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VOL. 142, NO. 12

DEXTER LEADER
75
THURSDAY, MARCH 22, 2012
New volunteer hub at Creekside Mounted deputies ride to the rescue Families regroup at Wylie Community Pool Officials talk about the tornado that hit Dexter Tornado in Dexter Dexter-Pinckney Road damage scene Dexter-Pinckney Road still off limits Huron Farms resident talks about tornado Weather wrecks Central Street properties Tornado strikes Dexter Cars turned around at village entrance

THE

Check out our video coverage:

Dexter unites after tornado strike

By Sean Dalton and Erica McClain
Heritage Media

REBOUNDING
lage would bounce back. emotions, theyre also readying This is a special community, themselves with government he said late that night. Well get tasks. through this. Weve been able to focus on That sentiment is felt all over helping with the property damfrom the Huron Farms subdiviage, Keough said, adding that sion to he has a Carriage five-page Hills and list of dameverywhere aged or in-between. destroyed We homes in know the the village. VILLAGE PRESIDENT SHAWN KEOUGH force of Its five nature is pages typed strong, but single line the force of Jesus love is stron and in some cases there are ger, said Father Brendan Walsh homes that look fine on the outof St. Joseph Parish during last side that have drywall damage Sundays service. on the inside that arent on this Village President Shawn list, Keough said. I dont know Keough reiterated how blessed if well ever truly know. he felt the community was that Paul Cousins said he is lookhuman casualties werent part ing forward to the Councils next of the situation. meeting, 7:30 p.m. March 26, and While Keough and village offi- discussion to see what was done cials are still dealing with heavy right and what could have been

In their own words:

I looked that way and saw the entire top of a house missing and I thought, were those people on the news.
Courtney Johnston Huron Farms resident

fter a powerful EF3 tornado devastated portions of Dexter Village and Dexter Township, ofcials and the community at-large are looking forward to rebuilding and moving forward. It is the material loss that we can survive, said Ron Gelaude, religious leader at Connexions Church of Christ on Sunday. We can see this process already beginning. And a cord of three strands is not easily broken, Gelaude added, quoting Ecclesiastes 4:12. Those strands represent three things: church, community and the congregation, Gelaude said. Even just hours after the tornado hit the afternoon of March 15, Village President Shawn Keough was confident the vil-

This is a special community. Well get through this.

done better. I think weve done pretty well, Cousins said. Im sure there were things that fell through the cracks but most of it has been done really well. He said that the early warning system that worked so well in the village, didnt seem to be as effective with the residents in Carriage Hills and other areas around Dexter-Pinckney Road. Cousins said that one of his goals is to introduce a measure on Council to expediently replace trees on village public property and easements that were toppled by the storm. Im looking forward to bringing that forth, Cousins said. Some of the trees we lost are 60 to 80 years old. If we plant them now they wont make as much of a difference in my life or my childrens lives, but maybe my
PLEASE SEE REBOUND/3-A

My son asked me, Does God create the weather? and Why does God create tornadoes?
Roger Wondrash Huron Farms resident

When I got into disaster services, it never occurred to me that I would be doing this in my home town.
Christy Harvey American Red Cross

Its kind of a wake-up call that this can happen anywhere at any time.
Brad Barbara Resident

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Volunteers and help still needed

caused. The Dexter Leader has assembled information for those who need assistance or those who would like to give to others or assist in cleanup efforts.

any groups have stepped forward to help Dexter residents affected by the devastation the tornado

Ways to help:
United Way of Washtenaw County has established the Dexter Area Tornado Relief

Fund to assist those affected by the damages with 100 percent of funds collected going directly to help long-term recovery efforts. The fund will provide resources to those needing assistance in the weeks and months ahead. To support these effort, visit www. uwgive.org and click on Dexter Area Tornado Relief Fund. All 15 Buschs Fresh Food Market locations are asking customers to round up their grocery order total with the difference going to the Dexter Disaster Relief Fund through the Salvation Army.

LaFontaine Automotive Group and Chelsea State Bank have established the Dexter Relief Fund as well. To donate food, water or supplies, bring them to LaFontaine Chevrolet, 7120 Dexter-Ann Arbor Road in Dexter, which is just south of the Huron Farm subdivision. To donate money by credit card to the fun, call any locations directly, LaFontaine Chevrolet, 734-426-4677, and LaFontaine Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram, 734429-9431. Lake Trust Credit Union is collecting funds to support

relief efforts of The American Red Cross, Washtenaw-Lenawee Chapter at all of 21 branch locations, in addition to making a $2,500 corporate donation March 17. This really hits close to home, as we have many members and staff who we see every day and know well, who live in this community, said Danielle Brehmer, vice president of Marketing at Lake Trust. Our main concern is to reach out and help in whatever way we
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