Published Monday, November 25, 2002
1985 tornado benefits Clark
Herald Staff Writer
The tornado victims in Clark got some unexpected help from those who have been there before.
The Wheatland Reconstruction Fund made a $5,000 donation to the Clark Relief Fund, Clark Mayor Douglas Bradley said Sunday. The reconstruction fund was started through a $100,000 grant from Wheatland Tube in 1985 after tornados devastated Wheatland and surrounding communities, he said.
The money was put into a relief fund for tornado victims, and Wheatland Mayor Tom Stanton offered some of that money to Clark, Bradley said. He said he was surprised by the donation.
"I think it's a great cause to help our municipality and to help other municipalities in the future," Bradley said. "We've had a lot of donations made."
As of Saturday people had given $20,700 to the tornado victims of Clark, Bradley said. "Isn't that great?," he asked.
Local radio personality Joe Biro encouraged WPIC listeners to donate money, and by Tuesday had collected $4,011 for the relief efforts, Bradley said. Donations from groups and businesses have also piled up. The Nov. 10 tornado destroyed about a half a dozen homes in Clark and caused damaged to surrounding communities.
Unlike other communities across the nation that were hit by the same storm system, Clark will get no federal disaster money to assist in the relief efforts, and there has been no word as to whether state money will be coming.
In the days following the storm, volunteers helped the Clark residents clear away the debris that was their homes so the rebuilding could begin.
This weekend two Adelphia maintenance technicians spent 24 hours on top of a utility pole at the entrance of the Shenango Valley Mall in Hermitage to raise awareness and donations for the residents of Clark. Salvation Army volunteers collected the money and food donations while the volunteers perched on the pole.
A benefit spaghetti dinner is set from 5 to 10 p.m. today at EZ's Tavern in Orangeville.