Reports of Storm Damages in the Valley

PHENIX CITY, AL

*Alabama Power crews work to repair damage in Phenix City.

*Valley Lanes in Phenix City a bowling alley suffered major structural damage. Walls and Ceilings collapsed. Five people were rescued from inside. Thankfully no one was injured.

*News Leader 9 shoots video of a realor office, lawn service, transmission business, and homes that were damaged along Dillingham and Broad Street.

COLUMBUS, GA

*News Leader 9 captures daytime video at Lee Bayard Nursery. We documented a nursery truck that flipped over into the pottery stashes.

*We have daytime video of several Cedar trees around 13th & Peacock Avenue in Columbus. One family heard us telling people to take cover. We're told the dad scooped us his kids. Moments later, a tree crashed down just inches from where they had been. The same tree smashed the family's three cars.

*The Hardaway building in downtown Columbus was flooded by sprinklers that went off. All of the businesses inside are relocating.

*As Storm Team 9 went out to document damages, a tree falls behind our crew's car in midtown. Dave Platta captured the tree as it was falling.

*Georgia Power crews and Columbus Police work to restore power and traffic flow along Macon Road.

*Trees are down for much of the Lakebottom area- especially in the areas of near Wildwood, Peacock Avenue, 13th Street and 18th Avenue.

*A photojournalist captures images of damage at the Econolodge on Veterans Parkway in Columbus and of windows blown out at the RiverCenter.


The following are just called in reports: If you would like to report any damage please call the WTVM Newsroom at (706) 494-5458.

10:00 a.m: Residents in the Edgewood area believe a funnel cloud touch down toppeling big oak trees.

1:03 a.m: Reports tree is down on a house and car, chimney knocked off by a tree at Everhart Avenue and 13th Street.

1:01a.m: Debris on access roads on both sides of 280 Bypass -- including a mobile home blocking one of them

1:00 a.m: A CSU student at the Old Rankin Building in downtown Columbus says roof was shaking when storm was passing. The Old Rankin building was recently converted into dorms.

12:53 a.m: Owner of Jimmy John's on Macon Road says damage near the school administration building is "tremendous."

12:36 a.m: Seventh Street in Phenix City, AL -- 3 houses have trees through their roofs (near Bama Lanes)

12:31 a.m: Caller reports trees down on Wildwood Avenue (near Macon Road)

12:29 a.m: Dillingham Street Bridge -- house "shattered" at corner of Dillingham st./Broad St. -- People are being turned around at U.S. 431 and Dillingham St.

* Transformer down IN THE PARKING LOT of Alabama Auto Sales

12:25 a.m: Caller reports cars flipped over at Alabama Auto Sales on the 280 Bypass

* Sanford Road -- trees down, sheet metal down, firefighters going door-to-door

12:20 a.m: Power out along 11th Street and 13th Street downtown (first Avenue to Fifth Avenue) -- traffic lights out

12:18 a.m: Caller says power lines down on 280 Bypass in Phenix City, from Tate Furniture to Oglethorpe Bridge

12:17 a.m: 13th Street and 13th Avenue -- Columbus Police Department blocking traffic due to "power lines down" in the area.

* Hilton Avenue -- trees down

* Tenth Street and First Avenue (Downtown Columbus) -- light pole appeared to be down.

* 13th Street, between 10th and 13th Avenues -- some building frontage down.

* Reports of two mobile homes damaged at Jim Walter Homes (mobile home dealership) on U.S. 280 bypass in Phenix City.

Georgia Storm Damaged Homes and Businesses in Phenix City and Columbus

Heavy storms have knocked down trees and damaged several homes in eastern Alabama and western Georgia.

The National Weather Service received several reports of possible tornadoes and funnel clouds late Sunday and early Monday, but no touchdowns had yet been reported.

Emergency officials in Columbus told the Ledger-Enquirer that two people were trapped, but uninjured, after a tree fell onto the building late Sunday. Trees and power lines across the area were knocked down.

Tornado watches and warnings were issued for much of Mississippi, Alabama and northern Georgia as the line of severe storms brought high winds, hail and heavy rains.

Callaway Garden is offering Free Admission

PINE MOUNTAIN, Ga. - A west Georgia resort is opening its gates free of charge for the next two months.

Guests at Callaway Gardens won't have to shell out the $13 admission for adults and $6.50 ticket for children until March. Spokeswoman Rachel Crumbley said the move is to give visitors a little extra padding in their pocketbooks as the nation's economic slumps worsens.

Callaway Gardens opened in 1952 as a five-mile scenic drive. Today it is a sprawling resort with a golf course, rental cottages, miles of walking trails and acres of lush gardens.

Callaway Gardens also has a great vegetables garden, with all kinds of vegetables and a flower garden. There is a butterfly garden with different varieties of butterflies.

