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From the West Alabama Newsroom–
Ten months after after the devastating January 12th tornado — two historic churches in downtown Selma — are finally starting to assess some of the damage — and make repairs.
The steeple — the bell tower — and the roof at Church Street United Methodist Church — were all damaged during the January 12th tornado.
A project to repair the damage is now underway.
Pastor Diane Everette says one of the main reasons the repairs have taken so long to get started — is because it wasn’t a top priority for the church — in the aftermath of the tornado.
“In the days after the storm all the churches were so busy trying to help the community and people recover that this kind of took a back burner to that,” said Everette.
“Crosspoint Christian Church daycare was destroyed. So we moved them into our educational facility,” said Cornerstone Presbyterian Church Pastor Steve Burton.
“Reformed Presbyterian Church here on Chestnut was leveled. And we moved that congregation into our chapel. Right now we’re in the middle of having some engineering assessments done.”
Meanwhile officials at Church Street UMC say the repairs there — should be complete within the next few weeks.
“I pray that this steeple is a beacon to people. And that they can see it as a reminder of God’s grace. And his goodness to us on the 12th,” Everette said.
No one was killed or seriously injured during the EF-2 tornado — that destroyed about a third of the city.