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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2011-08-25, Page 11THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, AUGUST 25, 2011. PAGE 11. Many of us are thinking of friends and family in Goderich this week as they attend to cleaning up and trying to make sense of all that has been lost in a matter of minutes. The thunderstorm and accompanying tornado has obliterated much of the town. Many historic buildings andstores on the Square are damagedbeyond repair.My family and I arrived inGoderich approximately 20 minutes after the storm hit. We followed (at a great distance) the Lucknow Fire Department in from Carlow, wondering why so many emergency vehicles were being called in for a few downed trees. Little did we know that it was so much more than that. The damage all over town is extensive, as many will have seen from the photos circulating on social media sites and in the news reports. We were attempting to get over to South Street for Sunday dinner.Having to detour at most everycorner, we ended up travelling alongthe river bank and were witness tothe damage done to the former Volvo plant and the Sifto evaporator plant. Cars were lined up along the entire stretch of Maitland Road. Several walls are missing from Volvo and the evaporator plant could be equated to an enormous sprinkler. A half-hour drive through the back streets of town finally allowed us to get to our destination. The damage we surveyed was nothing compared to what the downtown core and those residing closer to the lake bank had sustained. The residents of Auburn send out thoughts of sympathy to the Laberge family in Lucknow for their loss. Norm Laberge was working at the Sifto Salt Mine when the storm hit and perished in an accident while loading salt onto a boat docked in the harbour. As of Monday at noon the Salvation Army in Goderich has advised that they are still assessing the situation and will not be accepting donations until they have completed their lists. They can be reached at 519-524-2950. The United Way of Perth Huron is accepting cash donations and can be reached at 1-877-818-8867. St. Vincent de Paul in Goderich will be accepting donated items such as clothing, non-perishable food, formula, animal supplies, shoes, diapers, feminine hygiene products, personal hygiene products, toys, blankets, pillows, etc. Heartland Community Chuch at 52 Victoria Street in Clinton will be accepting donations of clothing, personal hygiene products, plastic plates and cups, cutlery etc. Thechurch can be contacted at 519-606-1015.For those wishing to volunteer ithas been recommended to call 211 and leave your name, number and e- mail address. If anyone is trying to find friends or family they can contact the Knights Of Columbus Community Hall at 519-524-1832. In the wake of this devastation it is comforting to know that everyone pulls together to help out their neighbours. Congratulations to Erika Sturzenegger and Kyle Mero on their upcoming marriage on Sept. 23. A bridal shower for Erika will be held in Knox United Church on Wednesday, Aug. 31 at 7:30 p.m. Everyone is welcome. Anyone wishing to contribute can leave their donation at the Post Office. On Sunday, Aug. 28 there will be a joint service for Londesborough United and Knox United at Londesborough Church at 9 a.m. There will be no service at Auburn that day. Council Members of Ashfield- Colborne-Wawanosh considered further correspondence from the Playground Committee during their meeting held on Aug. 16 and has graciously donated $2,000 in benefit of the new equipment. The Auburn Playground Committee met with a representative from Play Power last week to go over options for new equipment. The APC is pleased to announce that the new equipment has been chosen and ordered. It is hoped that the new equipment will be in before the snow flies. By KoreenMoss 519-526-1060 kandkmoss@ sympatico.ca PEOPLE AROUND AUBURN NEWS FROM AUBURN Path of destruction The Snell family on Dutch Line were hit hard by the tornado that started in Goderich and made its way east, through Benmiller and seems to have dissipated somewhere near County Road 4. Aside from downed power lines and broken trees, the family’s more-than 100-year-old barn that has been in the family for four generations lost huge chunks of its roof as well as planks off the building. (Denny Scott photo) Auburn correspondent visited tornado ground zero Find bargains from our advertisers in the Deals section of our website at www.northhuron.on.ca