CD: Change, often stormy, marks decade

DISPATCH STAFF REPORT

From triumph to disaster, the area has seen its share of headlines that still have impact.

Many have earned the area national attention — for both the good and the bad.

Here’s a look at some of the biggest stories of the past decade.

Ravaged by storms

In the past 10 years, Lowndes County alone has seen multiple storms and continues to recover from their wrath.

In January 2008, an F3 tornado tore a vengeful path through Caledonia, leaving leveled houses, school buildings in rubble, twisted metal and broken glass in its path.

Workers and concerned neighbors rallied around the town to help in recovery efforts.

While many have repaired or rebuilt, including Caledonia schools, others still have yet to reclaim their Caledonia homes. Caledonia Church of Christ, which was left as nothing more than debris, has been rebuilt, bigger and better. And Lowndes County School District continues construction on a combination band-art-vo-tech building, along with a new middle school gym.

In February 2001, straight-line winds tore across Lowndes County from Mayhew to Columbus, knocking down walls and destroying mobile homes, houses and an apartment building, and left behind $11 million in damage.

In November 2002, a string of tornadoes traveled across Lowndes County, leaving home after home in ruins and one person dead. The storm also devastated the campus of Mississippi University for Women, which has continued to rebuild over the years.

Read complete article at Commercial Dispatch.