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The Massive EF3 Tornado was Approaching! … and a Bluffton man was left “speechless’
Bluffton’s Clyde Wireman, while on a Disaster Relief Mission to Tennessee last month, heard a story that left him so astonished that he was literally speechless after hearing it. On December 10, 2023, a fast-moving weather system was bearing down on Tennessee. Forecasts were for severe weather, maybe even some tornadoes. As the day progressed, the weather got worse and worse. Concern grew exponentially. Then, suddenly, a spate of tornadoes broke out.
Tornado sirens were blaring throughout middle Tennessee, including in Clarksville. A mother, with three young children in that town, not only heard the sirens but started to hear an almost deafening train-like roar approaching. She hurriedly gathered the children and rushed them into the bathroom in the middle of the trailer. The mother positioned the children lying down in the bathtub, then she lay over the top of them with her arms outstretched.
It hit.
A large tree fell on the trailer, splitting it in two. The trailer’s siding metal contorted every which way, and virtually all the house belongings, beds, other furniture, and everything, for that matter, was sucked out of the home and scattered for miles.
It stopped.
The only thing left totally intact in the trailer? The bathroom. No one had been harmed. Although the rash of tornadoes that day in Tennessee had claimed six lives and sent another 100 people to the hospital.
Mr. Wireman, who is a member of Bluffton’s Ebenezer Church, said the family in the trailer were “strong Christians,” and had crosses mounted on walls throughout the trailer, including several in the bathroom. He said when he heard the story, “…I was moved to profound tears.”
Incidentally, as the mother and children gathered themselves, one of the children asked if his mother had seen “the man”? “Who?” The mother asked. “I saw a man lying over the top of you, mom—with his arms outstretched too.”
Mr. Wireman said he still can’t get through telling the story without crying, even now.
This neighborhood in Clarksville had been decimated. Houses were destroyed everywhere, many big trees uprooted… It had been an EF3 tornado that hit Clarksville, with 150 mph peak wind speeds. (There had been seven tornadoes that touched down in middle Tennessee that day. And the tornado in Clarksville had been the deadliest, killing three and injuring 62.)
As part of a Samaritan’s Purse Mission, 10 people from Ebenezer had gone to Clarksville to help with the cleanup, and this group helped rehab some of the trailer homes (new roof, new siding…) that were only partially damaged.
Besides this trip, Mr. Wireman has been on other service-work, mission trips to Alaska and Kentucky (multiple times) in the past two years. That’s how long Mr. Wireman has been retired as an over-the-road truck driver – who had logged a phenomenal 6 million miles over 40 years.
But even though he’s retired from trucking, he said he has no intention of ‘retiring’ from God’s employ. He said he has always had a “…heart for (God’s) service,” and will continue on with this until he physically can’t do it anymore.
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Honoring National Crime Victims’ Rights Week with an Open House and Memorial Tribute
Crime Victim Services, located at 330 N. Elizabeth St. Lima, Ohio, will be hosting an agency wide open house on April 23, 2024 from 4-6, to honor “National Crime Victims’ Rights Week” which is celebrated this year during the week of April 21–27, 2024.
Our goal is to raise awareness through educating and encouraging members of the Allen and Putnam counties’ communities to learn how to help survivors and inform about the services and support provided by Crime Victim Services.
Following the open house, Crime Victim Services will hold a gathering at the Homicide Memorial Garden, in front of the CVS office. This will include a brief candlelight ceremony, a “moment of silence,” and a poem reading that honors and symbolizes the power of the human voice in seeking peace and justice.
This year’s National Crime Victims’ Rights Week theme is “How would you help?” to highlight options, services, and hope for crime survivors. The focus includes the importance of creating an environment in which victims and survivors feel safe talking about what happened to them. The theme “How would you help?” aims to ensure that everyone in a community knows where and how crime victims and survivors can find support including friends, family members, colleagues, neighbors, service providers, or other trusted members of the community.
