Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Cleanup Complete

BY JOHN MILLER

When the tornadoes ravaged Clark County on March 1, 1997, 10 homes were destroyed outside of Arkadelphia.

Another 15 houses were severely damaged with 30 or 40 more sustaining some damage. However, now almost 95 percent has been rebuilt, according to Clark County Judge Grady Runyan.

The rest, he said, do not plan on rebuilding.

Mobile homes, Runyan said, were not counted as part of the homes destroyed in the storms as many of them were in less than ideal condition.

Some 30 outside structures, such as storage buildings and barns, were destroyed and all have since been rebuilt.

The major area of the county still being affected in the aftermath of the twisters is the timber industry. Runyan said $4 million in damage was done to trees by the storms.

In following the path of the tornadoes, he said, all the debris has been cleared of timber. The trees have all been pushed into wind rows and will be burned later this spring.

The acreage left will be replanted with young saplings.

Discussing county roads and bridges, Runyan said the tornadoes didn't physically harm any. The damage was done in the aftermath when heavy equipment with steel treads was brought in for the clean up effort.

The downed timber stopped up a lot of streams and creeks, he said, causing them to back up and overflow their banks. This, too, caused damage to the county's roads and bridges.

Runyan said about $1.5 million in damage was done as a result of the storm to bridges and roads.

"The people outside the city (Arkadelphia) have done well,"he said. "They pitched in and worked together."

According to Runyan, many of those affected were able to get financial help from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the state government.

There were no building restrictions outside of Arkadelphia, he said.

Runyan praised officials from other counties for coming to Clark County's aid in its time of need.

He said five or six county judges came down, saw what had happened and sent crews to help clear away the debris and make sure the roads were passable.

Several county buildings were damaged by the storm, Runyan said, with the courthouse sustaining the worst damage. Other buildings harmed included the health unit, the library, the Clark County Detention Center and the extension service. In all, the insurance paid $1.75 million to help with the restoration process.

Runyan said with the exception of the courthouse the other buildings have been repaired.

The courthouse, he said, is still being repaired after much discussion.

At this time the job superintendent is about 30 days ahead of schedule, Runyan said. Inside work is being done first on the century-old structure, with interior studs being redone initially.

The judge said all inside wiring and plumbing will be new once the renovations are complete.

Once the renovations have been finished, he said, the courthouse will only house county offices.

The justices of the peace voted to build a court facility and attach it to the municipal building. This structure, he said, will be two-levels each at 5,000 square feet. It will house two courtrooms, one upstairs and the other on the ground floor.

There will also be an office for the circuit judge and his secretary.

The courtroom in the 1899 courthouse will be divided into office space.

In addition, all county records will be stored in the courthouse.

The basement, Runyan said, will be sealed, while a French draining system will be added to the structure, along with ductwork for a new heating and air conditioning system.

Once the interior of the courthouse is finished, he said, work will begin on the outside, primarily the roof.

When all other work is done, the clock will be repaired with new faces put in place. Runyan said the clock faces are ready at this time.

Once the courthouse is ready for occupation, the temporary courthouse will be dismantled with the buildings used for other things. One building, he said, will be taken to the fairgrounds, while another will be placed by the health unit for community meetings.