Wind, rain pounds county; damages fire station

By KEITH BODNARICK

Staff Writer

For the second time in two weeks, Putnam County was the unfortunate recipient of fluctuating winter weather patterns, resulting in significant wind damage, particularly in the northern end of the county.

A strong cell containing both heavy rain and significant wind gusts began moving across the area at approximately 9 p.m. Monday.

Initial reports of tornados in both Putnam and Parke Counties could not be confirmed, officials said, but devastating straight line wind gusts nevertheless took their toll.

In an interview shortly after the brunt of the inital front had past, Sherriff Mark Frisbie was able to confirm a multitude of storm-related damage.

In Bainbridge, the fire station suffered considerable damage, as the roof was ripped off the structure, causing the need for equipment inside the building to be hastily relocated to a safe area. At press time, that was thought to be the courthouse annex in Greencastle. As of midnight, crews were still trying to extricate a fire truck from the building.

In Roachdale, numerous trees and power lines were reported down, and small resulting electrical fires were observed.

At the intersection of U.S. 231 and U.S. 36, a power outage rendered the automated signal at the busy intersection non-functional. In that same vicinity, Sheriff's Deputy Denna DeLaCruz reported a utility trailer blown across the highway and lodged against a utility pole.

Locally, phone lines were reported down just north of Greencastle on U.S. 231. The areas of West Walnut Street Road and Walker Lane received the brunt of the damage, with trees and downed power lines scattered across the area.

Initial eports of automobile accidents in the Bainbridge area could not be confirmed when police searched the of CR 250 East.

A second line of storms that moved through the area about an hour later brought more rain, but no additional damage. Some flooding was reported in low-lying areas, and county highway crews were dispatched to clean up debris and clear downed trees.