As an agency dedicated to advocate for justice and compassion, Crime Victim Services is proud to announce its participation in Crime Victims’ Rights Awareness Week. This annual event serves as a crucial reminder of our collective responsibility to support and empower those affected by crime while championing their rights. In 2022, there were nearly 20 million crime victimizations in the United States. More than 6.6 million were the result of violent crimes, including rape or sexual assault, robbery, aggravated assault, and simple assault. Of that 6.6 million, only about 42% were reported to police.
Locally, Crime Victim Services (CVS) is an Ohio non-profit, United Way partner agency serving victims of unsolved, misdemeanor, felony, and juvenile crimes in Allen and Putnam Counties. In 2023, Allen and Putnam County (CVS) Advocates attended or accompanied victims and survivors of crime to Court Hearings and proceedings 4,619 times.
Crime Victims’ Rights Awareness Week is an opportunity for our community to come together to raise awareness, educate, and advocate for the rights and needs of crime victims. It shines a spotlight on the challenges faced by victims and survivors, while also highlighting the invaluable resources and support available to them.
For more information about our events and initiatives during Crime Victims’ Rights Awareness Week, please contact Gina Brun, Court Advocate Supervisor, at 419-222-8666 or gbrun@crimevictimservices.org
Throughout the week, Crime Victim Services will be hosting a series of events and initiatives aimed at fostering understanding, compassion, and empowerment for crime victims. These activities include:
- Awareness Campaigns: Social media campaigns and outreach efforts to raise awareness about the impact of crime on victims and communities.
- “How would you help?” Campaign: Promoting community awareness by participating in “How would you help?” campaign by encouraging community members to engage in the social media photo opportunities while holding a “How would you help?” flyer.
- Additionally, April 21–27, 2024, the week of “National Crime Victims’ Rights Week (NCVRW)”, some local businesses are supporting Crime Victim Services mission “How would you help?” Check out the following business and individuals that will have resources available to further educate and encourage others to join in making a positive difference.
- Our Town Roast (Specialized beverage)
- Joeys
- Sblended Nutrition
- Join Crime Victim Services in commemorating National Crime Victims’ Rights Week and let us reaffirm our commitment to empowering, advocating, and supporting those affected by crime. Together, we can work towards a future where every victim’s voice is heard, their rights are respected, and their journey towards healing is supported.
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Bluffton gets “mooned”
TBN photo/Cassie Donaldson
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Residents enjoy perks of Maple Crest Independent Living
By Joe Schriner
Bob McCurdy, and his wife Myrna, live in one of the Independent Living “villas” at Maple Crest in Bluffton – and they absolutely love it. They live on a cul-de-sac in the Maple Crest complex.
Bob said they value the freedom of not owning a home any longer. What’s more, there’s a camaraderie in the neighborhood that’s developed over the years. And, Bob added that the couple can also participate in the activities going on in Maple Crest’s main facility when they wish.
Bob said he is particularly impressed with the Mennonite Home Communities continuum of care across the four campuses in Bluffton.
“It’s really a progression of care all the way through death,” Bob continued.
What’s more, Bob said the demographic mix of people in the neighborhood is, indeed, a great thing. And in his particular case, he enjoys conversations with a number of retired academics, both from Ohio Northern University and Bluffton University.
With the Independent Living, Bob said he and Myrna are free to “…jump in our car and go to a movie anytime we like.” In fact, the couple had just returned from a trip to Europe.
To go back to the continuum of care, Bob said it’s been amazing to see the high level of attention, individualized-care, and integrated programming in each of the facilities. Besides being a resident, Bob has regularly volunteered in some of the facilities as well.
*Note: Bob retired as an Assistant Dean of the Ohio Northern University Pharmacy School several years ago, after some 20 years working there. What’s more, he graduated from ONU’s School of Pharmacy in 1965. He then went on to work in Student Services at the University of Hartford in Connecticut, then at Carnegie Melon University. After these administrative university positions, Bob went on to help with the start-up and development of the ParMor. Co., which became a nationwide chain of pharmacies. Then it was back to ONU in 1996.
Bob and Myrna McCurdy had nothing but good things to say, not just about the Maple Crest Independent Living, but about the full continuum of MHCO care throughout all four campuses in western Bluffton. (Submitted photo)
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