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PAGE 10B - THE COMMERCE (GA) NEWS. WEDNESDAY. MARCH 19. 2007 Group Caught In Atlanta Tornado Would Have Normally Been At The Hard-Hit Westin Hotel Sometimes a little procrastina tion works out for the best. But for some tardiness in mak ing reservations, Dr. Joe Clark and his staff would have been in the Westin, the downtown Atlanta hotel at the epicenter of Friday night’s $150 million tornado. Clark, Cindel Eavenson, Michelle Wood, Donna Greene and Gerie Ann Akin saw enough of the storm as it was. Their dinner at Ted’s Montana Grill on Luckie Street was, unluckily, interrupted by the storm when suddenly the windows blew in. They were in town for the Hinman Dental Meeting, a con vention offering a trade show and continuing education opportuni ties at the World Trade Center. “We had ordered and were eat ing our appetizers when it hit,’’ Eavenson recalled. “We heard a loud burst of wind, kind of a roar mixed with a whistle. It got really dark, and we could hear it tap ping against the window. Then, all of a sudden a window blew in, hit the tables near us, then ping, ping, all of the windows crashed in.’’ They didn’t wait for their sal ads. The wait staff yelled for every one to run, so they all headed for the kitchen where they hunkered The aftermath: The Commerce group had been sitting at the table in the back right part of the photo when the tornado blew the window in on an adjacent table at Montana Ted’s Grill on Luckie Street. down, “just a couple of minutes,’’ until the storm was over. “Tables were turned over, debris was everywhere and food was everywhere,’’ Eavenson recalled. “You couldn’t see the floor for the glass. Everyone pulled out their Cindel Eavenson, Michelle Wood, Gerie Ann Akin and Donna Greene were at enjoying their appetizers at Montana Ted’s Grill on Peachtree Street Friday night when a tornado interrupted their meal. Then, they went back to their hotel, took to the basement in another storm warning and on the following day returned to Commerce — where they found still more threatening weather. Staff-Produced News Photos Available MainStreet Newspapers Inc. offers staff-produced photos from its five newspapers available for the ordering of prints online at its web site, mainstreetnews.com. Based in Jefferson, the company owns The Commerce News, The Jackson Herald, The Madison County Journal, The Braselton News and The Banks County News. Access to the photos catalogue is available from a button on the mainstreetnews.com website. There will be approximately a one-week lag time between the time photos are published and their availability at the online site. THE BEST OF TORO NOBODY KNOWS THE TURF LIKE A TORO DEALER cell phones and started taking pictures.’’ Miraculously, aside from a few minor cuts from flying glass, no one in Montana Ted’s was hurt. “It was so sudden,’’ Greene pointed out. “We looked outside and it’s raining. It was raining on the left side of the street and raining on the right side, but not raining in the middle. All of the sudden, you could hear the debris hitting the glass. About the time they were trying to get us into the kitchen, the glass broke. You didn’t realize what had happened until it was over. It probably didn’t last for 10 seconds, but it seemed longer.’’ “It was the scariest thing I’ve ever experienced,’’ said Wood. “I really didn’t know what it was, if it was a tornado. But we knew we had to get up and run.’’ The group left the restaurant and made its way back to their hotel — the Ellis on Peachtree — which was not damaged. The streets were covered with glass, virtually all car windows were broken out and there was debris everywhere. They decided it was time to go home; they never got the chance. Their rooms were on the top floor of the Ellis — located at the scene of the infamous Winecoft Hotel. “Two of the girls went down to check out,’’ said Eavenson. “They called us and told us to run down stairs, then they rushed us into the basement because another one was coming.’’ Eavenson and Wood ran down 15 flights of stairs and stayed in the hotel basement for an hour, ultimately concluding that they’d be better off to stay in their intact hotel than to try to get out of town through debris-filled streets. “I was just glad we weren’t in the Westin,’’ commented Wood, who is the reason they were not at the Westin. “We always stay in the Westin, I don’t know why I waited until the last minute to book. We’ve always been on the top of the side that got hit.’’ Not Over Yet The group was released from the hotel basement around midnight, and left early the next morning for Commerce — only to land in the middle of more tornado warnings and a freak and fierce hailstorm. Greene, who lives on Sunny Lane, says she and her family went back and forth to a neigh bor’s house where there was a basement much of the afternoon as Commerce’s warning sirens went off five times. Eavenson, who lives in the Millwood Station subdivision, said she spent most of the day in the basement. She reported “quarter-sized’’ hail in her neigh borhood . Jackson Now Has 'Mission' And 'Vision' By Angela Gary Jackson County leaders believe their county is in the “center of opportunity.’’ After three hours Tuesday morning discuss ing the county’s strengths and weaknesses, the Jackson County Board of Commissioners agreed on the following vision state ment: “Jackson County, the center of opportunity, is committed to creating and sustaining a quality of life that promotes family, busi ness and leisure living.’’ The BOC decided the “vision statement’’ would be used to guide how all coun ty business is conducted. It will be posted in all county offices and will be used to promote the county. “’Jackson County, the center of opportunity’ that is fabu lous to me,’’ commissioner Bruce Yates said. “... I think we’ve got some tremendous things today. I’m excited about it. I think it is great.’’ The commissioners also established a mission state ment. It reads: “We strive to provide innovative, progres sive and quality services to the people of Jackson County. We are committed to providing efficient, effective, respon sive and ethical service. We are open and accountable to those we serve.’’ The BOC also discussed ways to use the vision and mission statements to pro mote the county. A BANK THAT PUTS YOU ON THE ROAD TO FINANCIAL FREEDOM. "The gross horsepower ol these engines was laboratory rated by the engine manufacturer in accordance with SAE J1940. As configured to meet safety, emission, and operating requirements, the actual engine horsepower on these classes of mowers will be significantly lower. ""See retailer for full details. Now unbl March 31.2006 on qualified Toro equipment. No down payment required. Minimum finance amt is $400 and min finance charge is $1.50/mo. Subject to credit approval by GE Money. See dealer for complete details. Participation optional. 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