You will enjoy miles of walking trails or bike trails with beautiful nature , peace and quietness.Also a lake where you can swim and another to ride on the paddle boat.

Come and visit one of Georgia's great resort. Free Admission for these 2 months.

Callaway Garden's Annual Fall Festival

Callaway Gardens' annual Fall Festival kicks off this weekend with a
vintage auto show.

Hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday-Sunday now through Oct. 26 at the
Gardens, which is about 35 miles north of Columbus on Ga. 18. Tickets
are $13; $6.50 for children, ages 6-12; free for children ages 5 and
younger. Tax is additional.

Most of the activities are on Robin Lake Beach's West Beach.

The Monarch Butterfly tagging begins at 10 a.m. in Mr. Cason's
Vegetable Garden.

Mr. Cason's Great Pumpkin Patch is where families can go to pick out
a pumpkin. They cost $2-$7. Kids and adults can paint the pumpkins
under a tent.

The Georgia-Alabama antique car show is 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday and
Sunday and features 19 different car classes.

Barbecue is served both days from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Also, there will be
Spider Jumping and Rock Climbing.

Other activities include a corn maze, hay bale maze for smaller
children, the Family Vegetable Garden Scavenger Hunt, pressed flower
display, Junior Duck Stamp Art Exhibit, Coastal Gourd Sprouts Exhibit
and Sale, Birds of Prey show at 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 a.m. Saturday
and Sunday, story telling, an owl show at 3:30 p.m. both days, organ
concert 2-4 p.m. both days, chrysanthemum display, enchanted topiary
garden,

Lunch At Taj Mahal Restaurant

Instead of having Korean Food for Lunch at the Mandarin house with my new friend, Elizabeth, we decided to go for Indian food at the Taj Mahal.

Taj Mahal is the one and only Indian restaurant serving real Indian Cuisine in Columbus ,Georgia.
It is locate at 2009,Auburn Avenue,Columbus,Ga 31906. Tel: 706-568-9992.
Go on Macon Road, pass K-Mart, and turn right on Auburn Avenue. Located on a plaza, across from Freds.
Taj Mahal is closed on Monday, open everyday for Lunch from 11.30 am till 2.30pm and Dinner 5.30 pm till 10.00 pm.
They serve a Lunch Buffet with a small buffet line consist of White Rice,Briyani Rice,Chicken Masala,Aloo Mattar,Curry Beef, Chutney,Salad and some kind of Sweet Cheese Ball with Syrup.Also Chana Masala ,and Onion Bhajia.
And the waiter brings you a big pitcher of water and some Chappati Bread.

As you entered you will be wondering whether this is An Indian Restaurant or Chinese Restaurant.Despite the color combination of Indian Flavor, this restaurant is decorated with Chinese Decor, Chinese Ceiling , Chinese Lanterns and Painting. You see the story behind this, is this was a Chinese Restaurant before. The Famous China Star which was famous in Columbus many years ago. The new Indian Restaurant Owner decided to keep it as it was.

The food is not bad. I loved the Curry,Briyani Rice and the Roti but one bite on the Chutney turned Sour. It was so Sour,Spicy and Salty. I guess you have to mixed just a little with your rice or roti to eat it. Another thing is the CheesseBall, it was way too sweet. My sugar just ran high with one bite.

I understood that lunch buffet was $6.99 per person, but we did not ask how our che ck came up to $23.12 for 2 person. Something is missing here.

Beside Buffet, Taj Mahal also serve a variety of Indian Cuisine.

Briyani- Basmati rice cooked with your choice of shrimp, chicken or lamb.
Chappati- Thin Whole Wheat Rosted Bread.
Chutney- Pickle Vegetables, Sour, Salty and Spicy
Chicken Masala-Boneles Chicken cooked in Special Masala Sauce.
Chicken Kurma- Boneless Chicken with Yogurt,Nuts And Spices
Onion Bhajia- Onion Fritters served with Chutney
Vegetable Samosa- Crispy Turnover,deliciously filled with Mildly spiced ootatoes and green peas.

If you loved Spicy food, I recommend the Taj Mahal.

A Happy Birthday !!

Today is my birthday. I turned 48 today, well on my way to middle age now.
Half a century gone.
Not a big celebration but did went out to have lunch at the Golden Corral Super Buffet on Sunday with my friends and family.Ate too much.
Today I had breakfast at Dennys with my husband.
Just another peaceful and happy day and I am thankful for my health and family. For my loving husband and my two sons. Could not have asked for more. Be Content.

I had a few Birthday wishes from some of my great friends from my facebook.This is a great community and interesting site.MyFacebook

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To Las Vegas I go !!

