Storm debris

Posted Thursday, April 28, 2011, at 8:27 AM

This came in too late to be added to our storm story in today's newspaper:

Eddie and Venita Carmichael of Flat Creek were monitoring amateur radio on Wednesday night, as storms ravaged the southeast and left debris in their lawn.

When they want to clean up, they discovered a tax return from Haleyville, Ala., near Cullman, apparently blown more than 100 miles by the storms.

"It just absolutely gave us the creeps," said Venita. The Carmichaels are Alabama natives themselves and immediately knew where Haleyville was and how far the debris had come. They also found a photo of a young couple, perhaps marking their engagement.

Venita Carmichael, who works for a local insurance agent, said she would urge any local residents to give a second glance to debris in their yards in case something else of value might have landed there. The Carmichaels plan to try to return the tax return to its rightful owner.

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Just got another call from someone with a similar experience -- he found a personal check and even a real estate yard sign, both from Alabama and both completely intact.

-- Posted by Jicarney on Thu, Apr 28, 2011, at 9:56 AM

... and a third call, although in this case the check was from Georgia. This caller had contacted a roofer to inspect her roof for damage, and it was the roofer who found the check.

-- Posted by Jicarney on Thu, Apr 28, 2011, at 11:19 AM

My mother was walking in our yard and found a 1099 tax form that blew here from Hackleburg, Alabama. That is about 150 miles from our home in Fairfield near Bell Buckle.

It was completely intact. How does a wet piece of paper survive in a blender for that long?

-- Posted by Nana2many on Fri, Apr 29, 2011, at 1:16 PM

I walked across my back yard this morning and picked up an old snapshot of a couple (man and woman, maybe mid 20's) sitting in a love seat-type rocker. It was made inside with a mural or tapestry hanging behind them with deer on it. By the type of photo paper and quality, and the appearance of the couple, it looks to be maybe early 70's era. There were no names on the back of it. Other than a couple of punctures in it, it is in fairly good shape.

-- Posted by ILoveRoses on Fri, Apr 29, 2011, at 5:55 PM

Is there anywhere in town taking donations to help the people affected by the tornados?

-- Posted by queen_lambtn on Fri, Apr 29, 2011, at 11:42 PM

I went to Dollar General this morning and I was asked if I would like to donate a dollar toward the victims of the tornadoes.

-- Posted by ILoveRoses on Sat, Apr 30, 2011, at 11:48 AM

I found a new paper clipping in my yard in Wartrace from the Franklin County Alabama Times dated Sunday May 25, 1986. It appears to be a engagement announcement. The tornado that hit Phil Cambell AL was in Jackson Co. and I'm guessing that is where this clipping came from. That is a distance of about 150 miles. At last count 26 people lost their lives in that County.

-- Posted by Farmer Bill on Sun, May 1, 2011, at 4:18 PM

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John I. Carney

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John I. Carney is city editor of the Times-Gazette.

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