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The Future
and re-painted from top to
bottom. Indeed, as we sat at
one of the library’s study tables
talking, I was struck by how new
and fresh everything feels, with
the bright January afternoon sun
streaming in through the bank of
windows.
Many of the destroyed
buildings have been rebuilt,
but one in particular that can’t
be rebuilt sticks in Michelle’s
mind: the hardware store that
was more than 100 years old. It
was not spared by the tornadoes.
“It’s really wonderful to see
how everyone pulled together.
That’s why I’ve always wanted
to live here,” Michelle said. “But
it’s so sad to drive down that
street and look over and realize
that hardware store isn’t there
anymore.”
The city has not only pulled
together, it has taken the disaster
as an opportunity to make
improvements, especially on the
technological side.
The schools have equipped
students with laptops and instant
responder systems – handheld
controllers that allow them to
respond to questions posed in
class. Teachers use document
cameras that can project
whatever they are showing – say
the dissection of a small object –
on screen so students can watch
from their desks. Teachers also
use wireless tablets that act like
smart boards, showing whatever
it is they are writing on screen for
the entire class to see.
Along with building new
businesses and improving
technology throughout the city,
there also will be a downtown
beautification project in 2012
thanks to government grants.
After touring the downtown
and the neighborhoods, the
schools and the city library,
the restaurants and, okay, a
bar (shout out to Woppers!), I
returned to “The Pioneers” and
saw something else about the
sculpture: the firm gaze of the
pioneers (including their big dog)
staring off in the direction from
which the tornadoes came that
dark June night nearly two years
ago. “The Pioneers” stared down
those tornadoes and, just like the
historic small town it celebrates,
are standing strong today.
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