Tropical Storm Noel strands local couple in the Bahamas

On Thursday, Tropical Storm Noel became the deadliest storm of the Atlantic region this year. The storm drenched Cuba, and a record 15 inches of rain was brought to the Bahamas. The storm also stranded a Sikeston, Mo., couple at their vacation destination.

On Friday, Sonny Minor, former owner of Minor's Harley-Davidson in Scott City, received good news from his daughter, Michele Tumbleson and son-in-law, Danny. The message was relayed by Barb Minor, his wife, saying that the couple, who had been on vacation in the Bahamas, were doing OK and would be able to fly out of Nassau, Bahamas, to return to Lambert-St. Louis International Airport after a layover in Miami. The telephone conversation was a good sign, because previous communication between family members was limited to text messaging.

The Tumblesons, the current owners of Minor's, were in the Bahamas celebrating their seventh wedding anniversary Wednesday. They had won the trip from Harley-Davidson for outstanding business management.

"We were in Indianapolis, Ind., when we found out the storm was hitting them Wednesday night," Minor said. Short text phrases sent from the Tumblesons to the Minors received included: "were confined to our room," "will talk later if we can get through," and "it was a scary night."

cpagano@semissourian.com

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