Special Olympics Training for Life campus Archives

Normal operations may not resume at tornado-damaged Jefferson City car dealership until November

June 7, 2019 By Brian Hauswirth

(news director John Marsh at Jefferson City affiliate KWOS Radio contributed to this story)

The Riley Toyota and Riley Chevrolet dealerships in Jefferson City remain closed until further notice, due to the recent EF-3 tornado.

Ameren Missouri utility trucks lined the road near Best Western and the Riley Toyota and Chevrolet Buick GMC dealerships in Jefferson City on May 23, 2019, the day after an EF-3 tornado (Brian Hauswirth photo)

Owner Kevin Riley tells Missourinet Jefferson City affiliate KWOS (AM 950) that the tornado damaged or destroyed about 800 of the dealerships’ cars and trucks.

“We will become operational, our sales will become operational soon,” Riley tells KWOS. “We are looking at different parts of the city, we are looking at staying there. We’re just trying to put the pieces to the pie together.”

KWOS notes Riley Auto Group has been a fixture in the Capital City since the 1930s.

Mr. Riley hopes to have the Toyota dealership back to normal operation in six months or less. He says the Riley Chevrolet Buick GMC dealership will likely take longer, because the tornado destroyed their service center.

“The GM store, man, it (the May 22 tornado) just took it all,” says Riley.

The National Weather Service (NWS) in St. Louis says the tornado’s estimated peak wind was 160 miles per hour.

The Riley Family has posted a message on its website, saying they “are thankful for no loss of life in Jefferson City.” The message also says they intend to repair and rebuild, and that they are strengthened by the community’s support.

The same tornado that impacted the Riley dealerships also struck the nearby Special Olympics Training for Life campus, blowing off part of the roof and blowing out numerous windows. The track was also damaged.

Special Olympics has suspended all building operations, because of the damage.

Special Olympics Missouri praises “army of volunteers” who’ve responded after Jefferson City tornado

June 5, 2019 By Brian Hauswirth

While structural engineers are still finishing their report, Jefferson City’s recent EF-3 tornado does not appear to have caused a total loss at the sprawling Special Olympics Training for Life campus.

Missouri Senator Roy Blunt (left) speaks to American Red Cross representatives outside Special Olympics in Jefferson City on May 28, 2019 (Brian Hauswirth photo)

The May 22nd tornado caused enormous damage to the facility, blowing off part of the roof and blowing out numerous windows. The track was also damaged.

The National Weather Service (NWS) in St. Louis says the tornado’s estimated peak wind was 160 miles per hour.

U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt tells Missourinet he’s optimistic about the facility’s future.

“There’s a lot to be said for rebuilding,” Blunt says. “Rebuilding, I think it was (journalist and novelist Ernest) Hemingway said life breaks us all but afterwards we’re often strongest at the broken places.”

Senator Blunt toured the facility last week, noting he attended the November Training for Life campus’ opening with Governor Mike Parson (R) and former Governor Jay Nixon (D).

Special Olympics notes all building operations have been suspended. Special Olympics Missouri President Susan Stegeman tells Misourinet it does not appear to be a total loss.

There is still enormous damage, and Stegeman says they’ll rebuild.

“I would encourage everyone, if they want to donate money, to do so by texting SOMOREBUILD to 71777,” says Stegeman.

Jefferson City Fire Chief Matt Schofield says the tornado damaged about 240 homes and businesses in the Capital City.

Stegeman is praising the “army of volunteers” who have responded to assist the organization following the tornado. She says the response has been amazing.

“This campus was built by Missouri. It wasn’t built by Special Olympics, it was built by Missouri,” Stegeman says.

Stegeman tells Missourinet the Mizzou baseball team, wrestling team and the women’s basketball team have all been to the facility to assist.

Jefferson City Mayor Carrie Tergin and numerous state lawmakers participated in the recent tour with Blunt. The lawmakers included State Reps. Dave Griffith, R-Jefferson City, Rudy Veit, R-Wardsville, and Sara Walsh, R-Ashland.

The American Red Cross was also on-hand.

Senator Hawley and Missouri lawmakers praise volunteer response after Jefferson City tornado (AUDIO)

May 28, 2019 By Brian Hauswirth

Missouri’s junior senator says the large volunteer response after last week’s EF-3 tornado in Jefferson City represents the best of America.

Missouri Senator Josh Hawley views a tornado-damaged building near the old MSP in Jefferson City on May 25, 2019 (Brian Hauswirth photo)

U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley toured tornado-damaged East Capitol Avenue on Saturday, and visited with dozens of the volunteers who turned out.

“People coming with their tools and their chainsaws to help and clear away things,” Hawley says. “People taking in neighbors and letting them stay in their homes, it really is a testament to the spirit of this state.”

Hawley tells Missourinet that many of the 240 damaged homes and businesses have been destroyed.

More than 1,000 volunteers turned out Saturday in Jefferson City to remove debris and help tornado victims.

Meantime, a state lawmaker who represents the Capital City is praising youth groups and children, for their response to the tornado. State Rep. Rudy Veit, R-Wardsville, says youth groups from Jefferson City, Columbia and other communities have assisted at the Special Olympics Training for Life campus and other impacted locations.

“Anybody who questions the value of our youth and questions whether they are hard workers should have been here yesterday (Friday) and today,” Veit told a Missourinet reporter Saturday, outside the walls of the old Missouri State Penitentiary, which also took a direct hit from the tornado.

The 16-acre Special Olympics campus serves current and future Missouri athletes who have intellectual disabilities.

U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt will travel to Jefferson City on Tuesday afternoon to survey tornado damage at the Special Olympics Training for Life campus, which is next to a quarry near Highway 54. Missourinet’s Bill Pollock reports the building’s entire glass entrance has been blown out, and part of its roof is missing.

State Rep. Travis Fitzwater, R-Holts Summit, says he’s grateful that no one was killed in Wednesday’s tornado, which he describes as an amazing testament to the community and the coordination with first responders.

“This has really kind of shown the resilience of our state and the folks in our state, how good of people they are. I mean, there are communities from around the state that are coming in here volunteering,” says Fitzwater.

Representative Fitzwater says Jefferson City will rebuild, thanks to first responders and volunteers who’ve turned out.

As for Senator Hawley, he says tornado damage assessments must get done quickly, so relief can get to impacted communities like Jefferson City and Eldon.

Click here to listen to Brian Hauswirth’s full three-minute interview with State Reps. Rudy Veit and Travis Fitzwater, which was recorded on May 25, 2019 near the old Missouri State Penitentiary in Jefferson City: