SPARTA, MO — Power outages, debris, damage and loss followed an overnight storm early July 31 that left thousands of Christian Countians and nearby Greene Countians without power. In Sparta, the grocery, convenience store and pharmacy were affected. For pictures of storm damage in Ozark, check here. For area storm news, check here.
Manager Chris at Town & Country Supermarket in Sparta said the power went out around 2:30 a.m. and wasn’t restored until around 2:30 p.m. Because of the outage, the store had to claim all ice cream, dairy, eggs, and meat as a total insurance loss. “We had to close most of the day,” Chris told the CCT. “It’s been quite a day,” he said, but added on a cheerful note, “At least our pizza isle was okay.”
Good ole small town folks, always thinking on the bright side! That’s what makes living in Christian County so wonderful, even in the midst of a summer storm!
Chris recalled a similar situation happened 8 or 9 years ago, also the result of a storm.
Casey’s General Store
At Casey’s General Store to the west of the supermarket, an employee said the gas station/convenience store lost power for several hours and consequently, Casey’s wasn’t open until afternoon. However, the employee said frozen items were salvaged and taken to another store in Ozark.
The Casey’s on the east side of town remained open during regular hours without power loss.
Phillips Pharmacy and Hardware
“This has been one of the most difficult days of my life,” Libby Phillips, pharmacist at Phillips Pharmacy east of Town & Country told the CCT. For starters, the storm knocked a tree over on her and her husband Calvin’s rental home. The newly framed home they are having built for themselves got flattened by the high winds. To top it off, the computers went kaput at the pharmacy most of the day. “We were open a few hours, but couldn’t get much done,” Libby said. But, she and Calvin added, “it’s all covered by insurance.”
“All in God’s timing, not ours,” Libby stated on her Facebook page above photos showing the framed house and the flattened house yesterday vs. today. “Thankful that no one was hurt.”
Good ole small town optimism again!