Wakefield cleans up from storm

WAKEFIELD-Following the thunderstorm that swept through Wakefield two weeks ago, city officials and the community joined forces to recover.

As a result of the strong straight-line winds during the storm, several properties were damaged and lost power.

City manager Richard Brackney said residents and city employees responded "tremendously" in the wake of the storm to begin cleaning up uprooted trees and debris.

"It was just the community being a community," he said. "Lots of volunteers came out of the woodwork and asked, 'What can we do to help.'"

The city and its revitalization team hosted cleanup efforts, calling for volunteers to assist with cleaning properties.

Team member Liz Londo thanked those who volunteered and said she was impressed by the number of people who donated their time to pull Wakefield back together.

As of Monday, Brackney said about six residents remain without power.

Chiefs Ice Arena owner Jim Paquette was busy Monday cleaning up debris around the building after the storm blew the rink's roof off into Sunday Lake. Debris in the lake caused the city to close the lake to boating.

He said numerous volunteers have also helped clean up the debris. Paquette said he is working with engineers to design a new roof that meets today's structural codes.

On Monday, Brackney said the lake is open to the public.

At the Sunday Lake campground, host James Favero said the grounds remained open following the storm and it was fortunate the storm didn't damage the north side of the campground. However, he said the south and east side of the campgrounds were damaged by falling trees.

The city officials have invited the public to honor the "dedicated" work crews and volunteers at an appreciation cookout on Wednesday at 6 p.m. at the Eddy Park John Siira Pavilion.