STORM HIT ADVANCE HARD

ADVANCE -- A mid-afternoon storm Monday whipped up a sandstorm in the Dexter area and slammed hard into Advance, knocking down walls, tearing off roofs and making potential firewood out of trees throughout the town.

There were no reports of injuries resulting from the storm, but the entire town appeared without electricity after the storm blew through the area -- en route to other communities stretching to Cape Girardeau -- about 3 p.m.

With most of the students in the Advance School District buildings gathering in pre-designated areas, others were trapped on the ball field when a dugout collapsed. There apparently were no injuries and the Dexter Fire Department's Extrication Unit after first being dispatched was called back when it was learned the students had gotten out of the dugout.

The storm severely damaged Brian Bess Auto Sales, located along Highway 25 on the southern edge of Advance. The concrete block structure lost its back wall and much of its roof.

Trees were either snapped off or uprooted throughout the town and limbs littered yards in virtually every block.

Dexter and Bloomfield were spared serious damage.