Storm damage

Van Wert County Emergency Management Director Rick McCoy surveyed two locations where damage was reported after Monday afternoon’s storms rolled through. The first location was at Pleasant View Baptist Church (above), corner of Ohio 49 and Foster School Road north of Wren. Construction of a new addition to the church had been ongoing and McCoy reported very strong straight-line winds entered the south side of the building, which was open from the construction, and pushed out the north wall of the building. A neighboring house also had a large pine tree uprooted. The second location was south of Jonestown on Ries Road, where a roof was ripped off a machinery storage shed. There was a Severe Thunderstorm Warning in effect for the county at the time and the highest winds that were clocked by the EMA was 51 mph. (photos by Rick McCoy for the VW independent)