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FRIDAY DAMAGE SAID CAUSED BY TORNADO

By Ray King/OF THE COMMERCIAL STAFF
Tuesday, November 3, 2009 10:40 AM CST

A tornado was the apparent cause of damage to the Walmart Supercenter on South Olive Street, a church and home on Ridgway Road and at least one home on East 52nd avenue late Thursday night and early Friday morning.

Karen Quarles, interim coordinator of the Jefferson County Office of Emergency Management, said she was notified Monday by John Robinson of the National Weather Service Office at North Little Rock that they had determined an EF-1 tornado had hit the area.

Robinson was on the road Monday and could not be reached for comment.

A spokeswoman at the weather service Monday said the EF-1 tornado traveled a path of 2.6 miles.

On Friday, police Lt. Bob Rawlinson said part of the roof at Walmart was damaged, the facade in front of the building ripped off and one person was hurt on the parking lot of the supercenter when the pickup they were driving was blown over.

Walmart reopened about 12:30 p.m. Friday, and a company spokeswoman reported the business had sustained some damage.

The steeple was blown over at First Assembly of God Church on Ridgway Road and a house across the street from the church was heavily damaged when a tree fell on it.

Quarles said officials also learned that several trees were blown down and at least one on a house at 405 E. 52nd Ave. received significant damage. That area is located behind the supercenter.

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