[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ohIVzIZLuQ[/youtube]
When more than 100 tornados touched down Wednesday in the deep south, they hit a little too close to home for a few Lake Highlands moms with kids away at college. Though all the former Wildcats appear to be okay, University of Alabama freshmen Bradley Paterik, Celeste Blanton and Judson Luther were on the Tuscaloosa campus when the F4 twister hit town.
“I have been thanking God since yesterday,” Gina Blanton told me, “because although the tornado came within 3 blocks of campus near her dorm, she and her friends are okay.”
Once the danger was passed, the kids stepped out to survey the damage. “The Taco Bell she frequents that reminds her of Lake Highlands – gone,” reports Gina. “The McDonalds is gone. The Walgreens is gone. There are blocks of homes, businesses, power lines that are no longer there. The death count is rising but the number of people injured and homeless is in the thousands.”
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Blogger CAROL TOLER and her husband, Toby, are the parents of four LHHS graduates. She has an MBA from SMU and is the proud recipient of the Exchange Club of LH's Unsung Hero Award and Councilman McGough's Blake Anderson Public Service Award. She received LHHS PTA's Extended Service Award, FMJH PTA's Charger Award and a Life Membership from the LHFC PTA. She has moderated candidate debates for Dallas Mayor, Dallas City Council and RISD Trustee races and taught seminars on garnering publicity for nonprofits. She completed training with Dallas Truth, Racial Healing and Transformation and Inside RISD, and she's a sustaining member of LH Women's League. She has served on the boards of After8 to Educate, Dallas Free Press, Healing Hands Ministries and Camp Sweeney and chaired fundraisers for multiple Dallas nonprofits. Email ctoler@advocatemag.com.
