FATHERS DAY IS SUNDAY

Father's Day was founded in Spokane, Wash., at the

YMCA in 1910 by Sonora Smart Dodd. Its first cele-
bration was in the Spokane YMCA June 19, 1910. Her
father, Civil War veteran William Jackson Smart, was
a single parent who raised his six children.

www.thelickingnews.com

News
The

L icking
Lightning strikes disable businesses
THURSDAY, June 13, 2013 N ews 50
Includes Tax

Shorts
Breast cancer
By Durga Walker
Staff Writer
durga@thelickingnews.com

Thunderstorms in the wee

support group
to meet
There will be a Tickled
Pink breast cancer support
group meeting on Mon.,
June 24. Deborah Belt-
Kell, professional counselor
at Texas County Memorial
Hospital, is facilitating the
support group. The meet-
ing will be held in the edu-
hours of June 1 played havoc
with businesses in down-
town Licking, frying phone
lines, routers and switches
up and down Main Street.
A representative from
CenturyLink told The
Licking News last week that
the situation did not appear
to be the result of an outage
but rather of a lightning
strike that damaged equip-
ment.
As it turned out, he was
right.
According to Corporal
Mike Hood, at 2:17 a.m.
Saturday, the officer on duty
was sitting in the office
working on reports when
there was a loud boom and
white lights.
Officer Brian Allgire
actually happened to be on
the phone, and that call was
knocked off, said Chief
Scott Lindsey. It was clear-
ly lightning, and it might
have hit the tower, but were
not sure. The officer thought
it could have hit the tower or
somewhere close by. There
may have been multiple
strikes because there are
other signs of damage
around here.
The police antenna has
been damaged, but as their
radio is not working, no
repairs have yet been made.
Once the radios working, next to and including the
well get somebody up
there, he said.
The blast knocked out the
phone system at City Hall
and needed to be replaced,
along with one computer
and the fax machine, said
City Clerk Renee Keaton.
This caused their phones to
be down for one week, and
they lost the Internet for a
while, but they were back up
and running again by last
Friday.
The lightning affected
more than City Hall. All the
businesses south of the alley
then underground to the
news office were affected in
one way or another, on both
sides of the street, while the
businesses north of the alley
were not, with the exception
of Tonyas Treasures, which
lost its credit card machine.
Directly across from City
Hall, Fox Funeral Home
seems to have gotten the
brunt of the excess power.
We lost our modem and
our router, but we also lost
our water pipe, said Foxs
Gary Hassel.
The lightning must have
traveled down the tower and
galvanized pipe, Hassel
said, which apparently
exploded. Later on, during
Rodeo Saturdays festivities,
water could be heard rush-
ing beneath the building like
a river.
See Lightning Page A12

New U.S. rep from neighboring Salem

cation room at TCMH at
5:30 p.m. The meeting is
open to anyone who has
had or is currently seeking
treatment for breast can-
cer. No reservations are
required. For more infor-
mation, contact Kell at 417-
967-1322.
Porter first
team all-state
After a successful season,
which included a 16-5
record and the first con-
ference championship since
2005, four Licking Wildcat
baseball players have
earned MHSBCA All-State
recognition for their indi-
vidual efforts. Senior
Wyatt Porter was chosen
to the first team as an out-
fielder for the second year
in a row after hitting .480,
with three home runs and
45 RBIs. He also scored 37
runs and stole 17 bases.
More on the story, A6
Montauk hosts
open house
The Department of
Natural Resources hosted
an open house Saturday at
Montauk State Park. The
annual event is sponsored
by Missouri State Parks
and the new format
G-ma Pams
Rack Pack to
race for cure
By Skyler Huff
Staff Writer
On Saturday, June 15, G-
ma Pams Rack Pack will be
participating in the 15th
Annual St. Louis Susan G.
Komen Race for the Cure.
The group of 38 members
has several options for the
race: the 5k competitive
run, the 5k untimed run or
the one-mile walk.
Besides participating in
these events, the team will
be donating funds they
have raised in the past cal-
endar year to the Susan G.
Komen Foundation, which
helps women in the St.
Louis area with cancer
treatment and offers free
mammograms.
Eight years ago, in 2005,
Licking resident Pam Photo by Ginger Smith
Submitted photo Creech battled breast can- G-ma Pam (Pam Creech) is
Newly elected 8th District Representative Jason Smith was sworn in by Speaker of the cer. After winning her bat- all smiles as she holds grand-
House John Boehner June 5. From left, Bill Smith, Jasons father; John Boehner, speaker tle, Creech decided that she daughter, Jaylynn, at
of the house; Mary Smith, Jasons mother; Jason Smith; Hannah Kelly, Jasons girlfriend; wanted to be a part of Race Lickings Rodeo Saturday.
Michelle Colbert, Smith campaign staff; and John Diehl; Missouri House majority leader. for the Cure. Both are wearing this years
In 2006, Creech and G-ma Pams Rack Pack
daughter, Kassi Smith-

