Little Axe: Healing process is underway...

By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com

I had read about the reports about what had happened to the Little Axe community. I had seen the pictures. But once I was out there myself Thursday morning – that’s  when it hit me.

I kept thinking ‘well, that looks like a football field, but it doesn’t have a scoreboard, bleachers or lights.’ Well, yea, that’s just some of the damage the May 10 tornado did to the school.

For me, the most gripping part was seeing that single beam still standing where the home bleachers used to be. Everything else is gone, but that one beam remains.

The field house is a mess, the coaches’ office is really bad, too. Head coach Jason Wheeler said it best: “It used to be beautiful back here. We have a long way to go.”

The kids, to their credit, are trying to return to normal. That is, of course, easier said than done. What I saw Thursday was solid intensity, though, from those kids.

The Indians have come a long way in football and have earned the respect of teams across the state. This is just another challenge.

I’ve had some people wondering how they can help, you can contact Little Axe athletic director Paul Elkouri, and he can direct you where to go. Paul’s e-mail address is: pelkouri@littleaxe.k12.ok.us.

Here’s a part of the video with senior-to-be leader Robby Dryden. Some of the audio was too windy to be salvaged where he was talking about May 10 in particular.

And if you didn’t read it, here is my piece in Sunday’s paper.