IVEY SEES PROGRESS, CHURCHES REGROUP, HOW TO HELP AND MORE INSIDE
THE WETUMPKA HERALD Elmore County’s Oldest Newspaper - Established 1898
Wetumpka, AL 36092 THEWETUMPKAHERALD.COM
WEDNESDAY • JANUARY 23, 2019
50¢ VOL. 121, NO. 4
THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE WETUMPKA Mayor says it’s time ‘to dream about Wetumpka’ 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 update on tornado recovery and damage. “We had up to 35 homes damaged or destroyed,” Willis said. “We had up to 15 commercial buildings damaged or destroyed.” Willis said programs at the senior center will resume next week at the Elmore County Hospital cafeteria. Due to heavy damage at the police department, Willis said law enforcement will temporarily use space in the city administrative building on South Main See MAYOR • Page A8
Cliff Williams / The Herald
A rainbow appeared Saturday shortly after the tornado hit as first responders worked to assess damage and clean up debris.
#We2Strong:
Church destroyed but congregation is still standing
The true meaning of community
By CLIFF WILLIAMS Staff Writer
Y
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 your community. I saw the same things CCALEB ALEB in Tuscaloosa in 2011 TURRENTINE and in Tupelo in 2014. I Sports Writer 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 around open gas lines and tried to find a way to do my job without seeming like I See #WE2STRONG • Page A7
Cliff Williams / The Herald
An EF2 tornado struck the city of Wetumpka on Saturday, and although it destroyed many area buildings and structures in its path, it did not destroy the sense of community the city has. The First Presbyterian Church of Wetumpka’s building was destroyed but pastor Jonathan Yarboro said that didn’t mean the church was gone. The congregation met Sunday despite having no building.
Today’s
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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 See CHURCH • Page A8
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