a nuisance

in Marion

By Michael Brooks

Special to the Times-journal

The long awaited Hurricane Dennis proved to be more of a nuisance than a threat in the city of Marion.

Strong winds felled a number of trees, but city crews were up early Monday morning with chain saws clearing roadways. Residents unable to go to work Monday due to power outages were busy in their yards picking up limbs and raking leaves.

Judson College again opened Jewett Hall as a shelter just as was done last September during Hurricane Ivan.

Some 40 residents populated the basement area on Sunday night when the worst of Dennis passed through the area.

The college facilities staff supplied mattresses from dormitories converting classrooms into motel rooms for the evening.

Jewett Hall itself suffered some water damage.

Facilities Director Ricky Clements said the water appeared to leak from the flat tar and gravel part of the roof.

Another casualty from the storm at Judson was the opening day of CrossPoint camps, sponsored by LifeWay Christian Ministries of the Southern Baptist Convention.

Several hundred middle schoolers were scheduled to arrive Sunday evening for the first of three weeks of camps, but LifeWay decided to postpone decided to postpone the first camp.

Parts of Marion lost electric power on Sunday, but most residents had power restored by late Monday morning, including Judson College.