Survivors of the Winter Blast

Well, hello there survivors of the now infamous "Winter Blast". Two weeks and we are still cleaning up and fixing up. The sounds of heavy equipment and chain saws still resonate, but the constant hum of portable generators has pretty much ceased, at least in town. I don't think I can say we are back to normal, but we have certainly come a long way.

We can't say enough about Entergy and Clay County Electric. Before the roads were even passable, they had crews out clearing poles and limbs from everywhere and once the roads were clear, there was an army of trucks all over town. They came from Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi and just about everywhere. They were trimming branches back from the wires, setting new poles and stringing cable. They were everywhere. You couldn't get anywhere for all the vehicles all over town.

Of course there was an army of the army in town too. Our National Guard was here with our own fire department and Rector Police Department checking up on us all to make things as livable as possible. and helping with transportation and supplies. We all owe a debt of gratitude to our city government for their farsightedness in purchasing those generators a couple of years ago. They meant our water supply wasn't disrupted and the Community Center could be used for shelter and food for many.

Centurytel too was all over the place as soon as they could get in. I, of course recently switched my phone to Newwave with my cable and internet, so I am still unreachable. Yep no phone, no internet, no television except for the tiny battery operated portable which won't work after "The Big Switch".

How many of you took advantage of the warmth of the Community Center while the power was out? I hear we fed more than 1000 people a day down there. That's half the population so I am sure a lot of your were there. Chappy even made a visit. You know, Chappy is the Akita that lives with Gayla Bishop out at Hargrave's Corner. As there was no activity at the gin, I suppose he got bored and took a walk into town and hung out at the community center for a while. Then someone loaded him in their car and gave him a ride home. I think it's time we made him the official town mascot to go with his many other titles, like, the unofficial mayor of Hargrave's Corner.

We said good-by to Faye Whittaker this past week. She was one of those first people I met when we moved here who made me feel so welcome. A pretty and kind lady.

A friend of mine who lives in San Diego and reads our paper on line was very impressed with the articles on the storm and it's results. She commented on the way everyone seemed to pull together to help each other through. She loved the article about the long haul trucker from MN. San Diegans have no idea, of course what an ice storm is, but she says the pictures helped. They think an ice storm is when the ice maker in the freezer goes berserk and throws ice all over the kitchen. They do understand about power outages, however and she sympathizes.

I want to say thank you to Sigsby Insurance for their prompt response to my claim and to Sheila Dale for her offer of assistance in getting my email. Also Perry Morrisett and his crew have been a life saver for me.

I am going to end this for this week. Keep sending me the emails and trying to call. I do pick up messages and hope to have services soon. And, of course the postman has risked his safety all along to keep the mail coming. Let me hear from you. My address is 514 West 3rd St. Phone: (870) 595-3173 and email: porchswing@newwavecomm.net.