My Sister-in-law invited me to join her on a trip to Las Vegas for the week of August 9th to 13th.She was going for a Merchandise Convention at the World Largest Merchandise Mart at Las Vegas Convention Mall. She already booked the rooms at Sahara, and I only had to purchase an air ticket.
I was undecided at first and I had to pay $100 more for my air ticket since I booked lest than 14 days . However I still got a very good deal, travelling on Air Tran, direct from Atlanta to Las Vegas. Only $405 with Taxes and a return ticket.
I departed from Columbus to Atlanta , travelling with Groome Transportation. So I do not have to drive and leave my car at Atlanta Airport ,paying for gas and parking fee. Groome only charged $31 for one way and $58 for two way. And they have 36 rides daily from Columbus to Atlanta Airport. On an airconditioned 12 passengers van. But on that day , they only have 5 passengers to Atlanta.
I left about 2.15pm , arrived about 4pm, checked in and waited for about 2 1/2 hours for my flight. Departed at 6.20 pm Eastern Time and I arrived Las Vegas at about 8.30 pm,Pacific Time.The airport was quite crowded.I had to wait for about an hour for my sister who departed from Montgomery ,Alabama, and transit at Dallas,Texas.
Checked in at The Sahara about 11.30 pm.

Bike Ride at Carver Park

It is a hot Sunday, we decided to ride our bikes at the park. It has been a very long time since I last rode my bike. As we aged, we need to exercise more. We loaded up our bikes on the truck and headed to Carver Park, off Sychtalga Road.
Carver Park is a very big park with Walking and Bicycle Trails, A lake where you can fish and enjoying the scenes of the Ducklings and Geese swimming .
There are a few Shaded Sheds, with picnic tables and a lot of barbecue pits. A children playground with swings and slide, and a basketball court.
There are a lot of pine and oak trees and I saw a few persimmon trees, with little fruits hanging.
The park is so quiet despite a few young guys driving with their loud exhaust and music. Fresh air and great nature with birds and squirrels.I was surprised that not many people were down there.Maybe more in the morning and evening.
We rode for a few laps ,about 3 miles and headed for home. But our truck won't start, something wrong with the fuel pump. Managed to drag the truck halfway and I have to ride the bike home and brought another vehicle to pull it back.
Wow, it was a real sweaty day.
I encourage you to go walk or ride in the park or bring your family for a picnic.
There is no fee charged .It is not too far from town, you will enjoy the serenity of the park. Carver Park of Columbus.

Saturday's Dinner at TGIF

TGIF on Saturday. I asked for a night off from work, since it was after the 4th and business is not that busy. We decided to eat out . Have planned to go to Cheddars but when we arrived , the line was so long. Then, about to go to Red Lobster but we could not find a parking space. I could not believe all these restaurants were so busy. Driving around for 10 minutes, TGIF was not too busy , so we that's where we ended.
Sitting at the corner of Whitesville and Whitlessey Road, this medium size restaurant is very cozy and nice. As you entered, there are a few Host and Hostesses, greeted you and one led you to your table. Music over the speaker, they were quite full. They had a smoking and not smoking rooms. We opted for not smoking.
Simple country decoration with retro design. A long wooden kayak stayed on top of the beams.
Our waitress was friendly, took our drink order. I wanted Sweet Tea and my husband asked for a Mudslide. She bought our drinks but the tea was not sweet at all and the Mudslide tasted too bitter for me. A little too much alcohol.

Then we ordered our dinner. I ordered the Bruschette Pasta with Grilled Chicken,
and my husband asked for the Jack Daniel Trio.
Dinner came about 10 minutes. My Pasta comes in a big round plate. Pasta cooked with
tomatoes and onions, tossed with tomatoes sauce. Chicken perfectly grilled and laid on top of pasta.
The Jack Daniel Trio comes with 1/2 a stack of baby ribs, barbecued and braised with Jack Daniel sauce, some Jumbo Fried Shrimp and Sesame Braised Chicken on top of a small bed of Salad. Served on a Hugh Plate.The ribs has a very good tangy taste, Shrimp perfectly fried and the sesame chicken is crispy, but a little to the sweet side.
But we did finished our dinner. The ticket came up to $35.05 .Plus $5.00 tips.
That Mudslide cost $6.95.We did enjoyed our dinner.

TGIF has a menu that is reasonable and gives you a variety . Asian,Mexican ,Italian and American cuisine.

Recommended.

Food - Excellent
Service- Good,
Price - Reasonable,Affordable
Cleaniness- Good

"Baby Flying " lands Teen behind bars

Lee County Georgia, from WTVM ,Columbus News

A Lee County teenager put up a shocking video on YouTube, showing him using a large, inflatable pillow to launch an eight month old baby through the air.

Now that 16-year-old boy is charged with felony cruelty to a child. He was arrested after a Lee County school teacher saw the video and called the Sheriff's Office.

It's a mother's nightmare. Watch as this 16-year-old DeSoto boy demonstrates, for the world to see, how to, as he put it, 'make a baby fly.' He puts the baby on an inflatable pillow, then jumps on the pillow to launch the baby through the air.

The baby landed several feet away on the floor and can be heard crying.

"It was terrible," says Lee County Sheriff Harold Breeden. "I can't believe a 16-year-old kid would do something like this."

The 8-month-old child was left in the care of the family of the teen who was actually behind the camera shooting the video. The Lee County Sheriff's office got a call from a Lee County High School teacher who was shown the posting by another student. Fearing for the child's safety she called investigators, and now her former student is in the detention center.

"He's incarcerated in RYDC," Breeden said. "We took him down this morning and he has been arrested and charged with cruelty to children in the first degree, and in the third degree."

The first count for violence to a child under 18 and the second count for allowing his 16-year-old friend to see the violence by encouraging him to videotape it. The teen who videotaped it is not charged with a crime. Pediatrician Donna King, who has 8-month-old twins, says the baby could have been seriously injured.

"Trauma to the skull, of course comes to mind at first. A trauma to the skull resulting in the fracture of the skull which can cause a contusion to the brain, bleeding inside the brain," said the doctor.

As for the teen's actions, the Sheriff's office hopes others will learn from their mistake.

"It's not going to be funny when the judge gets through with him, he'll think twice next time you know, about how funny it was," Brreden says.

The video has been removed from the YouTube site and the teen, who's never been in trouble before, must now await his fate in court.

The Lee County Sheriff's office has asked the baby's parent to have the child seen by a doctor, they're still waiting to hear if the baby had any injuries from the fall.

Sunday's Mother's Day Lunch

Snickers German Chocolate Cake
Fried Sweet Potatoes
Sushi,Shashimi,California Roll
Salt and Peppered Shrimp

We went to the Tako Japanese and Chinese Restaurant at Double Churches for lunch on Sunday. With 2 of our friends, Kun and Flora Yuan. This is Flora First Mother'S Day celebration. She just had her 1st child about two weeks ago. Also her birthday is on Monday. We suppose to have more friends joining us, but they did not show up.
This restaurant is not so busy today, as most people prefer to go to some fancy seat down or Buffet restaurant.
We asked the Owner and Chef to fix us something special instead ordering from the menu.
He fixed a big plate of different kind of Sushi and Shashimi, Salt and Peppered Prawn,Sweet and Sour Fish/Flounder,and Fried Sweet Potatoes and we had Snickers German Chocolate Cake for dessert.And Japanese Hot Tea.
Very Delicious, Great Mother's Day Lunch.

Great Sushi Lunch at Tako

Of all the Japanese Sushi restaurants, in Columbus, Georgia, I loved the Sushi at Tako Japanese and Chinese Restaurant. Located off the city, on a little shopping center on the end of Double Churches/Whitesville road, this small restaurant is very cozy and clean. Owned by two young brothers, from New York.

Their sushi is very fresh. We ordered a plate of eel and fried shrimp sushi.Beautiful created and looked very delicious. The rice is not too hard, and the fish is fresh.

We also ordered the Bento Box with Teriyaki Chicken. Served with Miso Soup , and came in a beautiful Oriental box filled with 2 Fried Tempura Shrimp, 2 Sweet potatoes, 2 Shui mai,White rice, Salad,Teriyaki Chicken and 6 pieces of California Roll. Very big portion and tasted well.

We usually can never finish the big portion , so had a togo box to take the leftover home.

They said they have good business , especially at night. And they deliver too.

Closed on Tuesday.

Come and try out the Tako Restaurant, at Double Churches Road.

Great Breakfast at Sleep Inn

We did not sleep well as both of us were coughing whole nite, due to bad cold and allergy. Even though with the new soft bed. And our room were at the end and near the back entrance, and whole nite we could hear the slamming of the door ,when someone went in and out.
Got up early at 8.am , cleaned up and packed our things in to the cars, ready to go back to Georgia. The motel offered Continental Breakfast, so we might as well had our free breakfast here. At the dining room, were a ranch of full breakfast. Hot Coffee, Tea, Orange Juice ,Apple Juice, and Milk. Top with biscuit and gravy, Oat Meal Cereal, Muffins, Bagels, Toast, Hard boiled Eggs and Doughnuts. Also fruits,Banana, Apples, Oranges . Also Yogurt.
After the full and satisfied breakfast , we checked out. Met a client before we left, looked at the location for about 30 minutes. We are ready to leave Tupelo.
Went to the Gas station to fill up. At the McDonald's we met a few couples from Tennessee, riding on their Honda's and Harley Motorcycles. I guess they are retirees and enjoying their leisure life travelling on their bikes, on this beautiful spring weather.