By Martha Jacob
Cleda Weddle has been a volunteer at the Brown County Humane Society for several years and the last couple of years was coordinator of the Society’s annual yard sale which generated over $1,700 last year.
On Tuesday, June 25, what the weather authorities deemed straight line winds near Bardwell ripped through the area at 80 miles per hour. The high winds took down a large barn owned by Weddle and her sister Narsie Short.
According to a report from the National Weather Service in Wilmington, “ Damage was heaviest near the beginning of a track where a property on the North side of Bardwell West Road had a garage heavily damaged with roof removal and some wall collapse. Around this property there were a considerable number of tree limbs snapped and broken off and several trees pushed over.”
The NWS also reported more damage on Hillcrest Road and Greenbush East Road, where more tree damage was documented.
A weak tornado was also reported in Ripley by the NWS.
“Tree and shingle damage was found on Pearl Street, Kevin Drive and portions of Elizabeth Street. There was little to no evidence of damage up the steep river bluff above the village of Ripley, indicating that the tornado was lifting as it moved into the village,” said the NWS report.
Winds in the area were estimated at 75 miles per hour.
All the items which had been collected for the Humane Society’s 2019 Yard Sale fundraiser were inside the barn on Bardwell West Road in Mt. Orab, which lost its roof and all the items were exposed to the elements.
“It was just terrible to see that roof gone when I went out to inspect the damage,” Weddle said. “I was however relieved that the house next to it was okay, just receiving some roof damage.
“Our upcoming annual yard sale was scheduled for July 17, but that’s not going to happen. We have to go through all this stuff and repack it for a future sale.”
The Humane Society holds other events to raise money for the shelter, but the annual yard sale is at the top of the list for involving the community and raising money.
For several years the annual yard sale was held in a large barn in Georgetown located behind the Eagles on US 68, but moved to the Mt. Orab address a couple of years ago.
“We are talking with the people at the Eagles now, trying to negotiate moving back to their property barn some time in September,” Weddle said. “We hope to run the sale for a week. The more money we can raise the more we can help the animals at the animal shelter, especially the cats at the Lincoln House in Georgetown.”
Weddle said she hopes the community will continue to contact her about making donations or making arrangements to pick things up for the September yard sale. She will continue to collect right up until the event.
For more information on how to help support the Brown County Humane Society, the Lincoln House of be a volunteer at the Humane Society, Weddle can be reached at (937) 213-1746. The Humane Society is available at (937) 378-3457.