The Observer
A rainbow, above, appeared shortly after Saturday’s tornado destroyed much of Wetumpka, top.
ou cannot get used to seeing that kind of destruction — trees through windows, roads shut down, horrified looks on everyone’s face. This is not what you want to see in CCALEB A LE B your community. TURRENTINE I saw the same things in Sports Writer Tuscaloosa in 2011 and in Tupelo in 2014. I assisted in relief efforts at both of those places but Saturday’s tornado destruction was different. This is my town, my people, my community. The first few hours were spent in shock as I avoided downed power wires, held my breath See #WE2STRONG • Page A6
Church’s building destroyed but congregation still standing By CLIFF WILLIAMS Staff Writer
Low
THURS: HIGH 49 LOW 30
First Presbyterian Church has been a staple at the corner of Bridge and Main streets in Wetumpka. Saturday, the antebellum building came tumbling down in the EF2 tornado but not the church, whose influence has been felt in the community and beyond even before the steeple was built in 1856. Pastor Jonathan Yarboro said every church in the area invited the congregation to worship with them Sunday morning. First Baptist Church, whose buildings across the street were also damaged, also extended an invitation, but Yarboro politely declined all of them. “My gosh how are y’all going to have church tomorrow?” Yarboro said some asked. “I said, ‘What the hell is wrong with you? We aren’t going to have church, we are going to be the Cliff Williams / The Observer church like we have always been.’” See CHURCH • Page A7 Wetumpka’s First Presbyterian Church lost its sanctuary but the congregation still met Sunday.
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