WEST LIBERTY —
Carter County officials traveled to the tornado-torn city of West Liberty Tuesday morning to offer their financial assistance with the ongoing effort to rebuild there.
Carter County Judge Executive Charles Wallace, who was among the first wave of county residents to respond to West Liberty after a tornado wiped out the downtown area earlier this year, recalled the devastation as injured people made their way toward toward lights on fire engines from West Liberty and surrounding communities.
“There was a lot of people who came in just cut all to pieces,” he said.
Wallace said it is difficult to guage the progress of the city’s clean up and renovation efforts, although he expected to see more progress than was apparent Tuesday morning.
“I was shocked not to see more going on,” Wallace said, explaining he was certain the courthouse and justice center in West Liberty would be priority projects, but those structures still have windows boarded up and tarps over damaged roof sections. City hall and convenience store have been rebuilt, Wallace added.
Bearing contributions from individual Carter County residents as well as a matching donation from First National Bank, Wallace said he was pleased to deliver “close to $27,000,” to the relief effort. The donation was made at First National Bank’s branch in West Liberty, Wallace said, with bank officials including Grayson bank president Willis Kelley.
“That made me proud to be a Carter countian,” Wallace said, noting the individual donations made by county residents during tough economic times.
TIM PRESTON can be reached at tpreston@dailyindependent.com or (606) 326-2651.
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