Tornadoes leave path of farm destruction
The tornadoes that ravaged South Georgia on Jan. 22, killing 16 people and leaving many others picking up the pieces of their homes, also left a trail of significant damage to farms in 16 South Georgia counties.
According to representatives from major irrigation system manufacturers, more than 300 irrigation pivots were damaged or destroyed in a stretch from Baker and Calhoun counties in the southwest corner of the state to Wilcox County just east of I- 75. Representatives from Valley Irrigation, Reinke Irrigation and Zimmatic Irrigation indicated repairs or replacements of the damaged pivots could be completed by early April.
In Cook County, in addition to the eight f atalities attributed to the storm, 21 greenhouses operated by Valdosta Plant Company were damaged or destroyed.
Tens of thousands of acres of forestland were affected, resulting in damaged timber valued at more than $ 41 million. Gov. Nathan Deal issued an executive order to temporarily lift restrictions on logging trucks using state maintained roadways to facilitate removal of storm-damaged timber.
Poultry houses were destroyed in multiple counties, including six at the Carpenter Farm in Worth County, where an estimated 150,000 birds were housed at the time of the storm.
Pecan orchards in at least eight counties sustained downed trees.
In Turner County, Ryan Ireland’s farm just north of Ashburn took a direct hit, destroying a shed covering his large equipment, some of which was damaged, destroying a barn built by his family in the 1930s and an adjacent 3,500- bushel grain bin. It also took down his two irrigation pivots, destroyed fences and blew out windows on tractors. The twister destroyed his family’s home.
“It’s heartbreaking,” said Ireland, 24. “I’m a beginning farmer trying to get started. I didn’t have much and now it feels like I’m having to start over.”
Farther northeast in Turner County, beekeeper Alan Odom was in his shop at Odom Apiaries working just minutes before the tornado reached his farm. Odom said he left his shop and drove to his home a quartermile away. He saw the tornado on the ground approaching the house and he went inside, where he and his wife Mary Jac hid in a closet while the twister pelted the house with debris and pebbles from an adjacent field, blowing out windows, overturning a propane tank outside and damaging the roof.
“There was a point in there where I thought I was going to die,” Odom said. “It’ll take us some time to recover from this. We’re just doing what we can to keep operating.”
The storm left extensive damage to his shop, ripping off portions of the roof and exposing his equipment to rain, and ravaging more than 300 honey boxes. His beehives, placed on surrounding farms, escaped damage from the storm.
Farmer Dan King, who farms land in multiple counties, had eight downed pivots, four tractors that sustained extensive damage and a block house at the edge of one of his fields completely destroyed.
In Wilcox County, GFB 8th District Director Don Wood lost six pivots, while Wilcox County Farm Bureau member Ricky Whittle sustained severe damage, losing five grain bins, seven pivots two houses and some of his livestock.
In light of what occurred in other counties, Wilcox County Sheriff Robert Rodgers said the county was fortunate.
“We had eight houses destroyed and 25 others damaged,” Rodgers said, “but we were really blessed we did not have the first reported injury. There is some serious destruction, but we were extremely fortunate to not have any deaths in the county.”
Need help coping with the stresses of life? The Calhoun Times is running this column detailing support groups in the area.
Volunteers make a wonderful difference! PruittHealth Hospice is looking for people of vision and empathy who wish to make a difference in their community one person at a time. As a hospice volunteer, you will receive training and support for your role in helping those with life limiting illness to have a quality of life during their last days. If you have a heart for others and wish to be of service, please contact Rickie Watters at 706-602-9546 or by e-mail at Rwatters@uhs-pruitt. com. Remember…you can make a difference for the good!
Families Anonymous is a 12-step program, for those concerned about drug abuse and behavior problems of a relative or friend. Completely anonymous, non professional, and non religious. No dues, no fees. Not connected with any hospital or agency. Located on Red Bud Road in plaza below Fitness First, next to Calhoun Counseling Center (Dr. Bledsoe’s office). Meeting every Thursday 7 - 8 p.m. Call 770-548-7849 for more information.
The Life Choice Hospice Bereavement Support Group will be meeting the 2nd Tuesday of each month. The support group is open to anyone in the community who would like to attend. The office and support group are located at 189 Professional Court, Suite 300, Calhoun. For Information, contact Jennifer at 706-602-9001. “Grief shared is grief diminished.” – Rabbi Earl Grollman.
