Guthrie, others schools the day after the tornadoes
Guthrie superintendent Terry Simpson summed it up best: “It’s about what is to be expected.” What can you really say the day after something like Tuesday’s tornadoes?
It appears Guthrie was one of the places that got hit the hardest Tuesday, and Simpson said there was no way at all to accurately assess the damage. One of the school buildings still does not have power so that is making it increasingly difficult.
Here’s what Simpson did know: the weight room, the tennis storage facility and the softball scoreboard were destroyed. The softball field also suffered major damage. From the provided photo by Guthrie Sports Page’s Chris Evans, you can get an idea of just how bad it was.
“I’ve been here 17 years and never had anything like this,” Simpson said.
Guthrie called an impromptu school board meeting at 12:30. Simpson said Guthrie has canceled the final three days of school, but I’m not sure what else the board is going to address.
Other schools/places:
- Piedmont was OK for the most part, said softball coach Rick Scott. North of town was hit really hard, but the schools didn’t suffer any damage. Scott said had the tornado turned just a little bit that it would have been really bad.
- Newcastle suffered a lot of damage to its softball/baseball complex, said athletic director Donna Morris. Lost a lot of bleachers and a couple of light poles. Though not nearly as severe as the May 3, 1999 tornadoes, Morris said this was the most damage the schools had actually suffered.