Smith follows dream

allowed visitors to just stop shirt, sponsored by the
Ramsey, went to St. Louis Fender Mender, which is
by for a visit and ask ques- and participated with the owned and operated by
tions about future plans team of a family friend. Pams husband, Mike.
for the park. More on The event had a huge

to Washington D.C.
the story, A3 impact on them, and the miles in the distance.
following year Creech and Survivors of breast cancer,
Ramsey founded their own those who are still battling
Deaths teamG-ma Pams Rack the disease, family and
Tennie (Holmes) Pack. friends, and people ranging
Hendrickson By Allyssa D. Dudley the same fortitude that got him through Being at Race for the in age from small children
Staff Writer his congressional race. Cure is a feeling you cant to the elderly are present.
Esther Lavern allyssa@thesalemnewsonline.com A lot of people doubted him, but he was describe. The atmosphere Its a massive crowd of
(Hutsell) Richardson tireless. To be a congressman at 32, the sky is amazing. Everyone is pink.
Salem native Jason Smith won the June is really the limit for him, Parker said. celebrating and present for Along with Creech and
Raymond Leroy 4 special election in a landslide, making Campaign volunteer and friend a good reason, said Ramsey, Gary Hassel,
Stilley him the next representative for the 8th Marybeth Patrick, Salem, said that in high Ramsey. Ginger Smith and Gloria
Jimmie Ray Congressional District. school Jason expressed an interest in We wanted for local fami- Schembra (who also sur-
Smith, the Republican candidate, got becoming a legislator. She and her hus- ly and friends to be able to vived breast cancer) were
Walker 67.1 percent of the vote and will take Jo band, Adam Patrick, were present when take part in such an awe- very active in helping to get
Ann Emersons vacated congressional seat. Smith was sworn in. some experience. The walk G-ma Pams Rack Pack
WEATHER He told a packed house at the Salem City He always wanted to do his, and to see him is always packed with peo- started, and it has been a
Tonight: 63 Hall Auditorium Tuesday night about his accomplish his goal was amazing, she said. ple, more than you can major success.
Friday: 83, partly plans to fly to Washington to be sworn in. According to Smith and his supporters, the imagine, streaming out for See Pack Page A12
cloudy We have been without representation real work is just starting. During his accept-
For up-to-date forecast see
for 134 days. Im going to stay up there ance speech Smith worked to gear the crowd Relay For Life well on way to goal
until the speaker of the House will swear up for what he framed as the fight ahead.
thelickingnews.com me in, Smith said. They will soon discover that Missouris Special to cancer survivors.
WEATHER COURTESY OF Smith boarded a flight the very next morn- 8th Congressional District will take a The Licking News By the end of the night,
GEORGE O. WHITE NURSERY ing with friends and family, bound for the stand against the extreme liberal agenda Relay For Life of Texas
Weather for 24 hour period prior Capitol. Longtime friend and business partner that President Obama and his allies are Texas County Relay For County had raised
to 8 A.M. on date shown. Clifton Parker, of Salem, accompanied Smith pushing on us. We wont apologize for our Life held their annual relay $28,961.45. They will con-
and was present when Speaker of the House conservative ideals, we wont back down event on Saturday, June 8, tinue to accept donations
STATISTICS John Boehner (R-Ohio) swore Smith in as from our rural way of life and we wont at the Texas County until Aug. 23 and hope to
Date High Low Prec Representative for the 8th District of Missouri. retreat to the corner when our freedoms Fairgrounds. Approximately reach their goal of $40,000.
June 5 75 54 It was amazing to see. I am really very are at risk, said Smith. 250 people attended the If you would like to donate,
June 6 77 58 .53 proud of him, Parker said. Heidi Kelly, Norwood, a three-time dele- annual event. you can visit www.relayfor-
June 7 71 52 Parker stated that he and Smith grew up gate or alternate to the Republican Every year, participants life.org/texascomo.
June 8 74 48 on the same street in Salem, went to the National Convention, and her family, help raise money to elimi- An Event Wrap-Up Party
University of Missouri together, and for assisted with the Smith campaign. Kelly nate cancer and to assist will be held on Thursday,
June 9 78 48 the last seven years have been business said she expects Smith to be ultraconserva- cancer victims while having July 11, beginning at 6 p.m.
June 10 75 59 .32 partners, owning area rental properties. tive on important issues, such as abortion. a great time. The honored The location will be
June 11 84 52 Parker said that as a child, Smith showed See Smith Page A7 guests of the evening are the announced later.

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