BONDAGE BREAKERS - Breaking the chains of addiction one soul at a time. Every Thursday night at 7 p.m. at Crane Eater Community Church, located at 3168 Red Bud Rd Calhoun, GA 30701.
Daytime Al Anon meeting at 11 a.m. on Wednesday morning’s at Christ the King Lutheran Church on 623 S Thornton Ave, Dalton, GA 30720.
The Calhoun Pregnancy Center Inc., located on the corner of Peters Street and East Belmont Drive, is open every Monday, Tuesday and Friday from noon until 4 p.m. The center is also open each Thursday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday available by appointment only. Closed Wednesdays and Sundays. The pregnancy help center offers free pregnancy tests and Biblical lay counsel regarding abortion risks and procedures, development of the baby, adoption, sexual purity, and the risks of STDs. The center also offers practical helps for mom and baby with maternity and baby clothes, diapers and baby care products, and even some baby furniture when available. The center is pleased to announce that through its new project, “Baby Sleep Safely,” it will be offering new bassinets and cribs to loan out to parents in deepest need, returned and used again by more clients later. To visit the center, call 706-625-5768 to make an appointment. Walkins are always welcome during operating hours.
La Leche League of Calhoun and Rome offers free breastfeeding support and information. The meetings are open to all mothers (children also welcome), expectant mothers and women interested in breastfeeding. Calhoun location meets the second Monday of each month at 10 a.m. Rome location meets the third Tuesday of each month at 10 a.m. Leaders are available to answer questions. For more information, call Erin at 706-234-3980 or email at LLLCalhounRome@ gmail.com.
Do you have a family member or friend with a mental illness, such as bipolar, depression, PTSD, or schizophrenia? If so, the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) offers a FREE, 12-week course that is full of helpful information about mental illness. The Family-To Family course is termed a best practice and NAMI is happy to offer it for the first time in Dalton at Crosspointe Christian Centre, 2681 Underwood Street, on Sundays this fall. For more information and to register call NAMI Rome at 706-506-5010.
The Georgia Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association is sponsoring a monthly support group at Morning Pointe Assisted Living, 660 Jolly Road, on the third Tuesday of each month at 6 p.m. For more information or directions, call Mary Braden at 770-548-4683 or Karen Parrott at 706-346-5220. For more information about dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, call 800-272-3900 or visit www. alz.org/georgia.
Special Care Plus, a free one-on-one consultation program, offers education and information to primary caregivers of persons with dementia. Each caregiver will receive basic information on the different stages of the disease; tips on care giving techniques; home safety information; information about programs such as Medic Alert + Safe Return, which promotes wandering safety; information about local and telephone support groups, which provide emotional and educational support; and referrals to agencies and other resources. Any primary caregiver who is caring for a loved one with dementia in the home is eligible to receive this program. To learn more about the Special Care Plus program, call 800-2723900.
The Georgia LongTerm Care Ombudsman Program seeks to improve the quality of life for residents of long-term care facilities. Ombudsmen investigate and work to resolve problems or complaints affecting long- term care facility residents; identify problem areas in long-term care and serve as advocates for change; provide information about long-term care and related services; promote resident, family, and community involvement in long-term care; educate the community about the needs of longterm care residents; coordinate efforts with other agencies concerned with longterm care, visit long-term care facilities routinely to talk to residents and monitor conditions; and educate facility staff about resident rights and other issues. For more information, call Linda Ann Daniel at 1-866-5658213 or 706-272-2158.
The Alzheimer’s Association’s Caring Closet was created to help offset the high cost of incontinent products and give the families support they often desperately need. Once a month, family caregivers caring for their loved one with dementia still living at home visit the Closet and receive free items. If you would like to visit the nearest Closet, call the chapter office to receive a flier with locations and hours. Morning Pointe in Calhoun has a Caring Closet; call Mary Braden at 706-629-0777.
The Northwest Georgia Parkinson Disease Association, Inc. , is offering a monthly support group for persons living with Parkinson Disease, their caregivers, family and friends. The support group will meet at Gordon Hospital; Conference Room A. Refreshments will be served. There is no cost to attend the support group meeting. For any questions about the support group and future meetings, call James Trussell at 706-235-3164 or 706-346-5678.
Are you interested in losing pounds and inches? Join TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) for support and how-to information. Meetings are on Monday nights. Weigh-ins begin at 6 p.m., and group support and information starts at 7 p.m. at the Gordon County Senior Citizens Center, 150 Cambridge Court, Calhoun. For more information, call 706-847-3306.